How do you find the right volunteer opportunities that help in building experience for the career of choice ?
I love to volunteer and have been volunteering since I was young. Recently I received an advice that I should volunteer strategically. I wanted to find out what others thought. #career-counseling #volunteering #student-counseling #admissions-counseling
5 answers
Dennis Richter
Dennis’s Answer
Hi Nikhita,
Similar to the answers above it depends on what field you are hoping to work in. I have volunteered for many reasons to include:
Youth Soccer Coach, Special Olympics events, teaching and mentoring under privileged children, among many others. What I will say is that clearly you have a passion for helping and more important giving up what everyone's most valuable resource, time!
I commend you for doing this and wish more would give time to help others! Have you found certain volunteer opportunities more rewarding than others? You can also get involved with nonprofit organizations as an employee using your vast amount of volunteer time on your resume to help get your foot in the door. Many nonprofits are closely linked to other nonprofits because they have limited funds and/or resources which again can afford you the opportunity to expand your skill set.
Do you have a LinkedIn account? If you do not I would strongly encourage you to create one and begin searching for and connecting with other people with your profile, while also connecting with people in fields that you are hoping to land in. If you have an account send me a connection and I would happily suggest some people in network for you to connect with. I wish you the best of luck!
Daniela Silva
Daniela’s Answer
Hi Nikhita,
Volunteering strategically means recognizing that volunteering is an exchange. While you are sharing your time and talent with no expectation of remuneration, you can gain relevant work experience, develop critical career skills and build a network that will later assist you in your job search!
Crucial to doing this successfully is the reflection and planning involved in selecting the right volunteer opportunity for you. Take the time to explore the skills you will need in your future dream job and find a volunteer position that will allow you to develop these skills.
You can choose to volunteer in a setting where you will be able to practice a new language, for example, volunteering in a non-profit which functions mainly in French to become more fluent in this language.
Adding volunteer activities to your already busy schedule shows that you are organized and able to handle several commitments responsibly.
Any volunteering tasks where you deal with the public or work as part of a team will provide examples of how you are able to work well with others and deal with conflict.
You can propose your own projects, for example, organizing a fundraising initiative for an organization you care about.
Working alongside people from varied backgrounds, you will develop the ability to promote the benefits of diversity.
Most non-profits work with the reality of limited resources. Attaining your goals within this context often requires creativity.
As a volunteer, you represent an organization. By taking your role and engagement seriously you will be noticed for your professionalism.
Your commitment to fulfill your engagement as a volunteer will be recognized by the organization.
By choosing to get involved in a cause you believe in, you will bring positive energy to the organization.
More steps and detailed information in:
https://www.concordia.ca/students/volunteering/strategic.html#develop
All the Best!
Spruce’s Answer
I second the comment about learning a second language. Volunteering in situations where you can improve your first, second, or third language abilities will be of significant benefit in most careers. And I'll add here at the end that just as important as what you will learn as a volunteer that directly applies to a future career, perhaps more important are the soft skills that you will learn such as dealing with other people in a professional manner, running productive meetings, practicing effective written and oral communication skills, building self-confidence, and learning your own skills and abilities. Good luck.
G. Mark’s Answer
I'm going to my old stand-by recommendation of your finding and taking a Personality Assessment Survey test, like RIASEC or something similar. Go to some employment centers, school counselors and advisors or search the web for one of these. It's usually a set of questions -- often multiple-choice -- to match your personality to those of folks who are happy and successful in a variety of careers. This will give you a good idea of what will make you happy. And what you're happy with, you'll likely be good at, and that combination is good for everyone. Then find someone or someplace who is doing that and simply show up and say, "I took a test that told me I'd be a great fit for this!" They might think that was pretty cool and take you in right away!
NIRMALA’s Answer
Hi Nikhita:
Whatever your career of choice you can find volunteering opportunity in that field. for example: if you want to go into medical field you can volunteer in the hospital, nursing home. you can gain valuable work experience and connect with people and also build a network which will assist you to find you a suitable employment in medical field. Sometime the same work place will hire you based upon your job performance, work ethics and dependability. If you are planning to find work in sales and marketing field, any volunteering opportunity is good because sales and marketing is mainly involves with customers and service to them. working in retail, restaurants, hospital, government service, office gives good exposure to customer service. If you want to go into social services, non profits are excellent - you can get opportunities working with elders, united way, nutmeg games, habitat for humanity, special Olympics etc. Take time to see what field you want to work and find a suitable volunteer opportunity in that field. With proper education, skill development and experience will gear you towards your future job. Knowing a second language is also very important in today's work environment specially going for international work. Many companies prefer if you know other language specially Spanish. Doing volunteer work will show your commitment, professionalism, organization, responsibility, team work, diversity, work ethics, conflict resolution, project management, and every workplace welcomes these types of employees.
Best of luck.
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