why volunteer i need a job!
TRANSCRIPT
What we will cover
² Why volunteering ma:ers for finding work in Canada
² Pros and Cons of volunteering ² Connec>ng volunteering and work opportuni>es
² Three new Canadians share their experience
Volunteering is a lever
ü To resources ü To people who can connect you to employers
ü To organiza>ons who support
ü To references for jobs
But only if you
ü Treat volunteer work like a job
ü Make a good impression
ü Connect with decision makers
ü Ask for references and opportuni>es
Pros and Cons
• Meet people • Improve your English/
French • Enlarge your network • Get pracPcal knowledge
of Canadian work and culture
• Increase your confidence • Learn new skills
• Indirect route to work, not direct
• If you aren’t sincere, it won’t have an effect
• Takes Pme and effort • You need money now • You may not see
benefits unPl later • You may feel exploited
To connect V to W ü Go to a Volunteer
Centre (ex. Edmonton Volunteer Organiza>on EVO)
ü Use the connec>ng services at immigrant serving organiza>ons
ü Look for mentorship organiza>ons and opportuni>es
To connect V to W ü Ask to volunteer for conferences and events in your profession
ü Go to: getvolunteering.ca/get-‐matched/
ü Google “volunteer in…” your city
ü Ask for >ps on finding work from your volunteer buddies
To connect V to W ü ALWAYS include your community work volunteering in your resume
ü Men>on your volunteering in interviews
ü Ask for references from people who know your volunteer work
Volunteered while I was studying to be an accountant. • NAIT open house • Annual tax
preparation workshops
• Student organization to help the community
• Helping students in courses
ü Gave me confidence for real life.
ü Helped me gain experience and to know myself.
ü And it helped
others too – absolutely!
ü Made my resume look better.
ü Showed people what kind of person I am, because of my volunteer jobs.
Volunteered when I first came to Canada and now: ü In Winnipeg helped others
from Sierra Leone with settlement, job and family issues.
ü Volunteered for at-risk youth.
ü This allowed me to have experience to set up my own organization in Edmonton.
ü Volunteered with community organizations, volunteer boards and connected small organizations with big ones.
ü This increased my reputation and credibility! Now I just mention “Looking for a job” and in a short time I have one. Everyone wants to help me because I help them.
ü In the African communities,
mostly men are volunteering.
Volunteered when I first came to Canada and now: Catholic Social Services, ERIEC, Sombillia • Met new people • Made friends • Canadian experience • Practiced my English • Got soft skills • Improved references • Win win situation!
ü Volunteer experience showed on my resume that I had Canadian experience.
ü My volunteer placement got me my first marketing job.
ü Thanks to my volunteer experience on my resume I got three more marketing contracts.
ü Because I met new people, I learned about the Canadian market.
Sandra: Work hard to meet new people even if you feel shy. Use immigrant serving organiza>ons and not for profits. Remember that you need help with resumes to get volunteer posi>ons. Volunteering is why I have paying work now.
Issa: In Canada there is really a spirit of volunteering and you have to be a part of it to understand Canadians and the workplace here. Most of my resume experience has come either directly or indirectly as a result of volunteering.
Marsieh: Don’t just focus on ge^ng a job, think about mee>ng people and connec>ng. Do what you can to help others and they then become references and connectors for you. Volunteering helps you learn the language and gain confidence. Your connec>ons grow. All my volunteer posi>ons were recommenda>ons for work.