Volunteerism Finds Fit with 13 Million Canadians
By Wendy Hollingshead, CHRP
One of the organizations that I volunteer with has the philosophy that volunteers are employees of the organization—just on a different pay scale. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that organization and culture?
Over the past 15 years, I have volunteered with a dozen organizations. The majority of them were in a short-term capacity, such as a fundraising event on a weekend; several have been long-term volunteer engagements including being a member of my building’s strata council for a year and as a vision mate with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind for five years.
“Where do you find the time?” many of my friends ask when I talk about my volunteering activities. They know I work full-time and I am often taking night school courses. For me, the answer has been finding a role that suits my schedule with an organization whose cause I relate to and believe in.
Not all my volunteer experiences turned out to be exactly what I was expecting. Most of them met my expectations, some did not and a few exceeded my expectations. I share my experiences in volunteering to encourage others to explore what it offers the 13 million other Canadians who actively volunteer.
And while I encourage you to join in growing that number, the most rewarding volunteer experience is the one best suited to you.
Self-Assessment
I suggest completing a short personal assessment before signing up for your next volunteer position. Finding the right volunteer opportunity is akin to finding a job; you need to do some homework to find the right fit and take it seriously.
Here are a few things everyone should consider:
- What is your motivation to volunteer? Ask yourself ‘what’s in it for me?’
- How much time do you have to commit and when?
- How far are you willing to travel to the volunteer site?
- What skills do you have that you would like to use or what skills would you like to develop?
- If you volunteered before, and it wasn’t a good experience, what was missing or what didn’t you like about it?
Search for an Organization, Group or Committee
After completing your self-assessment, you should have more clarity on what type of role might be most suitable. Now you can have fun searching for an organization and role that fits with your list. Here are a few ideas of where to find a suitable organization or group:
- A charity or group that you currently support or would like to support;
- An organization that you are interested in working for;
- LinkedIn groups;
- Associations that you belong to, such as BC HRMA;
- Local community centres or your local church;
- Volunteerbc.bc.ca and
- Volweb.ca
Go For It and Apply
Get ready to complete an application which may include providing references. Be sure to contact your references in advance so they are prepared for questions from the volunteer coordinator.
After applying for a position, you will most likely have a short interview. Be prepared and take the time to ask questions about the position and the expectations of the organization or group. Take it seriously and treat it like a job interview to ensure it is a good fit.
Re-assess—Is It a Good Fit?
If the role doesn’t seem to be what you were looking for, talk to your volunteer coordinator or designated contact. They may be able to help you find a different role that may better suit you. Rather than having a negative experience, most organizations will work with you to make it a positive and rewarding experience.
This happened to me and I was able to suggest an improvement to the process or I was recast with a different assignment that was a better match. If it just doesn’t seem like a good match, speak up; it is better to be honest and try to find a better assignment.
Benefits and Hidden Opportunities
Some of the benefits from volunteering, such as meeting new people or gaining new skills, are obvious. One hidden opportunity I discovered is spending time with friends and family while making a contribution to the community or environment.
A few years ago, my husband and I brought his mother with us to pull an invasive plant species with other Lower Mainland Green Team volunteers for three hours on her birthday. While this may not be how you envision spending your birthday, we all got a bit of exercise, enjoyed a few hours in the sun, spent time together and made an impact together. She still tells all her friends about how she got to spend the day with her son and daughter-in-law.
For me, the key successes have been to find an organization that matches my values and beliefs, being honest in the time I can commit and focusing on the skills I wish to utilize or improve while volunteering.
Whether it is a short-term or a long-term volunteer role, there are many benefits from volunteering. In my experience with BC HRMA as a roundtable leader and as a natural introvert, I have had to push myself outside of my comfort zone. This has turned into a fantastic growth opportunity for me.
I have met so many people from different industries that I never would have met and I have learned ways to leverage and grow my network. Through my expanding network, I have been able to bring in numerous presenters to share their knowledge and experience with other BC HRMA members. I am so glad I took on this role.
I encourage you to join the 47 per cent of Canadians who volunteer. You can make a difference to a charity, a social cause or your local community.
Wendy Hollingshead, CHRP, has over 8 years of HR experience in contact centres. She is currently completing a Technical Writing certificate at BCIT and looking for new opportunities as a technical writer. She can be contacted at wendy.hollingshead@gmail.com.
