Make a Positive Change in the Community and in Your Career Development…Volunteer! When we volunteer, we contribute to improving the community. Volunteering can also be a way to contribute to your own professional development by providing you the opportunity to develop skills, network, and learn about a potential career. Even if your primary motivation for volunteering is to help a cause or serve the community, consider the additional benefits related to your personal career development. Skill Development · What skills do you hope to develop or strengthen in order to be more competitive in the job market? · What skills have you not been able to demonstrate through part-time jobs? · What skills do you want to observe others using? Among the varied skills volunteers develop are organizing, persuading, promoting, brainstorming, communicating (speaking and writing), budgeting, planning, leading, coordinating, fundraising, recruiting, instructing, tutoring, coaching, creating, and managing time. Networking Networking opportunities are all around us but we sometimes fail to see them as the valuable resources they are. As a volunteer, you are likely to come in contact with a variety of people within the organization and the larger community. No one wants a volunteer who is there for the sole purpose of talking with others; however, while you are actively contributing pay attention to those around you and consider asking for an informational interview at a later time. You will have a greater chance of success with this if you have proven yourself to be dependable and have demonstrated a positive attitude. Learning about Careers If you can volunteer with an organization closely associated with your career interests, then you may be able to gain valuable insight into the field. For example, if you want to work with a large nonprofit associated with healthcare, then working with any large nonprofit with a healthcare focus can be educational. Remember, however, that no two organizations are exactly alike and your perspective as a volunteer will be different from the perspective of an employee. Observe the activities of the staff, but also ask for informational interviews to get a more comprehensive understanding.
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