How to Turn a Volunteer Job into a Full Time Position

If you’ve hit a snag in your job search, you’re not alone. With the current job market being tough, we have more job seekers searching for work making it even harder than ever to land a job. Many unemployed workers are now turning to volunteer work to assist them with their job search. In 2011, more than 62 million Americans volunteered their time and talents. So is volunteering a good option for you? Here are a few reasons to consider volunteering:

5 Reasons to Consider Volunteering
1. You can explore new career fields.
2. You can fill the empty hours in your day while you continue your job search.
3. You can make valuable contacts.
4. You’ll be helping others.
5. If a full time position opens up, you’ll be one of the first to know. Plus, those hiring will already know you and your commitment to their organization.

There are many advantages to volunteering. If you’re considering a new career, volunteering can help you get experience in your area of interest and meet professionals in the field. Even if you’re not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to gain and practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization. You might feel more comfortable stretching your wings in your job search once you’ve honed these skills in a volunteer position.

Volunteering can provide career experience

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. In some fields, you can volunteer directly with an organization that offers experience in the industry you’re interested in. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be beneficial to your career.

Volunteering can help you gain valuable job skills

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn don’t count. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training which you can include in your resume.

Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful volunteer position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

If your goal is to move to a full time position, remember these simple tips that can help you make the transition smoothly:

How to move from volunteering to employment
1. Show up on time. Even though you’re not being paid for your work, if you’ve committed to a shift, be sure you’re there when you say you’ll be there.
2. Work hard. Make yourself indispensable.
3. Be professional. Make it easy for higher-ups to see you as an employee.
4. Be honest. If your goal is a full-time position, let people know. Managers can’t read your mind so fill them in on your plans.