Overton Leadership Associates knows that most young adults who are working, searching for work or in college are not interested in volunteering, but there is nothing wrong with offering a few hours of your time to charities and nonprofit organizations. How do I know, you may ask? One of my prior jobs was as a Volunteer Coordinator at a nonprofit. I recruited volunteers, young and old, from throughout the metropolitan area. The volunteers taught basic computer skills, painted walls, cleaned out flower beds, repaired picnic tables, conducted literacy training, and many other activities. The need for volunteers never ends. Lend a hand if you have as little as 1 hour of free time.
How to get started as a volunteer
Ask one or two responsible friends if they want to join you for a volunteer session. Search the websites of nonprofits and charities in your city/town. Call them and state that you have a small group (no more than 3 people total) that is interested in volunteering and ask if they have any needs. Schedule a day and time to volunteer. Make sure that you and your group members are well-groomed and properly-dressed for the tasks that that you have agreed to perform. Show up on time (meaning 5 minutes early)—do not be late! Once onsite, be pleasant, patient and demonstrate a caring attitude. Ask for a facility tour or an orientation briefing so that you will understand the mission of the charity or nonprofit.
Nonprofits and charities want to see you in action for a specified period of time so make sure to deliver 100% effort to whatever tasks you have been assigned. Do not play around or goof off when volunteering—demonstrate seriousness, maturity and professionalism. Nonprofits and charities are, by definition, focused on providing assistance to those who need help. As a result, people with various needs may enter the facility while you are volunteering. Nonprofit employees have to be flexible to respond to these dynamic situations. I mention this so that you will not be surprised if things do not go exactly as you had expected whenever you are volunteering at a nonprofit or charity. Bottom line: Regardless of how things go, do not complain! If things went well, then ask the volunteer coordinator to write a letter that lists the number of hours you served and describes the services you provided. Make sure to keep track of your record of volunteer service. It may come in handy further along in your career.
Note for young adults who are searching for work: If you are between jobs and then get a job interview, you can show the interviewer your record of volunteer service. Most job interviewers will be impressed with an individual who has been volunteering instead of just sitting at home.
In closing, remember this: An agency can conduct a background check that may result in your being denied the ability to volunteer at that particular agency, but no one can prevent you from taking action to clean up your neighborhood’s public streets and sidewalks by picking up trash, branches and debris; raking leaves, and/or shoveling snow. Therefore, whether with an agency or in your neighborhood, it’s important to volunteer your time resulting in action that makes things better.
Herb