To find your perfect job — Volunteer!

Posted by Sean Harry

In my last post I recommended 5 things you can do over the holidays to help you find a job.  In this post I want to encourage you to volunteer as a way to find your perfect job.  That’s right, volunteer.  There are many ways to go about it, and lots of organizations need you – especially during the holiday season.  Here are some suggestions followed by reasons why this is great career advice! In fact, volunteering may be better than a great resume for getting your foot in the door.

Where to show up.

  • Your local food bank.  This is a busy season for food banks. Lots of companies have food drives and people feel as strong compunction to give. Someone has to pick up all of those donations – why not YOU?!  It’s a natural way to get past the Receptionist firewall to see the inner workings of a company.
  • Your professional organization. Are the Project Managers having a holiday gathering?  Do the Accountants of America get together for a holiday soirée? This could be the perfect place to meet people you will work with or for in the coming year.  Beside, many of these events allow you to get in for free if you volunteer to clean up or hand out tickets.
  • Your house of worship.  ‘Tis the season!” How could you put your special skills to good use in your church, synagogue or mosque to help out with the high holy day festivities, while at the same time earning a referral from a trusted resource? This is also great if you need to get some specific work experience under your belt!
  • The Salvation Army – become a bell ringer this Christmas! You would be doing good by collecting funds for an important cause.  All the while you will be in a VERY visible spot!
  • Habitat for Humanity. You would be surprised who shows up at these builds.  You could even be swinging a hammer next to former President Jimmy Carter!

Important tips for volunteering.

BEFORE you run out to volunteer, there are some things you need to do to prepare yourself. These are the “Do’s” and “Don’ts” of being a volunteer:

  • DO go in with the right attitude. Remember, volunteering is NOT about you.
  • DON’T use volunteering as a way to “sell” yourself.  Think of it more as a reconnaissance mission.
  • DO have a 10 word statement about yourself ready to share when asked.  This is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
  • DON’T talk about yourself unless asked!
  • DO take plenty of contact cards.  They only need to include your name, phone number and email address.
  • DON’T take your resume . . . under ANY circumstances!
  • DO have fun!
  • DON’T drink or get out of control in any way.  Behave in a professional manner.  This is NOT the time to have embarrassing photos of you being passed around the Internet!

Volunteering is a great way to jump start your career.  It’s fun, it’s helpful to others, and it will put you in the right place to meet some important people! Why not give it a shot?

Category : Career Advice / Vocation

3 Responses to “To find your perfect job — Volunteer!”


William at DIY VIdeo Marketing November 25, 2009

There’s another benefit– you can learn new skills and avenues to use them while volunteering. Most nonprofits and helping organizations are held together with paper clips & scotch tape, so you wind up doing a dozen different things. Which is a chance to find out new ways of looking at your own path.

I had my own career-changing revelations while volunteering. (One was that I didn’t want to work in a nonprofit!) Got lots of important self-knowledge, some new Big Ideas about the world, and made a LOT of great connections. Good times!

Mike Stankavich November 28, 2009

Sean, you are so right, volunteering can be a big help in your employment search. Two more good things about volunteering – you generally have more control over what time you make available, and sometimes you can get to expand your skillset by trying to learn/do work that you wouldn’t be able to get hired to do as a job.

Liz November 28, 2009

Volunteering may also help you during an interview particularly if there’s a gap in your employment. Talking about your volunteering experience will show you are a caring, well rounded individual. Working in a nonprofit can be a bit chaotic sometimes, due to the lack of resources and organization, and this provides an opportunity to learn how to stay calm and flexible under stress, two qualities everyone needs.