“Exciting Opportunity! We are looking for an aspiring and talented social media officer to join our team. This 6-month work placement will give you valuable experience to support your future career growth. You will be assisting our team by providing high-quality social media content that engages our audience and increases our online presence.”
This appears to be a great opportunity for the right candidate. It offers the prospect of gaining valuable experience within an organisation where they can make a real difference. However, for those looking to enter the job market in a social media role, it is an all-too-familiar advert. It often acts as a barrier to securing genuine employment and, vitally, being paid for their work. They are not alone. Many other roles face the same challenges, creating frustration for individuals either starting their careers or looking to redirect into what are often considered dream roles.
The Roles Most Affected: Creative, Caring, and Community Professions
The role of social media officer stands out as one I frequently encounter across social and professional platforms. However, it certainly isn’t alone in presenting increased challenges when seeking paid employment. Others include:
- Videography
- Social media content creation
- Graphic design
- Sports coaching
- Animal care
- Community engagement roles
Many of these are perceived as “fun” roles rather than real jobs. They are often viewed as “non-essential to revenue or operations” and therefore not worth paying for. Additionally, they are commonly associated with passion, an association that itself is sometimes used to justify unpaid labour.
The voluntary sector is active and valuable, offering great opportunities for those who wish to volunteer for personal reasons such as fulfilment, social connection, confidence building, or skill development. However, many unpaid roles sit within organisations outside the voluntary sector, including charities that offer paid positions in many other parts of their operations.
At a time when many businesses are facing financial strain, it is natural to look for ways to cut costs. It is also easy for employers to believe that an unpaid opportunity is the “dream” experience people are seeking, and sometimes it is. However, the result is that a high volume of roles in certain sectors become unpaid, employers become reliant on free labour, job seekers struggle to access paid work, and some professions become increasingly difficult to enter. Over time, these industries become accessible only to those who can afford to work unpaid, a position of privilege.
The VR Perspective: How Unpaid Expectations Harm Job Seekers
Shaunice is a young woman who is hugely passionate about working with animals and has gained extensive experience since before she was 13 years old. Her CV is full and varied, with experience across a wide range of environments, from large, renowned organisations to smaller, independent charities. She holds a Level 3 qualification in Animal Care alongside additional certifications. Yet her first paid role came at age 22. This was not through choice, but because of the culture she had been prepared for: a culture where most animal-based roles are seen as an honour, and where individuals are expected to feel fortunate simply to volunteer their time.
These challenges are not experienced only by those at the start of a career. They also appear when supporting people who are redirecting their careers. Often, what someone considers their dream role is quickly dismissed due to the difficulty of securing paid employment or the length of time it may take to gain enough respect to earn a fair wage. The risk is that talented individuals with transferable skills are steered away from roles and sectors that would benefit greatly from their contribution.
Those who do pursue these roles often face delayed career progression, losing pace with peers who enter paid positions at the same time. They frequently juggle multiple unpaid roles to enhance their prospects or combine unpaid work with paid employment simply to survive. This can lead to burnout, disengagement, and, in the long term, reduced confidence and self-worth.
The Misconception: “These Roles Don’t Directly Generate Revenue”
Roles within the creative and caring sectors really do support operational success, brand identity, marketing, and community engagement.
- Without an engaging social media presence, organisations lose awareness and customers.
- Without high-quality visuals, branding is weakened.
- Without coaches, there are no sports programmes, and student-to-coach ratios suffer.
- Without animal care staff, organisations lack the capacity to carry out vital tasks.
Every role supports operations and revenue generation, directly or indirectly. These professions deserve fair opportunities for growth, just as more visible or traditionally “essential” roles do. Fair compensation supports diverse recruitment, stronger commitment, higher-quality outcomes, and better long-term retention.
Employers can play a key role by reframing these positions as skilled, not supplementary. By budgeting realistically for creative and care-based roles, they can reserve volunteers for tasks that are truly voluntary, not roles that require professional expertise. A fair alternative might include offering reduced hours, micro-contracts, or fixed project-based work. This reduces financial risk for employers while ensuring individuals are paid for their contributions and supported in their development.
How to Navigate Undervalued Industries
For those seeking employment within these sectors, it is vital to demonstrate that your skills and experience are worth paying for. Keep a strong and up-to-date portfolio showcasing tangible outcomes and measurable impact. This provides evidence that you have already developed the necessary skills and experience before applying.
Small steps can shift the wider culture. Have open and honest conversations about financial expectations. Even a small initial payment for your services helps change the mindset. This can increase gradually as competence develops, because if the work adds value, it deserves value.
About the Author
This article was written by Stuart Miller of SDM Training Services, who brings over 10 years of experience supporting individuals with health-related barriers back into work through tailored employability and vocational rehabilitation support. Stuart also has more than 20 years of experience working with people navigating life-changing circumstances, providing compassionate and practical guidance.
Date Article Published: 19.11.2025
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