In a recent Environics Institute survey, 34 per cent of Canadians ranked voluntary work as something they do to feel like a good citizen. Taking a voluntary position also has many practical benefits. You can develop and hone your skills in teamwork, problem solving and flexibility/multi-tasking - just three of the top five skills that B.C. employers are looking for, across all occupational categories. Additional benefits include:
Gain work experience;
Build your resumé;
Expand your network of contacts for professional and personal benefits;
Improve your communication skills;
Enhance your self-esteem and self-confidence;
Put some perspective and balance into your life;
Contribute to your local community/get to know your neighbourhood;
Clarify/affirm your sense of purpose;
Learn about Canadian culture and customs.
What's not to like??
Volunteer work has been a core part of my life for the past 16 years, during which time I've had some fun, challenging and varied learning experiences. My confidence has grown exponentially. I've fine-tuned my "soft skills" and, perhaps most importantly, made some lifelong friends.
It is estimated that in Canada, some 12 million volunteers give their time to 161,000 charitable organizations, which generates $112 billion a year for our economy. So, there's plenty of choice to suit your needs and talents. You just have to decide what will work best for you.
If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, here are some questions that might help you decide:
What do you want back, in exchange for your time and effort?
Why do you want to volunteer? Remember, it's perfectly acceptable to think about gaining, as a volunteer, as well as giving. See the above list of benefits for some initial thoughts.
What do you have to offer an organization?
What transferable skills, professional competencies and personal qualities can you put to good use? For example, are you good at organizing and planning? Artistic or technically minded? Good at working in a team? Do you enjoy research and data analysis? Great at problem solving or strategic thinking? Empathetic? Can you offer practical resources, like transportation?
What kind of volunteer role would be a good fit for you and your lifestyle?
What are you able to commit to? Be realistic. What will you do for free? How many hours do you have to spare? What else is important to you? You might consider:
Distance and travelling;
Working alone or in a team;
Working with projects, animals, or people (children, youth, adults, able-bodied, those with disabilities, etc.);
Telephone, computer or face-to-face work;
Local community support or international issues;
Indoors or outdoors.
If you identify an unmet need in your community, maybe you could start up a new voluntary program. The possibilities are infinite.
Tips
Treat the voluntary work as if it's a paid job. People will be relying on you to fulfill your commitment;
Be responsible for your actions and decisions;
Be flexible and patient - your role may change at short notice, as resources may be scarce;
Ask for references and/or testimonials from your supervisor, after an appropriate time commitment. If your goal is to get paid work, you can use these in your job search.
And lastly enjoy yourself!
Hazel Morley is principal of Think Smart: Training and Coaching with Change in Mind. She can be contacted at [email protected]
