Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and make a difference. But it can also be a smart way to advance your career goals, if you choose the right opportunity. How do you find a volunteer position that aligns with your professional interests, values, and aspirations? Here are some tips to help you out.
Before you start looking for volunteer opportunities, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to gain experience in a specific field or industry? Do you want to develop a certain skill or competency? Do you want to expand your network and meet potential mentors, collaborators, or employers? Do you want to explore a new career path or sector? Write down your goals and use them as a guide to narrow down your options.
By identifying your goals you can make finding the right fit for you SO much easier. Both short and long term goals should be considered, including your career goals and transferable skills you’d like to develop on your journey to that point.
I own a store n would like to meet mentors that can help me network but also build skills needed to run a retail store. I struggle in a lot of business skills that I would love to learn more about from someone who also has a store.
Il est impératif de bien d'écrire les objectifs qu'on veut atteindre. Ensuite de faire une liste des associations qui peuvent offrir des opportunités de bénévolat dans plusieurs secteurs. Prendre le temps de participer aux formations et aux activités desdites associations dans l'idéal de faire le choix final pour commencer son expérience bénévole.
Being a voice and supporter of others and the community is a rewarding way to align your career goals. Though it is never easy to find ways that you can support such volunteer work while pursuing your career goals, here are some ways to make this dream a reality. 1) Identify your interests and skills to understand your passion and where they could best fit. 2) Networking can never be underestimated. 3) Research organizations that are operate in the area of interest 4) Consider Pro-Bono work.
Once you have your goals in mind, you can start researching the different types of volunteer opportunities available. You can use online platforms, such as VolunteerMatch, Idealist, or DoSomething, to browse through thousands of listings based on your location, interests, and availability. You can also check out local organizations, such as nonprofits, charities, schools, or community centers, that might need your help. You can also ask your friends, family, or colleagues if they know of any volunteer opportunities that match your goals.
After you have a list of potential volunteer opportunities, you need to evaluate how well they fit your goals and expectations. You can do this by contacting the organization or the volunteer coordinator and asking questions about the role, the responsibilities, the benefits, the challenges, and the impact. You can also ask for testimonials or feedback from current or past volunteers to get a sense of their experience and satisfaction. You can also visit the organization's website, social media, or blog to learn more about their mission, vision, and values.
To find the right fit it’s always beneficial to think outside the box, specifically at the “hidden sector” you’re aiming for. For me as an aspiring barrister, my clear goal was to work in law. However, what type of law did I want to specialise in? That would reveal the hidden sector. Public law barristers for example may find their hidden aim is to support those less fortunate or disadvantaged (eg: facing prison, discriminated against by the State, etc). From this question they could work out that the best volunteering opportunities would be grounded in helping individuals in times of great strife. This same concept can be applied in all sectors. I also followed this process, and found an amazing opportunity working with Shelter!
When it comes to volunteering, quality is more important than quantity. You don't have to sign up for multiple volunteer positions or commit to long hours to achieve your career goals. Instead, you should focus on finding one or two opportunities that offer meaningful and relevant work, that allow you to grow and learn, and that connect you with people who can support your professional development. You should also make sure that you can balance your volunteer work with your other commitments, such as your job, your education, or your personal life.
The best thing that happened when I applied for two positions was for one to ignore me entirely! If I had taken both voluntary roles on, I would not have the same rewarding experience as I do currently. I would have had two great placements, I’m sure, but I may not have been considered for progression opportunities in either position. By focusing on one cause, I am due to be trained as a voluntary supervisor (keyholder)! By dedicating my efforts to one cause (albeit not by choice at first) I also really felt the tangible impact I was having. I may have struggled to reflect as much on my positive impact between two very different charities!
Once you have found the perfect volunteer opportunity, you need to make the most of it. You need to show up on time, follow the instructions, be respectful and enthusiastic, and deliver quality work. You also need to communicate effectively, ask for feedback, and seek opportunities to improve your skills and knowledge. You also need to network with other volunteers, staff members, clients, or stakeholders, and build relationships that can benefit your career. You also need to reflect on your experience, document your achievements, and update your resume or portfolio.
Nonprofits are always looking for volunteers with various skill sets. If you want the opportunity to align with your career goals, look for volunteer options that you can add to your portfolio/resume. Managing volunteers for a project like a 5k run or helping promote the non-profit through social media content are great skills that can be transferred to most careers.