Tech Tip: The Case for Volunteering

TECH TIP THE CASE FOR VOLUNTEERING

TECH TIP THE CASE FOR VOLUNTEERING

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1 THE PROBLEM

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You need to build your résumé, explore career options, and broaden your horizons (and maybe save the world).

2 THE FIX

Roll up your sleeves and volunteer in an area that interests you.

3 HOW TO DO IT

Volunteering is about doing something you care about and gaining experience, but it’s also about opening your mind. Here are a few of the pluses:

  1. You’ll get to go to interesting places and do important work. Opportunities to volunteer can involve traveling and experiences that you’ve never had.

  2. You’ll learn to appreciate diversity. If you’re like many college students, you may have led a relatively sheltered life. Volunteer work tests you in new ways and in new situations. It puts you in touch with lots of different people from different backgrounds. It also helps you connect with your community and the rest of the world on a deeper level.

  3. Some volunteer positions let you travel internationally. Volunteer abroad and you’ll probably get to polish your foreign language skills.

  4. You’ll gain valuable experience that could help you in your career. Volunteering adds depth to your résumé. Even if you volunteer close to home, you’ll learn new skills and might discover talents that you didn’t know you had. You might even make some useful networking contacts.

  5. Volunteering will help you become a happier, more fascinating, and less self-absorbed person. Studies show that helping others actually lowers your stress levels.

  6. Need more motivation? Employers say that applicants who do volunteer work stand out from the pack. Being socially responsible tells the world that you’re ambitious and a good team player.

GOOD TO KNOW

You can find rewarding volunteer opportunities in almost every field you can imagine: animal welfare, agriculture, the arts, education, the environment, fair trade, health care, human rights, politics, technology, you name it. Here is a list of national and international volunteer organizations to get you on your way:

Amigos de las Americas amigoslink.org
AmeriCorps americorps.gov
Directory on International Voluntary Service avso.org
Child Family Health International cfhi.org
Cross-Cultural Solutions crossculturalsolutions.org
Corporation for National and Community Service cncs.gov
Earthwatch Worldwide earthwatch.org
Foundation for Sustainable Development fsdinternational.org
Idealist.org: Action Without Borders idealist.org
International Partnership for Service Learning ipsl.org
International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA) volunteerinternational.org
Peace Corps peacecorps.gov
Projects Abroad projects-abroad.org
South American Explorers Volunteer Opportunities saexplorers.org
Teach for America teachforamerica.org
Volunteer Match volunteermatch.com
Volunteers for Peace vfp.org

PERSONAL BEST

What types of volunteer activities interest you most?