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July 09, 2008
Don't Overlook Volunteering
Volunteering, a topic close to my heart, not only helps you feel better about yourself but also helps other people. I regard volunteering an essential part of developing skills you can bring to your next job. Let me explain.
In 1977/78 I went to teacher's college at a prestigious Canadian University in Ontario. I know now that I was one of many persons with disabilities who, although trained as a teacher with good grades, would be refused a diploma and teaching certificate because I was a person with a disability. At that time, the opinion of the faculty at many universities was that persons with disabilities would never get jobs as teachers.
I came home depressed and demoralized. My mum said to me "You can't sit around and let those skills go to waste, you have to do something with them." So she talked to one of the ladies in her bridge club about me volunteering in her school.
At first, I assisted with marking, running off mimeographed classroom work and supervising the children along with her in the classroom. The itinerant Special Ed teacher said to me that a school very near where I lived needed someone to help in the Special Ed program in the mornings. Would I consider volunteering there as well.
For two years I honed my skills and gained the respect of most of the teachers. There were still a few around who thought disabled persons had no place in the classroom. The children I taught in my classes improved and integrated back into the regular classroom, and the inside joke going around both schools was that children were inventing imaginary learning disabilities to get into my itinerant classes. As one of the Special Ed teachers wrote in a letter of reference for me, "Ms. Seger leaves no stone unturned in trying to find ways in helping the children find and reach their true potential and promise to excel."
At the end of two years, with a signed petition from the principals and most of the teachers at the two schools I volunteered in, plus the insistence from the Handicapped Employment Program of the Ontario Ministry of Labour, I was given a chance to redo one practicum at any university other than the the particular one that had refused me. Ultimately I gained my B.Ed. and Ontario Teacher's certificate.
The principal of the school nearby told me, when I came in to tell him I'd received my B.ED. and OTC, "Oh does this mean I actually have to pay you now when you come into teach?" Then he said "Nobody deserves that pay cheque more than you. Most people would have not shown up, been negative and nasty about the whole thing, you just dug in your heels, did the best job your could and earned everyone's respect."
Until he and I both left teaching, a number of years later, I was the first one called when he needed a sub.
Read today's eSight feature, Don't Overlook Volunteering
Then join this week's discussion and tell us:
What's your opinion on using volunteering as a career development strategy? When have you used volunteering to gain meaningful experience?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Liz S at July 9, 2008 12:48 PM
Comments
As many who know me, I have been totally blind for nearly 30 years. While I have success in my Professional Career, this would not have been possible without efforts in "Volunteer and Community Service". The section of my E-Portfolio containing this information is nearly 3 pages when viewed in "hard print". The experience gained by volunteering has supplemented my Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) set and, has quite often, been the key factor in determining whether I was the successful candidate for a position.
Today, while gainfully employed in a Sr. Management position with a non-profit entity, I still find time to volunteer. In this way, I am able to promote the abilities of those in the blind/low vision community and, develop contacts which I readily call upon to expand my knowledge base. Volunteerism is a critical component of the overall person one presents and, is a key factor when one considers lifelong learning as a component of employment qualifications.
Posted by: James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM at July 9, 2008 08:47 PM
I agree with you, James. As I look back on my 43 years in business, I now realize how critical volunteering has been to my career.
When I first volunteered to write and mail a print newsletter back in the 1970s for the local Optimist Club, I wasn’t sure how to handle it with my heavy work schedule (I had a full-time job) – and whether it had any relevance to my career as a business communicator.
But, I figured out a way to use up the master of the one-page, self-mailer during the first half-hour of my hour lunch break and then copy and label it and mail it after work on that same day, Tuesday.
I soon became quite efficient at this, and the 18 Optimists appreciated it because the bulletin reminded them of upcoming programs and activities and always had some tidbits which helped the members get to know each other better.
I didn’t recognize how this little outside activity was going to affect my career until one day I realized I could use the same Optimist concept at work, my day job.
I used my experience at the Optimist Club to propose to my boss (the CEO) a plan for improving the company's communications with its 36-person board of directors. In implementing that plan, I created a new weekly board newsletter, a summary of company trends etc. I could glean from the weekly staff meetings I attended.
Through that board newsletter, I gained the trust and confidence of both the CEO and the board. It later helped me become vice president of communication for the organization, a position I held for 10 years.
Posted by: Jim Hasse at July 10, 2008 10:15 AM
Volunteer work is an excellent way to get your foot in the door for paid employment. I am currently telecommuting as a volunteer for a local senior center, transcribing oral histories. Although I've been unable to progress as fast as I or anyone else had hoped due to email problems, I love the work I do. The interviews are mailed to me on cassette, and I transcribe them and email them to the senior center's volunteer coordinator. I first heard about this opportunity from my mom, who saw an ad in one of our local newspapers. A sister of mine volunteers for the same senior center as an escorted-transportation coordinator. She too is telecommuting for the position and really likes it. I have done volunteer work in the past too. That work involved transcribing medical reports for my father and some of his colleagues. In addition, I have done work as a volunteer receptionist at two nonprofit organizations. I have also done some odd jobs here in my apartment building, and I think I'm going to do more. I wonder though, what is the reason for my state VR agency not embracing volunteer work as a source of employment. I've heard most if not all other state-run VR agencies do in fact welcome volunteer work by their participants, and I think it's a big embarrassment that Illinois isn't like this. I know this fact all too well, as I was looked down upon by my state VR agency when I voluntteered at the first nonprofit organization. I do believe I've mentioned this at least briefly in other posts on here. Fortunately, everyone else with whom I am and have been in contact fully supports me even in my volunteer efforts.
Posted by: Jake Joehl at July 10, 2008 03:30 PM
Over the past two weeks, Liz has done a fabulous job in generating the "Volunteer/Community Service" topic for discussion. Unfortunately, thus far, the post made have been limited to say the least.
In a recent WSJ On-Line "Careers" commentary, the writer noted, "In a down time in the economy, individuals are focused on 'me'. While they make every effort to focus on their needs, they fail to realize the importance of Community Service for the value it brings to their resume and the organization served".
Perhaps, the post on this topic have been limited because its "Vacation Time" rather than, the "me" focus on those who have read post and, have neglected Volunteer/Community Service as a viable option to expand their value to employers and, their community. The latter does not bode well for those who are considering Career options in the fields of Human/Social Services especially, in the public/non-profit environments.
Posted by: James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM at July 22, 2008 04:35 PM