Volunteering here in Connecticut feels great because you're helping your neighbors. But we've said time and time again that it can really help you, too. Especially when it comes to your career.
One of the best ways to pave your way to a job or even a new passion is to be an all-star volunteer. So how do you stand out among the crowds? Here are 5 easy steps to take to dazzle your agency.
1: No Assignments? No Problem!
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Great example from one of our volunteers…
“One time, I realized that with my manager out of the office and no tasks having been assigned to me, I was getting bored. Browsing Reddit didn’t seem like a productive use of volunteer time, so I meandered over to the corporate relations team and asked if they needed an extra set of hands for any work. As it happened, they had some documents that needed editing, and I wound up getting a lot of work off of their plates.”
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Managers love volunteers who take initiative this way, and they’ll remember it when it comes time for a recommendation!
2: Spread Your Wings
If you’re an accounting volunteer, there’s no need to limit yourself to accounting. Who needs help in the marketing department? What about donor relations? If you find that you can handle some extra work, ask around at different departments, especially if you’ve already met the employees working there. As beneficial as volunteering is at honing your skill set, branching out is great for you, the agency, and the people who are endorsing you on LinkedIn.
3: Get Involved in Extracurricular Events
Depending on the size of your agency, it may have any number of discussions and lectures on a daily basis, or off-site events for networking or fundraising. Participate in these as much as you can; you’ll learn interesting things, meet new people, and really show your agency that you’re interested in going above and beyond your traditional role.
4: Don’t Live and Die By Your Shift Hours
Volunteers tend to have well-scheduled shift hours, since volunteer coordinators understand that volunteers have life obligations. That being said, if you don’t have anything urgently pressing, don’t be too eager to rush out the door the moment the clock strikes three. “Face time” aside, you may discover new things about the agency after hours, new opportunities you can take on, and you may have a chance to do some after-hours chatting with colleagues who may be too busy during the day.
5: Let Your Exuberance Show!
You’re excited to be here, right? Let it show! Your enthusiasm will be infectious, memorable, and no doubt the agency’s paid staff will be grateful to have such stellar volunteers on the team.
So how are you standing out at your agency? What sorts of events or unique responsibilities are you taking on? Let us know, and be sure to visit VolunteerSquare.com for the latest in Fairfield County volunteer opportunities. Check us out on Facebook & Twitter, too.
