Khaleesi86 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I'm sure volunteering can be fulfilling for some people. I'm simply not one of them, lol. I have more than enough things to do around the house (housewife) and enough hobbies (sports) that take up my evenings. I'm definitely not bored. I don't want to volunteer with the hopes that it will get me a job if it's more about the experience and feel-good emotions than actual job potential. I have seen a few volunteer positions that directly relate to the actual job I want which is frustrating. In fact, the volunteer position pretty much is the actual job: kitchen work and companionship in government environments (LTC, hospitals, etc.). These positions pay about 18-25/h and I'm a little angry that they're offering these jobs as volunteer positions when there are so many people struggling (myself included) to find employment. My biggest fear about volunteering is that the volunteer coordinator (also a volunteer) will have little connection to anyone with any power to hire. I worked this job before and the coordinators are present on weekends when no on through HR or the hiring process is even present. The volunteers didn't even have access to our staff lounge so I don't think there will be any chance of networking this way. If there is, I'm afraid I won't get hired because I'll be doing the work for free and let's face it, that's tempting to an employer. Does anyone have any actual success in terms of getting a job through volunteering? I believe in the whole it's who you know now what you know, but I'm debating on if volunteering is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 It is the way I found my job. My husband also gets extra points on his PDR for volunteering. That helps towards promotion. For me volunteering is helpful for the people that you're volunteering for and for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appies Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Nearly every time I've volunteered it has lead to employment. Mind you I work in the health and medical field. But it almost always has resulted in me having the exact skills needed for a job when there was an opening. But quite honestly, you have the wrong attitude about it. You can't look at it as will this turn into money or a job, it needs to be how can you learn from someone who is more knowledgable or more qualified than you and how can it be applied into being an employable person. Most employers will pick up if you are an open minded, diverse and hard worker, and offer you a job. But quite frankly, if you think your time is better off doing house work or playing sports, then don't waste your time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clinton Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Volunteering is a valuable tool in searching for employment. It's a way to show yourself off to future employers and at least for what I do, it's a valuable networking tool. It's often not what you know but who you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaleesi86 Posted August 21, 2015 Author Share Posted August 21, 2015 @Victoria66 What is PDR? @appies I'm very open to the concept of learning from others in the form of training... Paid training, lol. A lot of the volunteer positions here are fluff... Retired individuals getting involved to keep busy, feel satisfied, etc., which would be great if those circumstances applied to me. The coordinators have little access to the network hub. Like I said, they weren't included in the staff lounge, events, etc. It was more of a personal thing for them. But I am applying in the health/medical field so it may be worth considering, but I'm afraid I'll get trapped in a volunteer position. My experience in healthcare has taught me that it's hard to get out of positions, shifts, etc. that no one wants if you agree to them to begin with. If you approach it with the standard of certain availability (or whatever) they tend to work with it. I covered a night shift for a 2 week period because the one staff up and quit and after she was replaced I was still scheduled! Trying to get out of it eventually resulted in being let go even though my contract was day shift. In hindsight, I wish I did like the other staff and not be available to cover that period of night shifts (they were smart, pretended they had previous committments so they wouldn't get stuck), but I wanted to help out. Things like this have happened to me time and time again in this field. Give an inch, they take a mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seraphim Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Professional Development Review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melancholy123 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 I volunteered at the local high school mainly for something to do, I wasn't looking for a job. I found it very rewarding. I was a volunteer at a British car club and the editor of the club magazine for 16 years! I learned so much from that job, and in the end could design an amazing magazine in pretty much any field. My design skills improved dramatically, it was never any sort of waste of time. My husband volunteered in Scouts Canada for about 12 years and he met and networked with a lot of people. It was great for him and all of the kids. Volunteers are the salt of the earth and many things would never happen without them. I think it's a great way to create and develop skills that can help a person get a job or start their own business. If you take the medical volunteer job and it doesnt work out, you leave, and move on to another type of position that may be better suited for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batya33 Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Through volunteering I made long lasting friendships, lasting professional connections (not related to the volunteer work we were doing I should add). And I found it rewarding (the main reason I did it -i wanted to make the kind of contribution the volunteer work related to). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdie Posted August 21, 2015 Share Posted August 21, 2015 Volunteering in health care can be critical in gaining employment. If you don't b e any experience in the field, volunteering allows you to network, learn the unit and how things are run. Most managers will hire someone who kinda knows the deal vs someone who doesn't. If you volunteer and let them know you're also looking for employment, so if a line opens up you'd love to leave them your resume for consideration while, you'd probably have a good shot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appies Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 If you want to make it in the health care field, then you will have to volunteer at someone point. There is no other option. Every student does it before getting a job, or being accepted into a competitive program its just a hoop you have to jump through. You can be picky with who you volunteer with, it doesn't have to be fluff. I've always found the 'experts' love to share their knowledge with volunteers, they know they listen and are fresh. And believe it or not even the experts volunteer, they know its a needed, even the top orthopedic surgeons know that its part of paying their dues to the field, helping those who are less fortunate. Volunteering can actually be very enjoyable and at the very least gives you a solid connect or reference on your resume Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moontiger Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 I think the worth of volunteering depends on the field you are in. My field for example, well you basically have to work for free for at least a year before anyone will consider you for a paused position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snny Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 Volunteering can go either way depending on employers. I have volunteered for festivals, a political campaign, wildlife rehabilitation, and mental health agencies. Sometimes it help me network, grow professionally, and meet new people to form lasting friendships; sometimes they are a waste of my time. It also depends on your level of experience. Some employers will see that money doesn't matter to you and will offer you less. Some will see it as a professional development thing. Again, it depends on the culture of the workplace. Keep your ear to the ground. These positions pay about 18-25/h and I'm a little angry that they're offering these jobs as volunteer positions when there are so many people struggling (myself included) to find employment. Unfortunately... welcome to the economy. This is not uncommon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fudgie Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 At the hospital I work at, volunteers can and do become employees. You have to be an exemplary volunteer and very eager to work and work hard. Make friends with people in certain departments, and then you can sniff around for a job and you have a good shot at getting one. I can also tell you that my years of volunteering with the actively dying and caring for them is what got me my current job. They won't consider you for a position here unless you have healthcare experience, preferably in a hospital. Had I not volunteered, I wouldn't have gotten this job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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