How to Make the Most of your Volunteering Lucy Hawkins, Careers Adviser Download this PPT to open documents & read slide notes!

Learning Outcomes Identifying goals for volunteering Knowledge and confidence in achieving goals Knowledge of practical ways to use volunteering as evidence for career interest Motivation to use and retain contacts from volunteering Planning strategies to build occupational knowledge Understanding the benefit of reflection

Strategy Setting goals Achieving goals Reflecting

Goals for volunteering Try our worksheet:

What are/were your goals? Goals for volunteering Write a different goal on each SMART goals – about you

Skill acquisitionEvidencing your career interests Building sector knowledge Networking a section a section Put each Goals for volunteering Making a difference post-it on

Achieving goals There’s some that you’ll achieve as part of volunteering but we’re focusing on what you can do to make the most of your experience PROACTIVELY

Skills acquisition ideas

Skill acquisition Clarifying expectations Making a case for training in-role Offering independent study, shadowing Suggesting discussion on improving your work Showing interest, building on aptitude

Networking ideas

Networking Information interviews Retaining contacts Events and conferences Introductions and referrals Offering specific support (e.g. recommending The Student Consultancy)

Ideas for building sector knowledge

Sector knowledge Shadowing outside your role Recommended reads (trade press, regulation, research etc.) Seeking mentoring Asking questions Mapping information (org charts, accounts)

Making a difference Sharing evaluation ideas Exploring spin-out projects Exploring ‘cascading’ knowledge Spreading the word Enabling future volunteers Considering efficiency

Evidencing career interest LinkedIn.com Featuring volunteering on your CV Using volunteering in application forms, e.g. competency questions Recording your experience, e.g. blogs, social media

LinkedIn.com Volunteering section And/or in main ‘experience’ Recommendations and ‘connection’ only active for main experience or education sections

LinkedIn.com Groups – join or start Summary text = SEO

CVs and volunteering Skill acquisitionEvidencing your career interests Building your sector knowledge Networking Use headings to place information where you need it Don’t ‘downgrade’ voluntary work! Highlight skills developed, achievements, responsibilities Use size, scale, scope

Application Forms Keep an eye on their criteria, e.g. Think about STAR responses... Knowledge of our work Delivers results Shows leadership potential Enthusiastic team member Ability to solve problems Awareness of organisational need Adaptable to unfamiliar environments Takes initiative

Competency question Situation Task Actions Result “ ” Describe a time when you had to adapt to work successfully with a new team of people.

Competency question Situation Task Actions Result Volunteering work, brief description of team What was ‘working successfully’ – what was the goal? Self-awareness Understanding others Positive – even if indirectly! Humility Compromise Learning Results-focus Motivation Contribution “ ” Describe a time when you had to adapt to work successfully with a new team of people.

Blogs / Articles Offer a blog/article do-it.org.uk/magazine/blogs sector blog, trade press, student papers Create your own beckyinauchindrain.wordpress.com Start up a group effort leadershipvolunteering.wordpress.com

Other social media Same ideas, different medium: 1.Offer a contribution 2.Create your own channel 3.Create a group channel On...

Reflecting Try our worksheet: Reflection serves a further goal: helping you with career decision making

Taking action Decision making Self awareness Occupational awareness Reflecting What key factors do you know now? What do you know now about yourself? What do you know now about what’s out there?

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