Get Out There and Volunteer!
If you are transitioning from one career to another in hopes of utilizing your recent degree you might find yourself stuck in a corner with the knowledge but not the hands on experience employers are looking for today. More often than not employers like to see an even balance of education and experience in their candidates but not all experience comes from the same place. Often you need look no further than your local community.
If you are transitioning from one career to another in hopes of utilizing your recent degree you might find yourself stuck in a corner with the knowledge but not the hands on experience employers are looking for today. More often than not employers like to see an even balance of education and experience in their candidates but not all experience comes from the same place. Often you need look no further than your local community.
We give our time and effort in the hope of getting some type of reward whether it is the well-being of doing something for someone else or to enhance our job skills to get a full time position in that field. Volunteering is a crucial way to get that experience you need on your resume and here’s how you do it.
Not-For-Profits: Much of the time these organizations utilize large populations of volunteer staff to help support their businesses. It is a good idea to utilize local resources to search out any non-profit companies in your area and try to contact them. Since many non-profit organizations run just like their for-profit counterparts these organizations may have more of a process to go through such as completing applications and interviews but it can be worth it to add to your resume. Make an attempt to reach out to these organizations and present them with your situation in regards to being a recent graduate and looking to gain more experience in your field by volunteering your services.
Social Groups: Every local community has a plethora of clubs and groups that can provide a treasure trove of outlets for you to volunteer in. Contact your local park district and library to find out the types of groups that may be a part of your community. Maybe they need help setting up their website or getting hooked into social media. Offer your services to them as a volunteer and if you are already a member, all the better! Try and reach out to your current groups or people you know to make those connections.
Faith-Based Organizations: Churches, mosques, synagogues, etc. are great ways to utilize the contacts you have made in your community and lend a helping hand. Whether you are a new IT graduate or a graphic design student you can offer your skills to the organization at no cost. Since many faith organizations operate on a small budget they often need extra help in areas like technology or marketing. You can use the organization’s leadership group as references and add the work you have done to your resume.
By taking some initiative and utilizing the extra time that you may have on hand you can add experience to your resume while helping out various organizations in your community. Also, utilize your time wisely and build networking connections in your volunteer activities. You might even be able to find some full time offers while volunteering your services. If you are in need of any additional ideas and thoughts on job searching tactics please feel free to contact the Career Services Department at 877-221-5800 ext. 15060 or careerservices@aiuonline.edu.
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