Charities Tap Skills of Jobless Professionals

Whether charity work provides an opportunity to network in a bad economy, the ideal chance to try social work as a possible career, or simply a reason to get off the couch and stay engaged, it's what many professionals are doing to ride out the recession.

"In this market, networking is the only way to get interviews," said Collins, who recently interviewed with the Marin Community Foundation after a friend at the conservatory got her in the door.