Volunteer to Work

If you are unemployed and looking for work you may want to think about volunteering. “What! My time is worth money!” Or you may say, “I could better use that time job searching!” Many of the people I work with are hesitant to consider working as a volunteer. But, if you have been unemployed for 6 months or more, here is why you should consider it:

1.       Put something current on your resume. Ideally you will be able to arrange an internship, on the job training or a volunteer experience with a company or agency that will enhance your resume. If not, at least you will be able to show you are doing something!

2.       Learn new skills. You may not be current with the current computer software, techniques, or theories being used in your targeted industry(ies). You may never have had the opportunity to use or practice skills employers are looking for. Volunteering may be just the way to get the skills you need to be competitive.

3.       Network with people you wouldn’t normally come into contact with. Volunteering to work can put you in contact with many more people than you would ordinarily come into contact with. AND, you will automatically have something in common with them.

4.       Show what you can do and how quickly you can learn new things. SHOW ME - Volunteering gives you the opportunity to show an employer what you are capable of. All those you come into contact with will be able to speak to others of your capabilities.

5.       Volunteering can give you the social feedback you may be missing since you have been off of work. When you go to work and see people you are acknowledged and validated if even by the simple act of greeting one another. If you are not working and working alone on your job search all day, you may feel as if you are nobody.

6.       Your self-confidence can use a boost in general if you have been off work for a while. Volunteering can help YOU feel more confident and capable which in turn will make it easier to convince others!

7.       Volunteering to work can expose you to other career paths or opportunities that you might not have considered or have been aware of. There is nothing like being “in the trenches” and knowing exactly where employer and industry needs lie.

8.  Obtain a letter of recommendation that will help when applying for other jobs, especially in a new career or industry.  If not, at least obtain a commitment for a verbal reference when called.

So how do you go about finding a volunteer opportunity and how do you select the right one? Here is an excellent article about how to do just that: http://www.wikihow.com/Volunteer.  For help looking at available opportunities you might try: http://www.volunteermatch.org/?gclid=CNPf44fWnrECFYio4AodGGIHgg.

If you have been unemployed for a while I would encourage you to just get started and get out there to do something – with your church, the church or non-profit nearest you – wherever! You will see immediate benefits and can give further time and thought to more career-related opportunities as you step away from the computerized job search and get out and about a bit more.

I'd love to hear from you! Comment below...

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM

lifeworks@mail.com

Professional, Rehab, &; Occupational Services, LLC

http://www.life-works.info

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysevinsky

Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile: 410.444.1989 | Skype Mary E. Sherwood

Read another great article:  Job Search Tip: map out your ideal day

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