Many workers look forward to Friday both as the last workday of the week and for the paycheck. But for some workers, Friday delivers little or no pay.

In an effort to keep their skills sharp, some unemployed or career-changing people are taking unpaid positions at companies, hoping they turn into paid jobs or that the skills and connections they gain land them jobs elsewhere.

“I think because of the economy today and because of the length of time people are out of work, they need to find every way they can to stay in touch with people in the field,” said Marie R. Geary, an alumni career adviser at the University of Rhode Island.

Geary and other career counselors report that a small contingent of the unemployed is seriously considering – and accepting – professional-type positions without a paycheck. And while internships are typically associated with college students or recent graduates, the difficult job market is leading former professionals into the positions as well.

Geary said the reasons vary but generally her clients hope the positions will avoid work gaps on their resume, add to their skills, let them keep up with industry trends or forge connections with potential employers.

Such a position may also smooth the way to a new industry by providing base experience, said Alex Vilner, the owner of Lincoln-based Sinoma Consulting, which provides career advice.

“In the modern day and age the market situation is fairly tough,” he said. “For somebody with no experience whatsoever to just blindly go and change their field of expertise – it’s just not going to happen.”

Some are so anxious to change career fields that they swap paying jobs for opportunities to garner experience.

Carolyn Frangos quit her job as a teacher’s aide in Cranston making $7.50 an hour last fall for an AmeriCorps position that pays about $3.60 an hour via a scholarship. But Frangos, 47, said the experience of volunteering at Women & Infants Hospital in Providence more than offsets the pay cut.