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Do you volunteer?

Posted by admin on April 13, 2009 in Jobs

There is an increasingly large amount of ink devoted to how to find a job. There’s two things that most people don’t tell you- it takes a lot more time than you think and many jobs are not found conventionally through job searches, recruitment agencies, career fairs etc. One of the more over-looked aspects of job searching, networking, and, above all, citizenry is volunteering.

I volunteer at a small not-for-profit for the opposite reason; I work too much and it gives me balance. However, volunteering, especially in sectors that you are unrelated to what you do or did 9-5, does allow you to meet people and develop contacts with networks you otherwise would not come across. If you are devoted to the cause, people will want to help you. Who doesn’t want to help good people?

For example, a friend of mine once told me that one of her friends needed a passport in 48 hours- the request being made on a Friday. The passport was arranged in time because my friend happen to volunteer  on the same charitable agency with a political aide who could get ministerial approval over the weekend. Although not directly related to job searching, it does show the power of developing networks in diverse circles.

Volunteering also gives one opportunity to develop other skills. I have engaged in fund-raising, community awareness, policy-making- all skills I do not practice day to day. Now, to give some context, I volunteer at a small-ish not-for-profit. Many of my associates try to go straight to the top to the socially-chic foundations (yes, the Jones exist everywhere)  but they end up doing the same thing as they did during the day; the subtext is that, in larger institutions, new volunteers are sometimes viewed as tourists and there are a lot more people ahead of you in seniority. My suggestion is to find something smaller with a committed board and staff. It gives you a wider range of experiences and get your hands dirty in more things.

This may especially be helpful if you are thinking of transitioning careers. A new environment or learning new skills may give a glimpse into whether changing industries may be suitable.

Finally, one can’t job search 24-7. There are lulls in job searches such as this long weekend. Volunteering can provide a welcome change of pace.

If you are between jobs, do consider volunteering for a variety of reasons. Most of all, it is good for the community.