October 14, 2010

How to volunteer your way to a job

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If you're a job seeker, volunteering is a great avenue to donate your time to a worthy cause while being able to fill in gaps on your resume and network with people who may help you eventually find paid employment.

Too many times I see job seekers disappointed because what they thought they would get from their volunteering didn't match their expectations. When I carefully examine the scenario, I mostly see strategy problems. Before you set out to volunteer, keep these three points in mind:

Pick a cause you believe in. If you don't, others with whom you're working will sense that your efforts aren't genuine. You can get a list of associations and non-profits on the Seattle Networking Guide.

Decide whom you'd like to meet. Most non-profits and associations have their board of directors listed. Take a look at United Way of King County, for example. If you would like to meet Dan Brettler, chairman and CEO of Car Toys or David Bley, director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, or Colleen Brown, president and CEO of Fisher Communications, this would be a good venue to try to meet them.

Make sure to leverage your expertise. While serving food or cleaning a room may be a useful or kind act, both you and the organization can benefit the most if you engage in activities aligned with your experience, expertise and education. Sharing your knowledge or doing consulting-type activities not only helps the cause, it also helps you put meaningful information on your resume.

To find a volunteer role appropriate for you at a particular organization, first do some research to find out the primary goals and initiatives of the group. Then, identify the primary connectors inside the organization and who the event organizers are.

Once this research is done, you'll need to connect with the right folks to find out the most appropriate volunteer opportunities available. Most times, if you communicate your expertise and articulate what you are able to contribute, they can create a role for you or keep you in mind as positions open up. Also, keep in mind that once you pick your preferred group, association or non-profit, you have to actually commit enough of your time to make an impact.

Do a great job in the role you're assigned, and most importantly, take the time to connect with those whom you targeted when creating your initial strategy. Remember, Seattle is a small town. Many of the folks involved are full-time employees of companies for whom you might want to work and they'll see your volunteer work ethic and form impressions of how you'll potentially function inside their businesses.

Paul Anderson of ProLango helps professionals in transition find their desired employment.

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networking, resumes, volunteer

1 Comments

Regular Reader on October 15, 2010 10:31 AM | Reply

Interesting thread that runs through many of Paul's articles - no matter what the scenario is - it must be YOUR FAULT if you aren't getting what you want/need. Reality check - we are in one of the worst economies most people remember in their lifetimes. Employers are not hiring, and the few people who do seem to get jobs are usually those who "know someone," whether they're qualified for the job opening or not. What does this tell those of us who are "career seekers?" Here are a few possibilities to consider: 1) Don't waste your time "volunteering" for an employer who should pay you. It's unlikely to lead to anything productive for your career; 2) Don't worry about getting new skills or education, rather worry about meeting and schmoozing with people who can hire you regardless of your skills or abilities; and 3) For the brave and more visionary among us, consider starting your own business so you can set your own wage and earn as much money as possible for yourself without enriching the management layers above you.

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