When unpaid pays a lot

Let’s start with a bit of pragmatism: with voluntary work on your CV you are more likely to appeal to potential employers. Three quarters prefer to recruit candidates who have volunteering experience according to recent studies (Prospects Directory 2007/08).

And the reasons why you should volunteer at university don’t end there. You never know where a voluntary job might lead. In addition to making a difference to the lives of others and to the world, being a student volunteer could change the way you see yourself and your future.

My role as a voluntary classroom assistant - organised by my university’s careers service - helped secure me a paid teaching placement in Bangkok and a place on a competitive PGDE (Professional Graduate Diploma in Education) course in the UK following graduation. I worked one morning per week and assisted a classroom teacher in educating children’s enquiring minds and disciplining their lively bodies. At the end of the term, I left with a certificate and the intention of pursuing a teaching career - something which I had previously never considered. I now work happily as a private teacher of English as a foreign language.

What kind of voluntary work?

There’s no shortage of voluntary jobs for students. It all depends on what kind of work you want to do and what you want to get from the experience. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. What interests you? Is there a type of organisation you’d like to work for?
2. Are the any causes you feel strongly about?
3. What skills do you have to offer?
4. What new skills would you like to learn?
5. What type of work do you enjoy most - hands-on or office-based? Creative, business-related or people-orientated? Fast or slow paced?
6. What kind of work might be useful for your future career plans?
7. How much free time can you afford to spare?

Voluntary organisations cater for every interest and minority group imaginable - so there’s a great selection of voluntary jobs for students to choose from. You can volunteer to rescue people from mountains, to farm organically, build houses, write a magazine, judge criminals as a magistrate, or fix computers. You can work as a fundraiser, campaigner or researcher for organisations like the RSPCA, Oxfam and Amnesty (charity jobs are often advertised in the windows of charity shops, including any vacancies for charity shop workers). In your community you can become a Special Constable, a counsellor for the Samaritans or Childline; or help out at youth groups, girl guides or the local arts centre.

Investigate whether there are any befriending schemes for children, disabled people and the elderly in your area. I volunteered as a befriender for a local children’s charity and found it incredibly rewarding. It involved looking after a seven-year-old boy from a troubled family home and taking him on regular outings (reimbursed by the charity) once every fortnight. My role was to act as a positive adult role model for him and to build his confidence and social skills. We played in parks, went to the carnivals, and built sandcastles at the beach - I think I had more fun than he did sometimes!

Perhaps you’re interested in helping preserve and protect the environment - find out if your town has a conservation group. Or maybe you have an idea for setting up your own group or service? You could get some fellow students on board and advertise it at university. A fairtrade café was recently opened in our city’s main library - it is run entirely by students and volunteers and proceeds go to charity.

Flexible commitment

Voluntary posts may be casual, temporary, on short-term contracts or longer - it all depends on the organisation and the nature of the work. Most are flexible and employers understand that you have other commitments; they will greatly appreciate any time you can spare. Decide how often you can help out - whether it is just an hour a week on a free afternoon, once a month or for a specific block of time such as several weeks over the summer.

It is worth bearing in mind that some organisations cover extra expenses that arise from volunteering, such as meals and travel costs. Many organisations will like to have an informal chat with volunteers before placing them; however, if the role has some responsibility - like working with children or dangerous equipment - then more formal interviews are arranged. In either case this gives you the chance to discover more about the job and ask any questions.

Voluntary work abroad

If you’re thinking about how to fill those long summer months without lectures, then why not spend some time volunteering overseas? Often all that is required from volunteers is hard work, commitment and lots of enthusiasm.

You can become involved in community development projects like building a hospital or school in Sri Lanka, conservation ventures such as lion monitoring on an African nature reserve, teaching English in a rural village of Mexico, sports coaching in Rio de Janiero, working in orphanages in Russia, visiting AIDS hospices and hill tribes in Thailand and Laos.

It’s a great chance to combine travel with doing something worthwhile; after the placement you can extend your stay and travel - your experience will be enriched as you’ll have overcome the culture shock, met a few locals and learnt more about the country.

Practicalities

Voluntary placements abroad tend to be for a fixed term and start dates are usually flexible. The costs of funding a trip abroad can vary from several hundred to several thousand pounds depending on the length and nature of the placement. Organisations usually advise you how you can raise money to cover the cost of the trip; for example, sponsored events, selling old clothes on eBay, writing to your local newspaper and so on.

For all overseas placements it is best to apply well in advance. There are well over 100 British organisations specializing in arranging overseas volunteering. Some questions to consider before you go:

1. Does the project provide travel, accommodation, food and pocket money?
2. How much does it cost? Will I have to pay an administration fee?
3. What is the minimum length of commitment time?
4. Does the organization assist with visas, travel insurance, etc?
5. Do I need particular skills?
6. Can I speak with volunteers who have returned from the project?

What employers want

In their guide to volunteering, Prospects reveal what employers want (Prospects Directory p19). Director at KMPG, Keith Dugdale claims “There are few better ways of gaining skills that employers need…volunteering offers the ideal opportunity for students to really stretch and challenge themselves”. And Mike Killingley, Senior Manager of HSBC believes volunteering “shows great initiative and commitment”.

So go on, commit yourself! And remember, if you’re thinking about a career in journalism you could always start by writing for a student website…

Further information

1. National Centre for Volunteering, www.volunteering.org.uk (comprehensive guide to volunteering including current opportunities).
2. International Directory of Voluntary Work, www.vacationwork.co.uk/
3. Working for the public and voluntary sector, www.prospects.ac.uk/public
4. Student Volunteering England, www.studentvolunteering.org.uk
5. Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), www.vso.org.uk
6. Worldwide Volunteers, www.wwv.org.uk