Comments on: volunteer your way into a new job

By: ICT

ICT — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:50:06 +0000

Thank you for sharing such an informative article. It’s nice to have great ideas just like what I’ve read in http://www.integritycareertransitions.com/blog/

Keep it up!

By: » Alternate ways of Personal, Leadership & Executive Development Sustaining Change: 1-Focus . . . 1-Identity

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:18:30 +0000

[...] Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience in areas where you may not have the opportunity at work. Not-for-Profits are always looking for individuals who are willing to step forward and take on a leadership role. It might even lead to a new job. [...]

By: Joe Stubblebine

Joe Stubblebine — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:39:16 +0000

Steve, great post. We’ve worked with City Year in Philadelphia, where you give a year of service to your community for a very small stipend and room and board – typically done after college but before entering the working world – I’ve met some impressive human beings who are involved with this organization. Check it out at http://www.cityyear.com.

By: Is now a good time for a change? « Marenated

Is now a good time for a change? « Marenated — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:56:32 +0000

[...] also highly reccomend volunteering in a non-profit. Biz Dev is a huge hole for so many non-profits and if you think you’d be good at it, offer [...]

By: Luke

Luke — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 21:03:39 +0000

Volunteering is a great way how to enhance your own experience and to put some new things on your resume, but it can be hard to find a volunteering possibility in the area you need.
But mentally, volunteering can help a lot.

By: californiagirl

californiagirl — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:47:28 +0000

I agree with this post! It is better to do something rather than nothing. Therefore, if all you can get in this economy are volunteer opportunities, it is worth it.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:42:01 +0000

Awesome post, Steve, and very sage advice. I have given similar to friends of mine whose children are out of college and out of work. The first reaction is “huh? why would that work?” but when they decide to go and volunteer they are not only amazed at the number of people who they can network with and learn more about certain industries, they feel good about themselves. There are, afterall, people out there who are much less fortunate that we are even if we are the unemployed.

Thank you for this post.
Linda

By: Kim Avery, Certified Career Coach

Kim Avery, Certified Career Coach — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:20:16 +0000

I’m so glad you brought this up. Volunteering is also a good way to explain the ‘gap’ that may appear between graduation and that first job.

Describing what you learned volunteering is a good way to present your skills in a job interview when without that experience you would have been left with nothing to say.

By: Kari Quaas

Kari Quaas — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:57:05 +0000

Plus volunteering is good for the soul. Great suggestions, Steve.

By: Amy S

Amy S — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:13:51 +0000

Good Advice. Volunteering not only creates networking opportunities and a great way to gain valuable experience, it also allows you to shift the focus off yourself for a while, important I believe in this challenging economy where there is so much fear and panic around. Helping others can be very personally rewarding and helps builds self confidence which will naturally help you in your job search.