Volunteer! Part 2

HOW TO GET STARTED

You've decided that you want to volunteer, but where do you begin? How do you get started?

Most people will volunteer doing something that is something of interest or passion. Chances are you will enjoy the experience and ultimately get more out of the experience if you enter a field that you are passionate about. So think about things that are of interest to you? Often times volunteer work is related to social help, but doesn't need to be. The key is to get yourself into an environment that is of interest to you. If animals and pets are of interest to you, then working with animals at a local animal shelter may be a great way to volunteer. Animal shelters are often under-funded and overburdened, and are in need to volunteers to help run them. If travel and working with people from different cultures is something that really gets you excited, then joining the peace corps or a similar organization may be worth a look. The peace corps will obviously take you outside of the United States for a couple of years, so this may be one of many factors to weight when thinking about strategy. It is an example used for this blog, but the idea is to take an interest and run with it. Research different ways you may volunteer. What organizations may have opportunities to volunteer? And if I were to volunteer, what are the requirements? The end of this blog will have a few places to look to get started, but research is important. You don't want to get yourself into something that is not a fit for you.

Skills: What skills are required for the volunteer work that you are researching. And what skills would you learn? What skills do you want to learn? Would you be working with people? Some volunteer opportunities will consist of a lot of office work: filing, typing, data entry, etc. Is this something you are comfortable or qualified to do? Will the volunteer work require you to solicit door-to-door? Will it require public speaking or writing skills? These are all things to consider. There are no right or wrongs here, just preferences that may be a better match for your personality and goals. Sometimes the entry point into a field or organization is not exactly what you would like to do for the rest of your life, but you must feel comfortable doing it. Assume that you will be doing these tasks for an extended period of time.

Schedule: Have a realistic idea of how many hours per week you can contribute. Management in volunteer organizations often work with people that cannot commit a large number of hours. It is helpful if you can provide a consistent schedule to the organization for scheduling purposes. It will make everyone's life easier. Cannot find the time? Start to write down what you do on a daily basis for a week. TV is one of the biggest time consumers today. Is it possible to give up a few hours of TV per week to make time to volunteer? Writing out what you do on a daily basis may help you get a better idea of your habits, and ultimately help you organize your time more efficiently.

Mentor: It is helpful if there is a mentor or supervisor that can oversee your work and to lend a hand if possible. This person will also act as a teacher if you are learning a new skill or trade. The relationship of the mentor can be very valuable in learning new skills, and acting as a reference or someone to go to for advice later in life.

Start!: Find a volunteer job, start, and stick with it! It may be hard at first, but it will most likely pay off if you stick with it. Yes, volunteer work does not pay, but often times the experience is the pay. You will come out of the experience a better person for it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Especially when training is provided, the assumption is that you are learning something new. Asking questions is okay! Work with as many people as possible and take on new responsibilities if appropriate. This will expose you to more people, and more areas to learn about. In the end, employers like employees that can take on more work. Be a problem solver: no workplace is without its share of problems. If you see a solution to a problem, and it is a practical solution, share it with your boss! It may or may not be practical, but most of the time your supervisor will appreciate your thoughtfulness. And lastly, have fun! Enjoy the work you are doing.

JV