Volunteer While Looking for Work

Time between jobs very important. Employers take note of how you spend your time. It is important to spend your time volunteering, working part time, or working full time at a position other than the one you are seeking. This shows you are industrious and not a slacker. Employers don't want to hire slackers. They want to hire people who will work!

I have two friends who used volunteerism to receive a job. The first one, Jean, worked outside of her household as a young woman. Then, she was a stay-at-home mom for many years. As the children grew, she became able to volunteer her time, but be home when they arrived home from school. She taught Sunday School at her church. She also volunteered in the gift shop at the local hospital. At the gift shop, she ordered greeting cards. Because she was so good at her volunteer position, the hospital was able to buy the equipment used to take mammograms! They sold that many greeting cards! When her youngest child was in college, Jean wanted to return to the workforce. She was able to use her volunteer experience as work experience on her resume! She didn't have any trouble finding a position that met her needs.

The other woman I wanted to tell you about is Fran. Fran had worked in the clerical field, but later studied pleubotomy. When she inquired about a job at the local hospital, she was told their weren't any positions available. The hospital wasn't hiring. She asked if she could work there as a volunteer! They accepted her offer, and within one week they offered her a full time position!

These are both true stories. I hope they will be helpful to you. Try to have something to put on your resume that shows you worked even if you weren't paid a salary for what you did. Remember that its easier to get a job if you already have one!

By Carol Swanson from Wyoming, PA