Most of us have a charity or group where we volunteer our time and efforts. In the midst of a job search, particularly a stressful one, it would seem natural to dial back your involvement. But, this is one place where you shouldn’t retreat. The relationships you have established - even if new or underdeveloped – in the places you volunteer can be extremely powerful in your job search. Increasing your involvement can very well lead to a job offer in a place you never expected to find one.
Winning Hearts and Minds - The closer you work with fellow volunteers, the better they will get to know you. And, let’s face it, people help and hire those they like. Give people the opportunity to get to know you – not your tails of unemployment. Like we discussed last week, remember not to dwell on the fact you are looking for a job. You want everyone to think of you in terms of the great addition you would be versus the person who is always talking about being unemployed.
Words and Deeds – The interview process is a two-way street. You size up a future employer just as they do the same to you. Both sides are trying to figure out if the other “walks the talk.” By working side-by-side with someone in a volunteer capacity, you get to see if someone’s work ethic is in line with yours. Moreover, make sure you are gravitating towards those that give 110%. Good people always know good people.
Do What You Know – When volunteering, most people think in terms of what the Not for Profit does as a function: soup kitchens need help in the kitchen, Big Brothers/Big Sisters need adults to sponsor kids, etc. But shift your mindset to what you do best. If you are in accounting, volunteer your time to help with the books. A sales professional would be a great fundraiser or trainer of other fundraisers. You will not only be showcasing what you do, but your value-add to the organization will be even greater. Not to mention, you increase the likelihood of interacting with Board Members – who might have a connection or two. Talk about the "hidden" job market.
It Doesn't Always Have to Be a NFP - The key here is to get you out using and contributing your skill set. When you list yourself as a "consultant" or "freelance" on your resume, no one is going to ask what you were paid. The closest you will get is "what's your bill rate?" The bottom line is that you can contribute your expertise wherever you like and you are only limited by those who won't take you up on your offer. This is also a great way to develop some new skills and subject matter expertise that you might be lacking - volunteer to work on a project to get some OJT.
If you have been thinking of retreating from your volunteer commitments in order to focus more time on your search – Don’t. Get more involved, make more connections and leverage your skills set in doing so. It is a win-win for everyone involved. Not only might you find a job in the process but you will do some great work to feel good about in the interim.
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Kevin, I co-facilitate a job club for military veterans in our community, and this is something that I've suggested to them from the beginning. Thank you for affirming this! A person never knows when the right opportunity will present itself, and if they only stay home reading classified ads or watching job boards on the Internet, they may miss the greatest chance of their lifetime. This is networking at its best - giving back to the community; and you never know who may be observing your efforts and want to discuss your next career move! Thank you for always providing valuable information!
Naomi,
Thanks for your comment! Also, thank you for what you are doing to support fellow veterans. As a former Infantry Officer, this is a topic very near and dear to me.
If I can ever help out with your group in any way, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Best,
Kevin
Good article Kevin , I always thingking that the world is all about "giving and receiving" instead of old pemeo "take and give" . Building a community where we can volunteer our time and sharing our expertise is also a good way to exercise ourselves and benchmarking our value in a community. In other word the more you share shows how much you know. But never forget that people dont care how much you know until they know how much you care. So the message here is lets start caring people
Thanks
Richard
Kevin, 9 years ago by invitation I began volunteering in economic infrastructure development. Since that first application, I’ve made 27 + trips to 6 different countries assisting in some form or process of economic/business development. 170+ entities currently operate as result of others like me who decided to give back in the form of volunteerism/participation. In 6 months, I leave on a 3 year assignment outside the US all a result of that initial volunteering…
…keep up the good work in teaching people there is a different process of life beyond the standard mechanisms of skill set management… Reward isn’t what others tell you, it is what you believe in and seeing it come to fruition may be the venue of a lifetime career opportunity...
I couldn't agree more Kevin. I volunteer my services with more than a few organizations and find it to be a great way to network. It positions yourself as the authority in your niche to those you are helping. So when they do need or find someone who needs your services, you happen to come to mind.
It is a blessing to serve others!
I volunteer at a career management and networking group and I tell people to volunteer all the time.
First of all and most importantly...it gets them out of the house. So often people who are in transition want to stay tucked away and don't realize that Jerry Springer and the "judge" shows aren't hiring anyone. They need to get out an meet people.
Secondly, volunteering to offer your area of expertise keeps your skill set/experience current and can fill in the gap for you when discussing your transition time in an interview. It also serves as a "current" professional reference. If you have been looking for over a year or so, your "professional references" at your last job can be a bit outdated if you're not keeping in touch with them.
Lastly, it takes the focus off of the "ME" and redirects it. Being consumed with the "me" or selfish motives can lead to depression ("woe is me") or unproductive job search especially when networking where desperation and selfish motives can be easily detected.
As an Executive Career Coach with who has successfully coached over 500 executives in 5 years I can attest to the power of this strategy. It does four things that are needed by those in career transition:
Increases your network
Fills a gap on your resume
Gives you a reason to get out of the house and away from refrigerator (for those who are prone to overeating during stressful times)
Makes you appreciate how fortunate you are when you work with those less fortunate than you which keeps your self-esteem and outlook on life at a productive level.
Thanks Kevin for this reminder of the value of volunteering for those in transition!
Kevin:
Excellent advice! Volunteering does so much for your psychology (assuming it's a cause for which you have some passion), and can help your search in so many other ways as well. I list a number of those in the article linked below.
You do have to be sure to manage your involvement and time in a way that it doesn't interfere with mission-critical search / marketing activities. You also have to be careful that it really does feed your soul. If it satisfies both criteria, then it's a great use of your time.
Here's a piece I wrote on this, "Volunteer...To Be Marketable"
http://www.jhacareers.com/Volunteer.htm
John
Thanks for this article, I joined your linked-in group. The information shared has been very valuable to me as I continue to look for employment within my field as an Public Administrator. I will stick with volunteering my services while networking until I am at the right place at the right time. Plus I have been enjoying the activities and the people I am connecting with. Today I was elected as VP of Membership Services for a 501.c3 organization. Now I get a chance at demonstrating my public relations skills. Looking forward to new beginnings.
Again, your article was right on time. I do see a light at the end of the tunnel.
As an at-home wife and volunteer, I can say with confidence that you couldn't have gotten this more right, Kevin. Allow me, though, to add a few further "benefits" of volunteering.
You mentioned that volunteering can lead to a job offer. If that isn't a viable option, as in the case of the government agency where I volunteer, what one can generate through commitment and professionalism are excellent references, which are always valuable.
Furthermore, while I agree with you about playing to your strengths, I think there is room when volunteering to test your limits. I'm a writer who volunteers as a job hunter's aide at a one-stop career center. In my nearly two years there I've "morphed" into a career counselor. I never envisioned myself teaching, but I've taken quite a shine to it and have been invited to teach outside of the agency. Fundamentally I'm still a writer, but now I can add "instructional skills" to my resume. Pretty cool!
And one last vignette worth considering: I always counsel my clients to volunteer. When one man challenged me with, "Why would I offer my skills for nothing?" I asked him if he was job hunting 40 hours a week. When he said, "No," I pointed out to him that since he wasn't making any money in his free time to begin with, he might as well continue to not make money but keep his skills fresh and meet people who might help him. As you say, just because there's no money/salary involved doesn't mean it isn't work!
Cheers!
A number of weeks ago I responded to an ad on craigslist looking for someone to handle web work for a non profit (an area of expertise of mine).
Couple of weeks went by and I spoke to the exec director and with my extensive experience in other non-profits in the sporting and organizational world I have been asked to try and improve awareness for the organizations message. A big task, but something that once I get fully into it can and will make a difference in people's lives.
Am focussing on local channels first then my nearest big city (NYC) then bigger and better things.
Once I return to the land of the taxpaying public I feel this will be a exercise in time well spent.
Thanks for sharing this info, Kevin. Volunteering also helps the volunteer to stay sharp and grow a professional network. It's one of the best ways to approach to getting a job.