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In the professional world, the line between overextending and building a career can get blurry, especially when it comes to unpaid professional work. While I firmly believe that everyone deserves fair compensation for their labor, I also recognize the value that strategic volunteering can bring to long-term career development.

Paid Work Matters—But It’s Not the Whole Picture

Advocating for fair wages and sustainable workloads is critical, especially in a profession where many are underpaid and overworked. Getting paid for your time and expertise should always be the baseline. However, limiting your professional activity to what’s explicitly included in your job description can sometimes mean missing out on transformative opportunities.

In my own experience, some of the most impactful career moves I’ve made came through work I wasn’t technically being paid to do – at least not directly.

How Volunteering Built My Career

Serving on professional committees and participating in cross-institutional teams introduced me to:

• New skills: From project management to policy development, I was exposed to responsibilities beyond my day-to-day role.
• Expanded networks: Collaborating with professionals across institutions helped me build relationships that led to future job opportunities and partnerships.
• Leadership opportunities: Volunteering often allowed me to take on leadership roles earlier than I would have in my paid job.
• A broader perspective: Working outside my home institution gave me insight into how others approached similar challenges, which made me better at my job.

What do these types of experiences look like? In my career, I have:

• Chaired professional association committees
• Participated on award juries
• Co-authored book chapters and journal articles
• Led conference planning committees
• Presented training on instructional design to my peers

These opportunities not only added valuable experiences to my resume but also fundamentally shaped how I see myself as a professional.

Finding the Right Balance

So how do you participate in unpaid professional work without burning out or being exploited? Here are some tips:

1. Be Strategic About Your Involvement

Choose opportunities that align with your long-term goals. Look for roles that:

• Teach you new skills
• Expand your network in meaningful ways
• Offer visibility or leadership experience

2. Set Boundaries

Make sure your volunteer work doesn’t interfere with your ability to do your paid job or take care of yourself. It’s okay to say no or step back when needed.

3. Track the Benefits

Keep a running list of what you’ve gained from your volunteer work. This can include:

• Skills developed
• Contacts made
• Tangible outputs (e.g., reports, presentations, toolkits)

This will help you evaluate whether the experience is still worthwhile and provide language for future job applications or performance reviews.

4. Know When It’s Time to Move On

If an unpaid role becomes a drain on your time or energy without offering a clear return on investment, it’s okay to step away. Your time is valuable.

Don’t Underestimate the Hustle

Volunteering doesn’t have to mean being exploited. When done thoughtfully, it can be a strategic way to gain experience, build clout, and open doors you didn’t know existed. In the evolving world of librarianship and information management, sometimes the hustle really is worth it.