Volunteer to Gain New Skills…and Good Vibes
Have you ever wondered what advice seasoned public servants give most often to those who want to work in government? Volunteer. Volunteering is an act of generosity that turns out to have a lot of personal benefits.
- It can improve your health. A recent study done at Carnegie Mellon University found that volunteering lowered blood pressure. The reasons aren’t fully understood, but it could be because volunteer work may include physical activity which increases fitness and lowers stress.
- It can decrease depression and loneliness. Being with others and working for a common cause decreases loneliness and depression. Whether you’re volunteering at a local animal shelter, building park trails, serving food at a soup kitchen, or teaching children to read, acts of service connect you with others and improve your mental health.
- It can help you create new friendships. As we age, we take on more responsibility and have less time and fewer opportunities to meet new people. Volunteering introduces us to people and allows us to forge new friendships.
- It can help you learn new job skills. Anil Chandrakumar, a volunteer coordinator for the New York City Parks Department says “Volunteering is great for people who want a career change. Volunteer training can help guide you to what you want your next career to be.”
Want to know how to seek a volunteer position in local government?
If you are seeking a career in and want to volunteer for a local government, begin by looking at local city, county, and special district websites. Volunteer positions may be listed on the Human Resources Department job board or the Resident or Community Services page. If you are interested in working for a specific department, for example, the Library or Public Safety (Police and Fire), visit the page for that department. If these searches don’t yield results, you may want to contact the agency’s Public Information Officer (PIO). The PIO will have information about the programs and services the agency offers and should be able to provide the information you need.
If you already work in government and are looking to expand your skills or explore a new career, Just Serve connects volunteers with service projects and Volunteer Match is a clearinghouse of available volunteer positions in multiple nonprofits. Or you may wish to volunteer directly with one of the organizations listed below.
When you’re ready to volunteer it’s important that you –
- Interview the person who will be coordinating your volunteer hours and ask about the skills needed to do the job. If you have skills to offer, mention those and/or provide the coordinator with your resume. If you are seeking skills or experience in a certain area such as advertising/marketing, bookkeeping, serving on a board, event production, or fundraising, ask the coordinator if there are positions and on-the-job training available that would help you gain these skills.
- Understand before you commit the amount of time the position will require. Are you committing to 2-3 years to serve on a board or can you volunteer on an occasional or as-needed basis? How many hours a week will you be expected to work? Once you have committed, be sure to follow through on your commitment.
- Document the work you do. Keep track of the amount of time you worked, what you did, what you learned, and how your work helped the organization advance its goals. Documenting your work is especially important if you will be using the skills and experience you gain as a volunteer to add to your resume.
April is global volunteer month. Investigate opportunities in your area and commit to volunteering. Volunteering gives you the ability to bring positive change to your community, achieve greater health and well-being, build skills and experience, and create a better world.
