5 Ways to use Volunteer Experience to get a Job

This can work for ANYONE looking for a job, not just college grads.

Forbes recently pulled together 15 career experts and asked them to share interview tips for college grads. According to one career expert from LinkedIn, 42% of hiring managers say, “they view volunteer experience equivalent to formal work experience.” (So feel free to breathe a huge sigh of relief if you, like me, can’t afford the path of unpaid internships to build your resume after college.)

But this news is a huge win for Millennial job seekers! As a generation, we’re already civic-minded, which apparently sets us on a great path to landing a future job. But it isn’t as easy as “I volunteered in college – I’ll take one job, please!” So how can you use your experience wisely?

1. Numbers, stats and specificity will impress more than vague references.
While employers love the idea of hiring altruistic and kind people, it isn’t enough to set a candidate apart from the rest of the pack. So on your resume, list out specific actions you took that yielded specific results for your cause, along with exact numbers for the inputs (what you put into the project), outputs (what came out of your activity), and a description of the outcomes (the change in condition felt by the people or community you served). Be ready to expand on those numbers during your interview.

2. Use examples that show you can do THIS job well.

If you’re telling the same story the same way in every job interview, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Identify the core competencies the employer wants to see from an applicant and talk up those aspects of a volunteer project. Let’s say you helped execute a massive fundraising campaign on your campus. At times, you probably had to coordinate a lot of moving pieces for events. At other times, you may have had to use your communication skills to persuade people to take a certain kind of action (which is an actual prompt I have used in behavioral interviews, by the way). Figure out what skills the interviewer wants to hear about and focus your answer on those skills.

3. Seek out employers who will value your experience.

Service corps like Americorps and Teach for America, government agencies, issue campaigns, and nonprofits like us here at United Way are extremely interested in hiring applicants with relevant volunteer experience. And for-profit companies value volunteer experience, too. Every year Deloitte hosts an Alternative Spring Break with United Way where high-performing underclassmen spend a week volunteering alongside Deloitte’s young professionals and partners. Deloitte gets to see how students perform working in teams to improve lives. And students—who we know want to work for a socially responsible employer—get a chance to peek inside Deloitte’s awesome, community-focused culture. It’s a win-win, especially considering so many students from this ASB program now work for Deloitte.

4. Use your volunteer opportunities as a chance to network.

It’s a fact of life: landing your dream job can sometimes boil down to who you know. Hiring managers are pressed for time, often reviewing hundreds of resumes. So when you meet people, leave a positive lasting impression on them. It may help ensure your resume gets a second look and may lead to a foot in the door. So next time you’re volunteering, get to know the staff. See if you can interact with their executive director. Tell them you’re looking for jobs and ask if they know anyone at X, Y and Z employers. Some of the most powerful people in your community sit on the boards of local nonprofits. By volunteering, you could be stepping into a very influential network. Leverage it!

5.  Make your volunteering count.

No one will hire you if you describe your volunteering experience as, “I sat at the front desk and answered the phone one day.” With every volunteer opportunity, you have the chance to support a cause you’re passionate about, change someone’s life, grow as a leader and refine your skills. Take it seriously and give it your all!

Happy job hunting!

Article originally posted at www.UnitedWay.org

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Baby, I'm Watching Over You

During our Days of Action Children's Literacy Event we not only gave out 450 backpacks and over 3000 books but we also read stories to the kids and did activities with them.  One of the stories that we read was Baby, I'm Watching Over You, by Carol Casey.  The book is about men and women who are serving our country overseas and their bond with their children.  It illustrates that no matter where they are, they are always watching over and protecting their children.

After listening to the story we asked the kids if they would like to write a letter to a soldier or draw a picture that we could send to them. Nothing is better than the innocent words of a child, the letters were short and heartfelt and covered with colorful stickers and pictures that they drew.  

All of the letters will be sent to a group called Operation Gratitude and they will make sure they get sent to our troops.  Below is a sample of a couple of the letters, if you would like to see all of the letters please visit our website.

 

5 Steps To Being A Great Volunteer

What are you doing this summer? If it's your first year as a summer volunteer, you may have a lot to learn. A good volunteer can make a real difference in the community. To do a good job and make a great impression, follow these tips.

Always Arrive On Time (or Early)

When you volunteer, other people depend on you. If you're late, it could be detrimental to everyone's day. Always arrive early or on-time for your volunteer assignment. If you have to be late or miss a day, call ahead to let your supervisor know.

Dress Appropriately for Your Job

Summer volunteer jobs vary in their clothing requirements. Before you start, ask your supervisor what you should wear. Office jobs need different types of clothing than outdoor jobs. You'll dress differently for an active assignment than for a day at a desk. Keep in mind that you may need different clothes for different parts of your summer volunteer work. Always dress neatly. Remember, you represent the organization.

Be Helpful and Cheerful

Summer volunteer work can be hard, and you may feel tired and cranky some days. Try to stay positive and cheerful when you're on the job. The people you help will value your friendly face and caring attitude. Sometimes, a smile is all it takes to make the world a better place.

Ask Questions

If you don't understand what you're supposed to be doing, ask for help. Don't be embarrassed if you need advice. It's more important to do things correctly by getting help from others.

Have Fun!

Summer volunteer work is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills. Work hard, but have fun while you're doing it. Your great attitude about your work will help other people see how important your charity is.

United Way of NWMI gives 3000+ books to 457 area children!

Day of Action is a United Way Worldwide event every June focused on Children’s Literacy. Our Days of Action Childrens Literacy Event helps to prevent summer learning loss by providing children with reading materials to keep them reading throughout the summer months. Through community support, United Way of Northwest Michigan was able collect more than 3000 new and used books through book drives and distributed them to 450+ youth in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties.  If you’d like to be a part of Days of Action summer 2015, contact Michelle Gallagher

This event would not have been possible without the sponsorship of UPS.  They gave us the money we needed to be able to have the impact that we did.  They also delivered the books to each event in their really cool UPS truck with the flames on it, the kids LOVED the truck!

We also have to thank Chase Bank and Traverse City Area Public Schools for helping with the book drive.  With their support we were able to collect over 3000 books that we distributed to children in the five counties that we serve; Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau. 

Last but certainly not least are the local libraries and parks that let us come in with all of our books, backpacks and activities.  Kingsley Public Library, Benzie Shores District Library, Suttons Bay Bingham Library, and two community parks; Kalkaska Children's Garden and the Elk Rapids Rotary Park.   

To see pictures of this event visit our Facebook page or you can view them on our Flickr page.