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Volunteering
Volunteering: get involved...Volunteering is all about getting involved and making a valuable contribution to your own community or society more broadly. It covers any unpaid work which is undertaken by choice for the benefit of others. Volunteers come from all walks of life and are active in almost all aspects of society. Volunteers can do everything from visiting elderly people to coaching a junior soccer team to raising awareness about a political cause. Many volunteers are motivated by a desire to make a positive difference or ‘give something back’ to society. There is also much to be gained on a personal level by volunteering. As well as the natural satisfaction derived from knowing you are needed and valued, volunteering enables you to:
Volunteering assignments can range from ongoing casual or part-time work to intensive, short-term projects. In some cases volunteering can lead to paid work, but it is best not to go into it with this as the goal. Employability Potential employers know that volunteering requires commitment, motivation and energy, so they look favourably on applicants who have volunteer work on their résumés. Volunteering often involves working for small organisations with limited resources – the kind of environments where initiative, leadership and a can-do attitude are needed and valued. Volunteering of any kind will develop your capacity to:
What and for whom If you want to gain volunteering experience but are not sure what kind of work you would like to do, take some time to assess the following:
The self-knowledge you gain from the above assessment will help you identify a list of potential organisations that best match your needs and skills. Get what you give No matter what kind of volunteer work you undertake, one thing is certain: Volunteering for a cause you believe in can change the way you look at the world and yourself. More importantly, it can bring a deep satisfaction that comes with knowing you are making a difference. This article is taken from the 2008 edition of Graduate Careers Australia's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia Volunteering OverseasUndertaking volunteer work overseas is a great way to combine work experience and travel. Overseas volunteering also looks great on a résumé, as it demonstrates initiative, passion and dedication. There are many formal and informal programs which assist students and graduates interested in volunteering OS. These programs range from weekend work camps to two-year professional placements. Volunteer organisations and your university careers services will be able to help you match your skills and interests with potential overseas volunteering opportunities. Mentally prepared It is wise to a remember that volunteer work is just that, WORK. It is often hard, and most OS volunteers have days when they wonder what they are doing and miss home comforts. Before committing to OS volunteering you should ask yourself:
There are no wrong or right answers to these questions, but they will assist you in determining whether you are genuinely prepared for the OS volunteering experience. What you need Some organisations accept volunteers with little or no relevant qualifications or experience. In these cases, pre-departure or on-site training is often provided. Many organisations, however, will require that you have skills and qualifications that match their specific needs or the needs of the host community. Costs Make sure you find out what costs are involved in OS volunteer placements. Does the organisation charge a fee for placements? What financial or practical assistance is provided for housing or transportation? What regular living costs will there be? How will personal expenses (for health care etc) be managed? Culture shock No matter how prepared you are for volunteer work, a degree of culture shock is inevitable. The intensity and duration of the culture shock will vary from person to person, and will be influenced to some extent by how prepared you are for your new environment. Depending on where you are located, you may have to deal with unfamiliar customs, conditions, weather, attitudes, gender relations, language and political/social arrangements. Services such as banks, doctors and pharmacies may be different to home, which can be stressful. Remind yourself that it is normal to feel unsettled in a foreign place. After a period of time most OS volunteers acclimatise and start to enjoy the differences. For most volunteers, the cultural exchange that takes place between themselves and locals is one of the most rewarding aspects of the experience. Helping hand Volunteer organisations vary in the degree to which they support volunteers on the ground. Some agencies take a hand-holding approach, supporting you closely through every stage of the placement. Other organisations leave their volunteers alone, encouraging them to deal with their local employers instead. Take time to find out exactly what kind of assistance your volunteer organisation will provide and, if possible, talk to past volunteers who can share their experiences. This article is taken from the 2008 edition of Graduate Careers Australia's employer directory Graduate Opportunities . © 2008 Graduate Careers Australia http://www.gradlink.edu.au/content/view/print/2786 |