Volunteering is a constructive way of spending all or part of your career break and an excellent addition to your CV, but it is important to be part of a project that contributes to sustainable change.

The recent boom in volunteering means there are "more and more companies out there that want to turn a quick buck", warned a panel of experts at the Adventure Travel and Sports Show that took place in London on January 13th to 15th.

Volunteers should fit in with the needs of the host project, not the other way around.

"Don't go with a company that wants to please you, as they'll end up not pleasing you," said Charlotte Hindle, author of Lonely Planet's The Career Break Book.

It is also important to talk to some returned volunteers, the panel agreed, and advisable to ask for a published breakdown of where your money is to be spent.