How To: Volunteer

by Apathy is Boring — March 30, 2010

There are countless reasons why volunteering your time and skills is a great idea. Not only will you be helping an organization but you'll be learning new skills and information, gaining experience towards future career goals, and maybe even getting school credit for your work [LINK]. There are tons of organizations and businesses that will gladly accept your volunteer work. Even a couple of hours a week is very valuable to them. This article will provide you with some guidance to find yourself a win-win volunteer opportunity.

1. Choose

The first step is quite easy: decide where. What interests you or gets you motivated? Is there a cause you're particularly passionate about? Do some research--there are many online resources, for instance, that can help you find your focus. After you've settled on a few organizations, keep in mind the following: how much time you have to commit, what kind of skills you have to offer or would like to hone, and what kind of work you'd like to do. For more help with this step, read our article on How To Find an Organization To Volunteer For [LINK].

2. Take Initiative

Once you've narrowed it down, you can begin calling organizations, to see what kind of help they need and to set up an interview if necessary. Make sure to read up on their work before going in, as it's important to be aware of their goals and what they actually do.

3. Commit

Finally, once you've obtained a position, remember that you've made a commitment and that people are relying on you. Keep the lines of communication open between yourself and other staff, and of course, feel free to ask questions!

Once volunteering becomes a habit, we find it often becomes a life-long one. You'll be meeting new people, learning new things, and contributing in meaningful ways -- it's more than enough to keep anyone motivated. Take that first step and begin volunteering, because you definitely won't regret it.

Sources

"Volunteer Opportunities - volunteer work, information, organizations." CollegeBoard