Volunteer Work to Land Your Next Job?
Just about every industry can lend a hand to their community with their specific skills. If you have found yourself among the many thousands who are laid off right now you might want to consider volunteering as a part of your job search strategy.
There are a few reasons why volunteering can lead you to your next potential job:
Most non-profit organizations will post and list members and contributors on multiple levels. This can include posting information on their website, groups and forums, newspapers, emails, and flyers. They share this information within their community and industry. This is a great way for you to obtain exposure and positive PR.
Once your name has been shared on multiple levels you could become known as the guy or gal that lends their time and energy to great causes. Of course exposure is not the only reason you are volunteering. You are also doing it because you believe it is a good cause, “at least hopefully”!
Nonprofits are great at networking. You will find that their rolodex is among the biggest you have ever seen. That’s without you seeing all of their other “hidden” connections. If you are willing to donate your time, you will find that some nonprofits will return the favor by tossing your name in the ring for potential jobs they come across.
This isn’t to say that you should use volunteering as a sole way to obtain a job, but it could be another way of thinking outside the box in your job search. As the old saying goes “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine”. There is something to be said for redeeming favors. Non-profits often live off of redeemed favors. No other industry understands the power of a good favor as well as non-profits.
Make sure that you are aware of any bylaws, rules, and regulations of the organizations before you pursue their contacts. Just understand that you need to hold to the utmost professionalism when speaking with the organization’s contacts. The last thing you would want to do is leave a bad impression of yourself and the organization.
Before you pursue any of the organization’s connections, try to get an in-person introduction by a mutual connect. This will make a bigger impression on the person with whom you are trying to network. The last thing you want to do is blurt out that you are unemployed and using the organization for potential jobs or for your job search. Done incorrectly, or under the wrong context, this could make it look like you’re using the organization. However, you shouldn’t feel bad about using contacts or networking when it is offered to you!
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