Volunteering and Your Job Transition

Are you in a job transition – or expecting one – because of a layoff or other reasons? You may be busy finding services, updating your resume, and finding interview outfits. However, there is something else that can help fill your transition time. Volunteering is a great option for filling an employment gap.

Why volunteering helps:

• It can give experience to fill the time you are out of work. It will show employers that you have been gaining skills and experience even though you have not been in a paid job.
• You can gain skills you can transfer to your current industry, or skills that can help you enter a new one.
• You'll get a chance to network with leaders and other volunteers. This can lead to job opportunities or leads, references, and lasting professional relationships.
• Whether you are in a transition or not, you can use volunteer work to keep spirits high and stay active on the job hunt.

How to get started:

• Research opportunities in your community.
• Determine what interests you have and how you can volunteer in a related way.
• Ask friends, family, coworkers, and professional contacts about what activities they are involved in to get leads.
• Start small. You do not need to commit all your time to volunteering. Planning your next steps is a fun and exciting time. Be sure you are only committing the time you have available. It is always better to make smaller commitments and then grow depending on your availability than to over commit and have to back out.

Using volunteering to help you during your job transition doesn't just fill your resume gap, but it can also lead to finding passions or interests you may not have known about before. Take advantage of volunteering to help you, your resume, and your community prosper.

For more information, check out Volunteering and Your Resume.

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