Volunteering is doing work without getting paid. Most volunteers give their time and energy to an organization because they believe in it and want to help out. Some people also volunteer to establish a track record for future employment. Good work habits such as getting there on time, following instructions, working well with others, and completing assigned tasks make you a useful volunteer and will make you a valuable employee.
Volunteer experience will add interest and credibility to a resume. In addition, if you hold a volunteer position for at least several months, and you do your job well, your supervisor should give you a good reference when you begin your search for paid employment. Sometimes, people even end up working for the organization where they began as a volunteer.
How do I get started as a volunteer?
Think about what you would like to do. If possible, find an organization that would give you experience in the field you are planning to go into (such as office work, conducting tours, driving, cleaning, or making phone calls). It would also be helpful to meet people who do this kind of work themselves, and may be able to give you advice or connect you with openings in the company or in similar companies.
Think about how many days a week and how many hours a day you want to volunteer. Some organizations will appreciate all the time you can offer them, while others have only certain days or hours when people can volunteer. You don't have to volunteer 40 hours a week to put the experience on your resume. Even a few hours a week may be sufficient if you come consistently and people remember you for your good work.
Most places will want to interview you before accepting you as a volunteer, just to get a sense of who you are and what you can contribute. It won't hurt to mention that you're hoping to find a paying position in the future, but avoid giving the impression that you are using the organization to get ahead. The situation will work best if you can show that you have the organization's best interest at heart as well as your own.
How do I find a place to volunteer?
You may already have some places in mind, such as your local hospital, school, religious organization, library, recreation department, or nonprofit community organization. Most towns have a website where you can find out what is going on and where people are needed. Or look on the Internet for a particular organization that you are interested in.
Here are some good web listings of volunteer opportunities, sorted by
ZIP code and area of interest:
http://www.dosomething.org/
http://www.volunteermatch.org/
http://www.volunteersolutions.org/
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