They say your resume should never be longer than one page, but if yours is less than half of a page, then you know you need more job experience. Until you find the employer who knows you’re the best for the job, build up your resume experience by volunteering.
Starting Your Volunteer Career
If you’re already hard at work volunteering your skills in the community, skip right on down to the next section. If not, finding volunteer work can seem almost as daunting as the job search itself. Start by looking in your local phone book for charitable organizations or, if your community has a United Way organization, start there. Choose one or two that appeal to you – you’ll be more likely to gain the experience you need if the work interests you – and pick up the phone.
Think Outside Your Experience
Yes, you may have a degree in accounting, nursing, or teaching, but don’t expect that the volunteer organization you work with will immediately put you to work in a capacity that matches your educational or work experience. Just remember that everything you do in your volunteer career is building valuable career skills you may not even know you needed.
Treat it Like a Job
Serious about gaining volunteer career experience? Then treat it like a job. Ask for regular assignments or hours, and always show up. After you’ve been there a while, ask for increased responsibilities or duties. When you do your resume again, you’ll see how great it looks to say that you filled regular shifts and moved up in the ranks.
Network – For Jobs and Volunteer Experiences
Network at your volunteer job just like you would at a paying gig. If there’s a project planned that would look great on your resume, promote your abilities; if you hear of another volunteer organization that needs someone with your skills, offer them. Your fellow volunteers will see just how great you are as a team member, so ask them if you can use them as references in your job search. You never know when one might point you toward an opening.
Volunteering is a great way to build your experience and learn more about your community. So is working as a temp or temp-to-hire employee. Contact Staffing Partners today to see how we can help you build resume experience and further your career goals.
