Nine tips for finding the right opportunity in the social sector
Know what you have to offer and what you are looking for. Organisations will be looking for volunteers to help with specific areas such as fundraising, finance, events, retail or providing services for beneficiaries. Be clear about the skills, knowledge and experience you have to offer, as well as how the volunteering experience will help you make a step into paid work in the sector. Think strategically about how it will look on your CV and what you will be able to say about it. For example, look for opportunities to lead and complete projects so that you can talk about the difference you made.
Find something that is meaningful to you. You are giving your time and energy for free, so you need to really believe in what you are doing. If it doesn’t excite you, it probably isn’t right for you.
Be realistic about your availability. Remember you want to enjoy the experience and do a great job - over-committing is not the way!
Decide where and how you want to make a difference. Do you want to devote your energy to a local organisation, where you can quickly see the difference you are making and work with other people from your community? Or do you want to work on a larger campaign or effort - perhaps a virtual one - where you work from home with little or no face-to-face social interaction?
Use your networks. Think about who you know that can help you find the right opportunity. Reach out through faith, alumni, professional and social networks. Let people know what you are looking for and ask if they can help you.
Connect with organisations who help match organisations and volunteers. There are several excellent organisations dedicated to helping you find the right opportunity. Follow our links to some of them - many of them provide great resources too.
Look for organisations that treat you respectfully from the outset. This includes giving you a description of what the opportunity/role entails and how you will be supported. An interview or meeting is vital to work out if this is right for you and for them. It will also tell you a lot about how they run their organisation, no matter how small that might be.
Research the organisation and how they operate. Go beyond their mission and find out how they deliver it. For example, if the organisation works with vulnerable people, what are their safeguarding procedures? If you aren’t convinced by them, is it really a place you would want to work or volunteer?
Small steps can be best. Every organisation will have its own culture, and it might not always be the right one for you. If you are not completely sure, see if you can commit to a short-term project. If it’s not right for you longer-term, you can move on gracefully.