Get a Job by Volunteering
By Farnoosh Torabi | Aug 26, 2010
With the average unemployment period now lasting eight-and-a-half months, many job seekers are grappling with ways to meaningfully bridge the gap between being out of work and getting hired, especially young adults who may lack experience. For some, the solution is volunteering. There may be no paycheck, but in some cases it’s proving to be a means to a gainfully employed end.
When Jocelyn Jackson, 24, lost her communications job in 2009 she continued to volunteer at The Studio Museum in Harlem where she had been helping out since 2008. Suddenly without a 9-to-5, Jackson began to see the unpaid position as more than just a fun pastime activity. She saw it as a way to enhance her creative skills, such as photography, and maybe even use her experience to transition to a new career. “I started to consider how my association with the Studio Museum could evolve into something more,” she says, from expanding her knowledge about art and photography to learning how to be a teacher and educator.
There are many professional advantages to volunteering, say career experts. “It gives you a great working experience while you’re out of a job and allows you to meet people who may help you with your job search,” says Barbara Safani, a career strategist and President of Career Solvers. “If you are in a volunteer situation, people share information. These are leads that will not be put on a job board…It’s really a piece of your networking strategy.”
If your goal is to volunteer and boost your chances of getting a job, your approach needs to be strategic, says Safani. In addition to the obvious advantages of choosing volunteer work that’s relevant to your career, her tips include:
1. Take a Leadership Position
Whether you sit on a committee or lead a group of volunteers on a field project, having a leadership role is great for your resume. If a hiring manager asks if you’ve ever managed a staff before you can describe your leadership experiences as a volunteer.
2. Raise Your Profile
While you’re at it, boost your visibility within the organization. “It may be as simple as being the person who sits at the registration desk,” says Safani. “With this role you get a sense of who’s coming by and what they do.”
3. Don’t Volunteer-Hop
Being authentic, consistent and visible at one volunteering organization can increase your chances of getting a job either within the non-profit world or beyond, as people regularly notice your hard efforts and passion. Don’t stretch yourself thin by volunteering at 5 different places. “People have to remember you. You don’t want it to be, ‘Who’s that person?’” says Safani.
Jackson now receives a paycheck from the Studio Museum, as her volunteer efforts transitioned into a freelance education program coordinator. “I think volunteering is extremely important, whether you are gainfully employed or not, she says. “It’s not about simply volunteering to volunteer. It is about finding a place that really speaks to the person you are and your present and future desires. Find your cause and follow it.”
MY THOUGHTS
not a bad idea. not all. but i believe (strongly) it has to be something you want to do to really help. not just a means to an end.
Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social networking. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
USE SOCIAL NETWORKING IN YOUR JOB SEARCH
How social networking tools can help in your job search
By Connie Thompson
Story Published: Jan 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM PST
More than ever, if you're looking for a job, social networking holds the key. But it's a lot more involved than tweeting to your followers, or posting a notice on Facebook.
Even as the economy picks up, a recent survey by employment researchers at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, shows one in 6 job seekers expects to spend more than a year trying to land a new job. Career counselors say to shorten that time, maximize your social networking.
Nationally recognized career coach Robin Ryan helps employers select top candidates. She also helps job hunters land work. Which websites does she recommend to job seekers?
"We want to go to websites like Indeed.com," she said.
Indeed.com is not a social network site. It's a sweep site that scours job openings from employers sites, newspapers, and other job listings across the country. You can find out about job trends and openings in your area.
"Another great tool on the Internet, too, is called LinkedIn. Now this is the social media you should be using, not Facebook and definitely not Twitter," Ryan said.
A lot of people know about LinkedIn. But Ryan says many people who use this professional networking site are missing opportunities. Experts say the most successful job hunters routinely expand their contacts, research potential employers, get insider leads from their connections, and track down former colleagues and bosses.
"I've had people that were clients, land a new job, because they went on LinkedIn, found old bosses, connected with them, and they either hired them at their new company, or connected them to someone who had an opening and got hired that way," she said.
They key is to find contacts who know someone in the field you're looking for and get your resume in the hands of someone who works at a company where you want to be. But don't live online just sending out resumes. Your computer is only one tool. A big part of the networking formula is connecting in face to face- something many job seekers fail to do.
Employment experts say many job hunters also make the mistake of being too general about what they're looking for.
"Employers do not hire people to work at their company. They hire people to do a specific job. So when somebody says, 'Well, what kind of job are you looking for?' a response like 'Something in management.' is way too broad," said Ryan.
As an example, Ryan suggests a preferable response: "'In my last position I was a supervisor in the customer service call center.' Now that's more specific. You do customer service. You've done a call center. You've been a supervisor. So now you've told us the three things that are important about you."
Employers want specifics: the job title, the duties and what you bring to the table.
Spread that message to everyone on your contact list, and continually expand your list both online and in person.
MY THOUGHTS
yes, employers want specifics. but they want specifics that an applicant can back up by credentials. i remember coaching someone who's looking for a job. he was very specific. he wanted a post in marketing. not just marketing, mind you. he wanted a management post in marketing. a graduate in human resources who worked 2 years in a small family business won't be able to back that up. so, go ahead. be specific. but be realistic, too. i doubt you'd get seriously hired for a position you have no preparation for. not even in school. unless it's a call center. or your dad has the job opening.
By Connie Thompson
Story Published: Jan 20, 2011 at 9:55 AM PST
More than ever, if you're looking for a job, social networking holds the key. But it's a lot more involved than tweeting to your followers, or posting a notice on Facebook.
Even as the economy picks up, a recent survey by employment researchers at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, shows one in 6 job seekers expects to spend more than a year trying to land a new job. Career counselors say to shorten that time, maximize your social networking.
Nationally recognized career coach Robin Ryan helps employers select top candidates. She also helps job hunters land work. Which websites does she recommend to job seekers?
"We want to go to websites like Indeed.com," she said.
Indeed.com is not a social network site. It's a sweep site that scours job openings from employers sites, newspapers, and other job listings across the country. You can find out about job trends and openings in your area.
"Another great tool on the Internet, too, is called LinkedIn. Now this is the social media you should be using, not Facebook and definitely not Twitter," Ryan said.
A lot of people know about LinkedIn. But Ryan says many people who use this professional networking site are missing opportunities. Experts say the most successful job hunters routinely expand their contacts, research potential employers, get insider leads from their connections, and track down former colleagues and bosses.
"I've had people that were clients, land a new job, because they went on LinkedIn, found old bosses, connected with them, and they either hired them at their new company, or connected them to someone who had an opening and got hired that way," she said.
They key is to find contacts who know someone in the field you're looking for and get your resume in the hands of someone who works at a company where you want to be. But don't live online just sending out resumes. Your computer is only one tool. A big part of the networking formula is connecting in face to face- something many job seekers fail to do.
Employment experts say many job hunters also make the mistake of being too general about what they're looking for.
"Employers do not hire people to work at their company. They hire people to do a specific job. So when somebody says, 'Well, what kind of job are you looking for?' a response like 'Something in management.' is way too broad," said Ryan.
As an example, Ryan suggests a preferable response: "'In my last position I was a supervisor in the customer service call center.' Now that's more specific. You do customer service. You've done a call center. You've been a supervisor. So now you've told us the three things that are important about you."
Employers want specifics: the job title, the duties and what you bring to the table.
Spread that message to everyone on your contact list, and continually expand your list both online and in person.
MY THOUGHTS
yes, employers want specifics. but they want specifics that an applicant can back up by credentials. i remember coaching someone who's looking for a job. he was very specific. he wanted a post in marketing. not just marketing, mind you. he wanted a management post in marketing. a graduate in human resources who worked 2 years in a small family business won't be able to back that up. so, go ahead. be specific. but be realistic, too. i doubt you'd get seriously hired for a position you have no preparation for. not even in school. unless it's a call center. or your dad has the job opening.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)