How Volunteering is Beneficial
Volunteering can help you determine what fields interest you. This can be beneficial if you are unsure of what paths/fields you want to go into or even if you have multiple interests. Now that you know why volunteering is important, where do you start? At first it can be overwhelming because there is no “right” way to begin volunteering or where to look. Look no further! Let’s Go has created this blog to guide you through some steps you can take to find a place for you!
How to Volunteer
- Think about fields that interest you. Medicine, education, law? After you have a vague idea, you can begin searching! It does not have to be super specific (remembering that volunteering is for exploring).
- Use Google to find organizations near you! A simple google search can reveal cites you may have been unaware of entirely. Try something as simple as “immigration law office near
Explore your interests
If you’re still unsure of your interests, you can volunteer to start narrowing your focus. It’s a good idea to expose yourself to what’s out there. In addition, employers and graduate schools alike value experience strongly; the sooner you find a sector/field to grow in, the more impressive you can be!
Develop Skills
Now it’s time to enhance your skills! When you begin volunteering, you may find that your responsibilities grow. You will develop skills that school is sometimes unable to teach you. Additionally, these skills are often transferable and can be taken with you at multiple jobs!
Boost your resume
Not to mention, volunteer experience looks great on your resume. It lets employers know that you care about local organizations! Also, it is a good idea to begin volunteering during your high school years or early college years so that you can eventually begin applying for paid internships.
Make connections
Organizations and companies have tons of connections. belonging to these networks will allow you to have connections within this field that can lead to bigger opportunities.
Let’s Get Started
- First, find your interests:
- Brainstorm the fields that interest you.
- Then, google organizations near you:
- Use Google to find organizations near you!
- Finally, send emails:
- Now, go to their website and email them to ask about volunteer opportunities.
- After finding a contact email, try a template like this:
Template for sending an email
This is just one example to get you started! In addition, you can also search up templates for free on Google.
” Hello [person you are addressing]!
My name is [your name] and I am a current [grade level] at [your school]. I am writing to express interest in your organization/company. I have always been interested in [the field the organization is in]. Is there space at [organization/company name] for me to volunteer with your day-to-day tasks?
I would love to chat with you about myself and my current abilities. I look forward to hearing back from you!
Best,
[your name] ”
Ultimately, volunteering helps you gain experience! You got this. Best of luck! Go put yourself out there!
