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Are you looking for a job but don’t have the experience you need……and can’t get the experience you need because you can’t get a job?

Do you need to learn more skills or make some new contacts so you can find work in the field you desire?

Are you thinking of making a change in your career, or are have recently immigrated to Canada, and unsure what you want to do?

If you answered yes to any of these, volunteering could be a good fit for you. When you volunteer, you share your skills and time with people and organizations in the community without expecting to be paid. Volunteering takes you right into the workplace, giving you a chance to build your experience, demonstrate your employability, learn new skills and feel better about yourself!

Here are three ways volunteering can benefit you:

1. Volunteering allows you to gain valuable experience:

Most employers want you to have Canadian experience to demonstrate that you can successfully exist and contribute in the workplace.   They don’t necessarily care if you were paid or not, so volunteering is a great way to satisfy this requirement.

2. Volunteering expands your network:

One of the best ways to make new contacts and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and improve your language and social skills. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Every new contact you make can potentially connect you to career opportunities, and can be a good reference for you when applying for a job.

3. Volunteering helps you learn and develop skills:

You can never have too many skills and volunteering is a great opportunity to build on the ones you already possess, or develop new ones that will be helpful in the field you choose to work in. Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are not valuable. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. You should look for volunteer opportunities that will strengthen the skills you need for your desired career path.

Volunteering also gives you the opportunity to try a new career without making a long term commitment, as well as gaining valuable experience in a new field. Even if you’re not planning on a career change, volunteering gives you the chance to learn and improve important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, task management, and organization.

To learn where you can find opportunities to volunteer your time in preparing for a career in Healthcare in BC, call Myrine, Kinga or Anna today at 604 629-0196.