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Volunteering benefits you by providing opportunity to:
1)  Get work experience to use on your applications and resume.
2)  Learn new skills and operate business equipment.
3)  Meet people who may know of good job openings.
4)  Try out a career area that interests you.
5)  Show employers that you are a good worker.
6)	 Improve	your	confidence.		 You	can	succeed	in	a	job.
Where can I find a volunteer position?
Ask your school principal, teacher, or counselor for a list of volunteer 
positions that are available at your school.  Ask for a list of adult 
advisors for school clubs and extracurricular activities such as school 
newspaper and yearbook.  Go and 
ask these adult advisors to tell you about volunteer opportunities avail
able.  Go to the following 
community agencies and ask if they have volunteer positions available: c
ity recreation department, 
police	department,	fire	department,	hospital,	elderly	assisted	living	center,	library,	church,	animal	shelter,	
or	other	place	that	may	be	found	in	your	community	(such	as	agriculture	center	or	 YMCA).			
To select the volunteer position that fits your personality, ask these questions:
1)  Does this volunteer position match my interests and values?
2)  Am I comfortable with the people I will be working with?
3)  Will I be able to learn new technical and computer skills?
4)  Will I learn new personal skills such as public relation skills?
5)  Do I have the free time to spend in this position?
6)  Is the volunteer position in a location that is convenient for me?
7)  Are there opportunities for paid employment?
8)  Will the supervisor allow me to use him or her as a reference on a job ap
plication and resume?
To apply for the volunteer position:
1)  Prepare a resume (see the sample resume for students without work or vo
lunteer experience).
2)  Dress like you are a worker in the business.  Go to the business.  Ask to speak to manager, assistant 
manager, or person in charge.
3)	 You	may	say,	"I	think	this	is	an	interesting	place	to	gain	valuable	experience.		I	would	like	to	apply	 for	a	volunteer	position."		 Then	give	the	person	your	resume	(and	a	smile).
How do I leave a volunteer position?
1)  Give one to two weeks notice (written or verbal) to your supervisor.  
2)  Thank your supervisor for the opportunity to learn new skills and gain e
xperience.
3)  Ask for a letter of recommendation to use on your future resumes and job
 applications.
Will a volunteer position look good on my application or resume?
Yes,	a	volunteer	position	proves	that	you	are	mature	enough	to	help	others,	you	manage	your	time	well,	
you can successfully work with other people, you have skills that are us
eful in the work world, and that 
you have a positive attitude.
86 Work World·s -ob Hunt Tips
How to 6uccessfully Volunteer