If you are unemployed or underemployed, defy the common assumption that volunteering is just for those well off to do so.
In reality, volunteering just like interning, can make you a stronger job candidate if you are unemployed, have no employment history, or are underemployed.
Research proves this.
Former United States Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis says, ” Volunteerism can be a way to help unemployed workers expand their network of contacts, improve their résumés, and make a positive impression in a competitive job market.”
Also, consider this common scenario, you are searching for work and you find the job you want.
The issue? The job post states that the company wants applicants with experience.
This is the worst catch-22 of getting your foot in the door: If you are a college student or recent graduate, you’re applying for entry-level positions, but even these are asking for experience.
How on earth are you going to get any experience when they ask you to have experience at the very start? If it is a real entry-level position that’s meant for people with no previous experience, why do they ask for that requirement? Why do companies include it in their job listings? (Insert the sigh, angry emoji here.) This is incredibly frustrating, but not a complete deal breaker.
This is where volunteering comes in. You can get the skills, experience, references, and respectable organization mentions on your resume that traditional first jobs do not often provide.
So take a moment and apply to volunteer organizations if your current part position is not fulfilling all points listed above. By applying now, you will have lined up a volunteer position in time for the summer.
In honor of Earth Day, here are some green volunteering options:
Forest Preserves of Cook County
City of Palos Hills- Parks and Recreation