Volunteering- anyone been given a paid job as a result?

Savvy_Sue

The experience I got volunteering in the boys' school, at an out of school club and in my local church gave me lots of transferrable skills to get back into paid work. And quite a few of our staff have got a job after volunteering either with us or elsewhere.

sweetdaisy

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Thanks everyone.
Many of the volunteer vacancies have training attached, most of which is mandatory, especially if i'll be dealing with vulnerable young people (i am wanting to go into the mental health field, so looking for vacancies in drug/alcohol related areas, as well as young offenders).

Thanks kingfisher- you have made me feel feel positive about it again. Many of the people i speak to about it (job seekers themselves) seem to be very negative about it and dont see the longer picture i dont think, as they question why anyone would work for free.
But in my mind i wont be working for free, i'll be working for experience, something to add my my CV, and the chance od attracting a paid job.

I work in Housing and I started off as a volunteer with young adults with Learning Disabilities and as a volunteer with Victim Support. I have found that it is this experience (along with paid employment), rather than my qualifications, which has got me to where I am today. My current role also includes being involved in the recruitment and selection of staff and volunteering shows a level of commitment and having to work flexibly.

I found that the more experience you have in wider areas of social care, the better your chances are of getting a job in your chosen field i.e. learning disabilities, mental health, youth offending, working in youth centres, homeless hostels etc as you need to change and adapt the way you work (depending on the client group), therefore increasing your skills and the way in which you are able to manage crisis situations etc.

purplerose

Whilst volunteering didn't lead to a job with the specific organisation for which I was volunteering, it did give me lots of experience, and my current and previous employers were very impressed by it as it gave me the exact skills they were looking for. I don't think I'd be in a job if I didn't have that experience from volunteering.

lulu650

Volunteered at my son's playgroup and then primary school enabling me to get to become a playground supervisor. From there, onto teaching assistant at secondary where I started studying for a degree. Qualified as a science teacher specialising in special needs. This from a baseline of two GCSEs in English and History.

This looks like I'd already worked out the path I'd decided to take but actually I met various people along the way who supported me and helped me with my confidence.

I've also volunteered in a hospice shop whilst I was being treated for cancer but couldn't manage my full time job. I just wanted to get some routine back in my life and didn't want to wallow in self pity.

I thoroughly recommend volunteering.

heartfield

WantToBeSE wrote: »

I have to do something, being unemployed is driving me insane. .

Know how you feel. Never thought of volunteering, thanks for putting the idea in my head.

WantToBeSE

Well i applied for my 1st volunteer job yesterday, and got a phonecall about it today
The lady i spoke to is going to send my the application form today.

westv

WantToBeSE wrote: »

Well i applied for my 1st volunteer job yesterday, and got a phonecall about it today
The lady i spoke to is going to send my the application form today.

When I first looked into volunteering I naively thought I just needed to ring them up and say "I'm available whenever you're ready for me".

RexBanner

westv wrote: »

When I first looked into volunteering I naively thought I just needed to ring them up and say "I'm available whenever you're ready for me".

I work with volunteers in various capacities and one of the first things that we have to establish is that the person has something to offer. That something could be as simple as making the tea or setting up tables, but if they can't commit to doing it, and doing it well, we have no place for them.

EndlessStruggle

I volunteered last year for the Citizens Advice Bureau as a Debt Administrator (I didn't administrate the debt just made files out of all the piles and piles of client paperwork :rotfl:) and in a charity shop. I didn't get a paid job at either but made some lovely friends, learnt loads of new skills and knowledge, greatly improved my CV and got an excellent reference from my manager which helped me get my job I am starting soon.

rubytuesday

I used to Volunteer in a Prison Visitor's Centre and got a job as Assistant Manager through that.

A few years ago mind.

It is definitely worth volunteering anyway.