How to Improve Job Prospects by Volunteer Work

Are you one of those people who keep going to job interviews and getting told that you have good qualifications or good presentation but “you don’t have enough experience”? Volunteering is the perfect solution for you. It may take determined research, but there are volunteering opportunities in most aspects of life. Find one that gives you experience in the field you’re targetting, and you solve your career blockage while doing something rewarding and satisfying in its own right.

Start by analyzing the skills and attributes that you need in your chosen career path. At first, you may use words that are specific to the industry, but try to step back and think of generic words to describe them.

Now you have a list of skills and experience that you want to gain, and can start researching volunteer opportunities that will give you those skills and experience.

While you are engaged in that volunteer activity, be aware of what you are doing and how it relates to your chosen career path. Make notes of things you achieve or positive feedback that you receive, as you can include those things in your CV when applying for jobs.

This may sound like you are “using” the volunteer organisation to further your career, and of course you are. But at the same time, you have a very strong incentive to do the best you can for the volunteer organisation, and in fact to go the extra mile, because the more you achieve and the better your feedback, the better it is for your career. A win-win situation!

Photo courtesy of tt on Flickr.