If you haven't found a job since graduating or are trying to get back into the job market, the recent gap in your CV or résumé could be holding you back. Or perhaps you simply haven't got the experience you need for the post you really want.

Feels like Catch 22? You can't get a job because you haven't got enough experience and you can't get the experience without a job.

One possible way out of this dilemma is volunteering, which will enable you to get both valuable experience and a reference. Whilst it may be difficult to consider working for nothing, there are plenty of advantages and, if necessary, you can take a temporary post to pay the bills and organise your voluntary work to fit around it.

There are various ways of approaching volunteering and before accepting a position, you should consider what you want to get from the experience - and what you are prepared to put into it.

The most obvious place to start looking is in an area which will give particular skills or the experience involved in working in a specific industry. You could offer to volunteer for the company you'd like to work for, particularly if this is a charity or non profit organisation. Working as a volunteer can often lead to a job, but don't expect this to happen. If you aren't eventually offered a salaried post, you'll still gain a great deal of relevant experience and you'll have that reference which will help you get work with a similar company.

You could consider working in a different field, but one which will still give you skills needed for your ideal job. Remember that soft skills, such as communication skills and teamwork, can be gained in a huge variety of settings. So make a note of the skills you most need to develop and keep these in mind when researching potential volunteer placements.

Working with teenage

rs in a youth club, teaching a sport to disadvantaged or disabled kids or helping out at an old people's home can all improve those soft skills and can be fitted in to your normal work or study schedule, if you volunteer at weekends or for an evening or two a week.

Another alternative is to do something really challenging and radically different from your day to day routine. You could consider a few months abroad helping on a disaster relief or environmental project, or teaching in a poor area in another part of the world. There are plenty of areas in which help is needed and you will gain enormous benefits. If you are a high flyer, this type of experience will prove and enhance many of your leadership qualities, such as risk taking, problem solving, and the ability to work under pressure. If you find yourself in a rut - low paying job or no job at all months after graduation - this could be the way to move out of it.

© Waller Jamison 2006

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