Having been consistently unemployed in the past, some experience and advice: How people value you – and treat you – is directly reflected in how they pay you.

Having been consistently unemployed in the past, some experience and advice: How people value you – and treat you – is directly reflected in how they pay you. Working free or cheap actually encourages employers to micromanage and committee review things because inexpensive things/people are seen as less reliable or professional. If you want interesting work, my advice is to make it yourself. Find a problem you're passionate about and make something beautiful of it. You'll improve your own skills, have more fun, and eventually employers will be coming to you.