What would happen if i started volunteering then found a job?

Hedylogos

I have applied for 2 different volunteer jobs, one in a charity shop and the other in a admin/office/sales role for a charity. The issue i am having now is that what if i find a job after having started volunteering? Would i still get references even if i've only been volunteering a short time, say for a few weeks? I am long term unemployed and want to get back into the swing of things with a few hours of work to get my motivation and confidence back for the workplace. I would ideally prefer a paid job to be honest, but i need volunteering because i have no references due to having not been in employment for a few years. If anyone can give me some advice on this issue that would be great.

welshbookworm

You ring or email the charity and tell them you have paid work. And if you can fit in some volunteering as well as your full time paid job, you'd be a superstar
It happens quite often, so charities are quite used to it, but it is polite to mention you are looking for paid work at the interview.

asajj

If you have good relations and do whatever you are supposed to do, i see no reason why you cannot get a reference.

noelphobic

You normally have to provide references even for voluntary work.

Hedylogos

noelphobic wrote: »

You normally have to provide references even for voluntary work.

Really?! A friend of mine started volunteering without references.

Hedylogos

welshbookworm wrote: »

You ring or email the charity and tell them you have paid work. And if you can fit in some volunteering as well as your full time paid job, you'd be a superstar
It happens quite often, so charities are quite used to it, but it is polite to mention you are looking for paid work at the interview.

Yeah, this was something i was thinking about doing. Even if i only did a couple hours on a weekend or whenever i can, they would be okay with that wouldn't they? I am so out of sync with the workplace these days that i have no idea how employers react about such things.

theoretica

I would expect places to give you a reference even after a short time - however, your new job would decide itself what weight to give to a reference which said 'Hedylogos has been volunteering for us for two days...'

Good luck job hunting!

asajj

Hedylogos wrote: »

Yeah, this was something i was thinking about doing. Even if i only did a couple hours on a weekend or whenever i can, they would be okay with that wouldn't they? I am so out of sync with the workplace these days that i have no idea how employers react about such things.

Charity won't be your "employer" and as suggested they are well aware of such things.

You could need a reference for volunteer work as well but not always.

micky2phones

Hedylogos wrote: »

Really?! A friend of mine started volunteering without references.

Me too, but to be fair people i knew and knew me, they put in a good word for me.
Then the people you see or deal with give feedback about you.
Ofcourse working for free helps as well

Savvy_Sue

Please check if the places where you want to volunteer have minimum commitments: we ask people to stay with us for at least six months. I know we can't enforce it, but it does take time to train people to be useful, and if they don't stick around it's very frustrating.

Feyfangirl

You should be fine have only volunteered in some places for a week and gotten a reference