Employers Are Looking For Experienced Volunteers

The cycle of interviews and job applications goes something like this. Recruiters look for employees that have experience; however, people looking for paid work, especially the younger generation, are constantly frustrated due to the difficulty of getting that experience. This is where volunteering comes in. Volunteer work was once only indicated as good citizenship and an extra-curricular activity, but this is now the farthest from the truth. In fact, many companies demand employees to have life experience, especially in the volunteer sector. Often, organizations provide real work experience, training, and opportunities for workers to experiment in ways that are not often offered by jobs. Many non-profit organizations are now more-than-willing to allow volunteers to put their skills to use by implementing such tasks as marketing, web development, event planning, etc. According to the Canadian Heritage, roughly 80% of jobs are not advertised, making is significantly more difficult for people to find jobs. Volunteer work offers the ability to network with those in the government sector, private sector, and the public at large, making it easier for those looking for paid work to find work. Building relationships is an important part of finding paid work; most times, the organizations or agency can recommend fellow volunteers with paid work. Volunteering locally or abroad can put job seekers ahead in the search for a respectable career. When looking for volunteer work, volunteer organizations that represent communities, cities, and provinces is an easy way to match personal skills and volunteer tasks. For example, when looking for volunteer experience in Toronto, there is a Toronto Volunteer website that carries several organizations that are looking for help from students and the local community. The competition is stiff in the current market. The economy is improving; however, it is still extremely difficult for the unemployed, especially graduated students, to find a respectable job. Volunteer work gives the younger generation the ability to use their newly developed skills, network, and build life experience. Volunteer experience is what puts people ahead of the pack.###