William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-05-01 / 5. szám
Focus On youtA The Volunteer Advantage How volunteering can help young people plan their future from The Opportunity Zone vwwv.pch.gc.ca/cyberstation/html/ozone YOUNG PEOPLE OFFER MANY reasons why they volunteer. The number one reason (we're happy to report) is that they want to help others. Young people also said they volunteer because they could meet new people, because their parents or friends encouraged them, or simply because it sounded like fun. Some young people had a different motivation, one that would provide them long-term benefits. Their reason for volunteering? To learn job skills. It's an old paradox: you can't get a job without experience, but you can't get experience without a job. Volunteering could be the solution because it's a superb way to get the practical experience and tested skills that employers demand. It also gives you the feeling of confidence that comes only from having experienced something first-hand. Volunteering shows that you can function in a work environment and offers opportunities to demonstrate what you are capable of doing. It also allows you to build a network and even gives you experience with the dreaded interview process. All this will help you stand out from the crowd when it's time to find a job. There's no doubt that volunteer activities have become an asset when searching for paid work. Most employers today count volunteering as valid work experience. Some even look for volunteer experience when hiring new staff because this shows that a candidate has initiative and cares about the community. Not only that, a growing number of college and university programs are giving priority to students who are active in their community. This means that volunteer work could improve your chances of getting accepted in the program of your choice or getting a scholarship award. Because volunteering allows you to explore your interests and sample new roles, it can be an important tool in planning your worklife. You may be able to discover whether or not a particular type of job is really what you'd like to do over the long term. And you might even have the chance to try out activities that are directly related to a career you're considering. In fact, if work experience is what you need, volunteering could offer a lot more opportunities than minimum-wage jobs. Volunteer organizations are active in so many areas that the opportunities are almost endless. These include public relations, marketing, finance, organizational management, education and training, arts and culture, science, technology, social work and health care. To ensure that your volunteer experiences will help build a platform for your future, keep track of the type of volunteer work you have performed. Reflect on your volunteer experiences; write down or store in a computer file the knowledge and skills you've built through those experiences. Highlight your accomplishments. Also, record the names and addresses of those who supervised your volunteer work and, with their permission, use them as references when applying for a job. |\y|Hj What YOU Can Do ✓ Think about the problems in your community that matter the most to you and what you could do to help. ✓ Talk to your local Volunteer Center, United Way agency or guidance counselor to learn what volunteer opportunities are available. ✓ Select organizations whose goals appeal to you and see what types of volunteer work you could do for them. ✓ Try various types of volunteer work. Keep a record of your volunteer experience, the knowledge and skills you built and the names of people who supervised you. Nillin feu Life, May 2000 3
