"I'll work for free" - When Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec shared how he landed his first sales job

Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec secured his first sales job by offering to work for free for six months.

At a 92nd Street Y event on May 17, 2016, Robert Herjavec, joined by fellow Shark Tank investor Barbara Corcoran, shared a story about how he successfully sold himself to land his first sales job.

Robert recounted that during his interview, the employer discovered he had no prior experience in sales or with computers. Just as the interviewer was about to dismiss him, Robert made a bold move by offering to work for free.

"So he's halfway out there and he's like, 'No, you have no experience'. I say 'I'll, I'll tell you what... I'll work for free.'" Robert shared.

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Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec reveals the "one condition" he set for working for free at his first sales job

During the 92nd Street Y convention, Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran praised Robert's book, You Don't Have to Be a Shark: Creating Your Own Success, and how it described the importance of the act of selling anything in business and personal life.

She later asked Robert how he was able to sell himself to the interviewer who hired him for his first sales job.

"Tell us how you sold the first guy on hiring you. So what was your pitch to that guy? You sat down and said, 'Hey, hire me'. Why? Why did he hire you?" she asked.

Robert recalled that when he was around 19 years old, he was in the film business and produced a Winter Olympics for Canada. It was a big deal for him, however, he wasn't able to get any job in the industry.

His roommate at the time, Steve, who had a master's in computer science and a doctorate in math, told him about an interview he went to at a computer company.

"He didn't get the job. And so I'm complaining how I can't get a job in film, he's complaining and he tells me the starting salary is $30,000. This is way back. And I'm like, 'What?'" he continued.

The Shark Tank investor further shared that he called the employer and went in for the interview. He learned that the interviewer was the former head of IBM Canada and he was starting a "little tech company" and was looking for his "employee number one".

As the interview went on the employer realized that Robert had no prior experience in sales or with computers. Seeing the lack of experience, Robert recalled that the employer was about to leave, so he interjected, insisting, that he'd do anything to get the job.

"I can tell he's kind of getting up slowly to leave and I said, 'But you have to hire me' and he looks at me. I said, 'But you have to hire me'. I said 'I'll do anything. You need people to answer the phones. You need people unpack boxes. I'll do it all,'" the Shark Tank investor shared.

Robert recounted that the interviewer dismissed him, saying, "No, you have no experience." Determined, Robert proposed that he'd work for free. However, the interviewer replied to him that if he'd hire him he won't be able to depend on him.

After mustering some confidence he asserted that he was dependable. Impressed by the confidence the interviewer was ready to hire him.

However, before they could shake hands, Robert recalled adding a condition:

"Six months from now, if I can do the job, you'll pay me what you would have paid me if I had the experience."

The Shark Tank investor continued:

"So the downside of that story is: So I leave and I'm like, 'Wow, I got the job. I'm like, holy cr*p, how am I gonna pay for my rent?' So I left that job interview, drove to the fanciest restaurant in downtown Toronto, got them to hire me as a waiter. And so I waited after work until 2:00 in the morning to make enough money to pay for my rent."

Robert further shared that he stayed at the firm for many years and ended up running the entire business. He concluded the story with a piece of advice for people in their 20s, stating that at that age one shouldn't do a job for money but rather for the experience.

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Shark Tank season 16 episodes air every Friday on ABC.