Volunteer to Enrich your Job Search

People who are out of work need ways to connect with others that will be personally enriching, use their skills and boost their confidence and ability to get a job. The best way to do this is to volunteer.

A lot of volunteer gigs are focused on admin work–stuffing envelopes and the like. But if you’re strategic about it, you can put your job search skills to work helping others, and gain a lot in return.

We have so many venues in New York for those who want to volunteer in a specific way—but the choices are overwhelming and it’s tough to find just the right thing.

I have a few ideas from personal experience. While my personal interests and skill set are in helping people find jobs, many mid-career professionals welcome the opportunity to share their expertise with younger people and those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Here are some thoughts:

–Working In Support of Education (w!se) is an educational 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to providing educational support services nationwide, building financial literacy, fostering business and social entrepreneurship, and preparing students for college and the global workplace.

w!se serves urban secondary school students in low-to-moderate-income areas. You can volunteer to lead workshops on job search or in your specific area of expertise.

-Work one-on-one with graduates of Coalition for the Homeless’ First Step program by creating or editing resumes, practicing interview skills, and conducting online job searches.

-Volunteer with Streetwise Partners as a Job Readiness Mentor for low-income adults.

Let me know if you have other organizations to recommend and I will spread the word