If you want to be a professional pilot never ever offer your services for free
I get really annoyed when so called professionals give this advice. I am sure that they would object if somebody came along to their company and offered to do their job for free or at a cheap rate. We have stuck together in the N Sea and managed to drive our rates up and would not look kindly on anybody trying to undercut our agreed rates.
It may seem hard advice but if you are willing to offer your services for free then don't be surprised that when you want to make a living out of flying you get really annoyed when somebody comes along offering to do your job for free and you end up back where you started.
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