If you've been taken in by this popular myth, it's time to wake up and smell the fair trade coffee. According to some estimates, around 21 million British people are engaged in some form of voluntary work each year - that's a third of the population.
So, why would any self-respecting, intelligent, well-qualified job-hunter want to work hard for nothing, when there are decent, salaried jobs to be had? There are three reasons. The first is necessity. In some sectors of employment, such as the media or broadcasting, you have little alternative if you want to make contacts and get a job.
The second reason to do voluntary work is if you're trying to break into an area such as social work, counselling or probation, where you need substantial work experience in order to make an application for a professional training programme. In these sectors you're likely to get structured work experience through organisations such as CSV (Community Service Volunteers ), who will offer allowances, accommodation and support.
Finally, you might want to do it for your own personal, moral reasons - because you think it's 'a good thing to do' or want to give something back to society.
But remember, no one does voluntary work for the money. If you don't plan ahead and develop good financial management skills, you'll end up in a frightening amount of debt. It might mean that you have to forgo some of the pleasures that your salaried friends are enjoying (a social life, new clothes, meals out) or that, horror or horrors, you'll have to live at home with your parents for a while. It's up to you to decide whether a short-term sacrifice is worth it for your long-term career or personal satisfaction.
Still raring to go? Then how should you go about choosing a voluntary job or placement? A good starting point is your local volunteer bureau or the regional branch of a national charity to find out what experience they're looking for (your phone directory will have a section on community and voluntary work).
If you're interested in a particular cause or charity, you should make direct contact with the national office of the relevant organisation.
Do thorough research just as if you were looking for permanent work. Find out about the structure of the organisation you're interested in and treat your application seriously. Don't take a job because you're afraid of letting someone down: match your skills to a job and find out what they can offer you.
In highly competitive, non-charitable sectors, such as the media, there are no set rules, but avoiding exploitation requires careful planning. Never answer a job advertisement and tell them you'll do the job for free: slavery may have been abolished but they'll take you up on it. It's better to send a speculative letter asking for work experience - and then make yourself indispensable.
Whatever organisation you work for, you need to be upfront. Volunteering is a two-way street. You're giving your time for free, so you need to tell your employer exactly what you want to get from the job, whether it's a particular skill or just personal satisfaction. As a volunteer you're in a position of power: if you're not happy you can vote with your feet.
Just because you've worked for nothing doesn't mean that you have to apologise for yourself. You haven't wasted your time (though you probably won't be your bank manager's favourite client): you've gained important skills and experience which any decent employer will value.
When you go for job interviews, treat voluntary work just like paid employment. Don't play down unpaid work. Identify the skills you've developed which have market value and sell them.
