Top Tips for Volunteering This Summer

The right volunteer role can help you prepare for your dream career.

Volunteering can be a great way to learn new skills, find out about different careers, meet new people, and increase your confidence. Put some thought into the volunteer opportunities you pursue, because the right volunteer role can help you prepare for your desired career.

Why should you volunteer?

Not sure if volunteering is worth it? Think again! As a volunteer, you can:

• Explore careers, occupations, work environments, and possible client groups.
• Gain relevant experience to add to your resumé.
• Identify your skills, strengths, interests, and personal values.
• Develop new skills and apply skills from school to a real-world setting.
• Grow your professional network and find positive references.

Top three tips for volunteering

Check out these three tips when volunteering:

• Volunteering can launch your career, so it’s important to treat the experience with the same professionalism as you would a paid job.
• Your volunteering is about personal growth, and you’ll want to get the most out of it. Ask for feedback throughout the duration of your volunteering, so you can begin to assess your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
• Book an appointment with your school’s career services to explore what kinds of volunteer opportunities will be right for you and where you can discover volunteer opportunities.

How to find the right fit

Take the time to discover your goals and preferences and let that guide your search. Ask yourself:

• What is my motivation to do this? Is it to make a difference? Explore career paths? Have something that looks good on my resume?
• What activities interest me? Is it bookkeeping? Writing? Caring for animals? Event planning?
• What focus do I want to be involved in? Advocacy? Crisis and emergency support? Mentoring or coaching?
• What group do I want to help? Children and youth? Seniors? Women at risk? People in trouble with the law?
• What industry do I want to be in? STEM? The arts? Education? Law?
• How much time can I realistically commit?
• How far do I want to travel? Within my neighbourhood? Locally? Nationally? Internationally?
• What qualifications do I have? (skills, education, or certifications)
• What type of volunteer role would prepare me for my dream career?

When it comes time to apply for the volunteer role, analyze the position to get a strong understanding of the skills and qualifications that are required. Use this information when creating your targeted resumé, cover letter, or whatever else they specify to apply with.

You’ve got this! Plus, you can use the same strategies to find a volunteer position as you would to find a paid job. Attend networking events and volunteer fairs, look at postings online, or directly contact companies to inquire about any volunteer opportunities.