By Ken Siegal

Interesting article in the Wall St. Journal on prelancing. What's prelancing, you ask (don't be embarrassed, I asked)?

Prelancing probably ought to be called freelancing, but that's taken already (blame those knights of old). It's an arrangement in which you -- smart, talented, and looking for work -- agree to work a limited number hours a week (5-10, usually) for a company for free, especially a company with no paying jobs available, but a need for somebody to help get some work done.

In return, you gain some additional work experience, some possibility of additional work references, and -- a longshot -- some chance of a job if and when the company does start hiring.

Yes, at 5 hours a week, you could probably take on a couple of "prelance" jobs, and still have plenty of time left over for actual job hunting (the article brings up Unemployment Assistance rules, but that's another issue). So I guess I have mixed feelings about it as a strategy.

It gets you out of the house, it potentially has the ability to accomplish some great things (meeting people, gaining experience and references, etc.). It does mean that you're essentially donating your time to help somebody else's business (I'm fine with volunteering for non-profits, of course, but this is different). Are you being taken advantage of, or are you being smart?

Anybody else know the answer? Or have a different answer?