It’s incredible the number of ways you can find the right job. Resumes and interviews aside, a consideration when on the job hunt as you continue on your career path is to try volunteering. By volunteering in your community you have the opportunity to continue building your skillset and practice your trade. You even have a chance to build up an expansion to your circle of acquaintances which can lead to further job opportunities.
Practice and Build Your Skills
Because most people and organizations love to get something for nothing, volunteering can be an easy way to gain a position where you can put your degree or training into practice. This could be as an accountant for a nonprofit organization or as a certified journeyman electrician. Whatever your training there is almost always an opportunity to practice a skill for those who are just getting out of training or those who want to keep their skills fresh as you look for that new job.
Build that Referral List
Volunteering is yet another terrific way to build your networking circle. By meeting and working for, as well as with new people, you continue to build a wide range of referral options that may work to your advantage if you prove yourself as a team player as well as a hard working employee. A good referral list can often be the difference between getting an interview or being looked over.
Help to Keep Your Spirits Up
Often the job hunting process can be more draining that an actual work week. By having a time and place to go where you keep your skills fresh you not only help to maintain a schedule but you also let yourself feel that sense of accomplishment with a job well done or a goal completed. This can often reflect in your attitude when going into interviews and even when writing your cover letters for resumes. Both of which can affect your attractiveness as a perspective employee.
Get Your Foot in the Door
When you take the time to volunteer at or for an organization it can often lead to a paying job. This can happen through possible job opportunities that may arise within the organization in many ways. One example would be an administrative position within a charitable organization at which you already volunteer as a part-time bookkeeper.
By volunteering, not only will you provide yourself yet another venue to locate more career choices but you will also be giving yourself a chance to help out in your community. That in itself helps you to continue contributing in your field even when you are out of work for any length of time. And keep in mind that you will give your future employer the opportunity to see exactly what kind of employee you will be.
