Volunteering - The Right Track

Just about this time last year, numerous students were commenting in local newspapers that completing their 40 hours of volunteer work was stressing them out. Comments suggested that it was real tough to find opportunities to work as a volunteer and that when and if you did find an opportunity, the work was mostly menial, boring or emotionally draining, as I recall.

The Eastern Ontario Training Board partnered with numerous community sponsors soon after this whining and approximately 75 students received an opportunity to spend their 40 hours of volunteer work as members of the Balloon Festival Team, working as part of balloon crews, ground crews, security helpers, information providers and other such jobs. Maybe the most interesting part was the opportunity to meet April Wine and ABBA-Gold groups.

The students involved in the experience offered very positive comments about their experience. That having been said, I’m sure that some of them were not really that impressed but at the same time, they did get an opportunity to complete their hours doing something that had the potential to be fun while gaining experience and most likely feeling good about themselves.

Some of the important things to remember when looking at volunteering is the fact that interning and flat-out working for free are good ways to get your foot in the door or simply trying to pick up some new skills.

"Volunteer work tends to be one of the more visible ways to network because it gives you an opportunity to develop and demonstrate skills," said Katharine Hansen in her book A Foot in the Door. "The experience you list on your resume does not have to be paid experience."

The easiest way to find work-for-free opportunities is, of course, with non-profit groups. Leading an environment exploration crew, helping illiterate people learn to read or working with a host of other community organizations can provide or hone the skills you'll need in your next job.

A range of opportunities -- both internships and volunteer jobs – with non-profits can be found by contacting the Eastern Ontario Training Board at 932 0210 or e-mail to denist@eotb-cfeo.on.ca You can also find organizations through your school board, city hall, community care access centre & many others.

But what if you're more interested in a paycheck than in community service? Working for free might still be an option. Try out the idea with smaller organizations. Larger ones probably have too much bureaucracy to make the plan work.

Make sure you "wow" your boss. Whether you end up with a job at the place you're volunteering, or just come away with a fistful of references, you want to make sure you leave a good impression.

By the way, I have checked around with numerous agencies to find out how many requests they have been receiving from students who want to offer their services. Guess what? Only one stated that they have had a request. One fact is certain, since the inception of the volunteer hours requirement, this Training Board has yet to receive one offer of volunteerism by a student.

For those of you who have done your 40 hours or have placements, I commend you for your actions and on behalf of those that you have helped directly or indirectly, we take this opportunity to thank you and wish you well as you take your next step towards the world of work and hopefully a very fulfilling career.

For more information, please contact the EOTB's Executive Director, Denis Thibault: 613.932.0210 or denist@eotb-cfeo.on.ca