Volunteering your way to your goals
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Volunteering your way to your goals
July 6, 2012
Sometimes you find or have good jobs that are great for the time being, but aren’t necessarily giving you the experiences you need to reach your future career goals. A great way to gain this experience, not to mention help your community at the same time, is through volunteering.
A lot of us immediately shy away from volunteering simply because it is unpaid work. Luckily, many organizations provide a variety of opportunities for you to get involved while still working full time. You can check out the Volunteer Canada Web site for more information about how to get involved and to see what opportunities are out there.
Volunteer opportunities come in many forms. You can get involved with something more temporary like a festival or sporting event, or you can devote your time more regularly at a hospital or local charity. Your level of responsibility can also range drastically, from going door to door to raise funds or being a project manager for a large initiative. Whatever the case, you’re gaining some valuable skills and making a difference in your community!
These experiences can help you beef up your résumé and also give you strong references for future employment opportunities.
Feel free to share some of your favourite volunteer experiences in the comments below!