How to Choose Volunteer Work
Whether you're a full-time employee, student or retiree, volunteer work can add an extra dimension to your life, not to mention your resume. Here's how to choose a non-paid gig that's fulfilling and might even lead to a new career.
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Instructions
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Set aside a quiet hour or two, after dinner or on a quiet weekend afternoon, to do some brainstorming. Taking time to write down what your interests and skills are will save you wasted time and effort pursuing volunteer jobs that just aren't "you."
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On a pad of paper or computer, write down the things you love. Do you enjoy photography, cooking, skateboarding or discussing indie films? List all of your interests, and jot a star next to the ones that are the "biggies." Next, list the groups or individuals that would be likely to want these services. If you love to take pictures and enjoy kids, maybe you could volunteer to do photos for Little League or a children's school project. If you enjoy cooking, volunteering in a soup kitchen might give your hobby a boost, and help others at the same time.
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Once you have listed three or four interests and groups that would benefit by them, it's time for the next step.
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Practice the low-tech approach of thinking of schools, businesses, public facilities (like libraries, recreation centers and senior centers) and churches that appeal to you. Look up their phone number, call the appropriate facility and ask to speak to the volunteer coordinator. Then, explain your skills and interests and ask if there are opportunities available that would be a good fit.
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The high-tech solution is to investigate a volunteer matching site. See the Resources section for a link below. Type in keywords such as "seniors, photography, or cooking" along with your city or zip code, and see what comes up. The more specific you are with keywords, the fewer choices you'll receive, so broaden your search if you want to explore a number of possibilities. Your search results will provide a brief explanation of the volunteer position, along with a contact person and website, if there is one. Now you just need to make a phone call or send an email with your qualifications, and you're on your way.
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Understand that this approach won't necessarily guarantee a perfect fit with the first gig, but will definitely increase your chances of success. When accepting a volunteer assignment, look for short-term assignments at first and then, if you and the organization are a good fit, you can commit to a longer period of time.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask friends and family for input, too. They may know your skills and abilities even better than you do.
Don't send money to an organization that says you have to pay to volunteer. Legitimate volunteer work should not require an upfront investment.
