Volunteer work

[ezi]

Does it really make a big impression on a CV?

Reason I ask is because at the moment, I am a college student and don't have any work experience other than a paper round, and have been searching for part time work for almost 18 months and not had so much as an interview.
However, I have just volunteered to help out as a steward at a small local festival in Sheffield, I am also thinking of doing more volunteer work if I can find some that's suitable.

Would this be a good thing to build up experience for a CV?

Thanks

[YoungTom]

From experience, employers normally want relevant work experience... so look out for anything you can find relevant to the job you would like. You could even write to some companies asking if you could work with them for a few weeks on a voluntary basis

[Firefoot]

It certainly can't hurt, as otherwise you will have a fairly empty c.v. You need to give a potential employer something to go on when deciding whether to shortlist you for interview.

If you can get volunteer work which will relate in some way to the role you are looking for then that is even better.

I have had to interview for apprentices in the past, very difficult process as they usually have no previous experience to judge them on. When they have additional information such as volunteer work on their c.v. and are a member of a local football team etc, then it makes my job a lot easier.

Edited by Firefoot on Thursday 30th April 13:01

[samdale]

i currently have no job, (dropped out of uni last year, hated the course) then got a stty job in a factory which i lost in january due to staff cuts.

at the moment i've got 2 choices:
1) go and get more stty factory work and keep looking for something better
2) keep volunteering (started a couple of months ago) at a "youth drop in centre" near me, kinda like a pub with no beer. and keep looking for a "career" rather than a job for jobs sake.

volunteer work is easy to get and the money you'd get from a similarly easy to get job will be ste. thus if you don't need the money go for voluntary, what paid work is there that you could get this easily that will look BETTER than voluntary

JSA give you certain "relaxations" if you tell them you're doing voluntary work.
at the moment im really enjoying my work so i can take my time looking for a job thats worth having as im still living at home so no outgoings.


and to all you "fookin thievin scum spendin all my taxes, lazing about buying ciggies and sky tv" types just to let you know i spend all my JSA on gym membership and beer

[ianash]

A good positive mental attitude is very important when going into the voluntary sector. The fact that you are not getting paid doesn't mean you are doing them a favour. Try and get into an organization that will invest in some formalized training for you. This will give you some "grown up" skills to add to your CV. Also bear in mind that you may meet some very helpful, career wise, fellow volunteers. Many retired business and professional people take up volunteer work when they retire. These people can be a very useful network in getting you into other areas of employment opportunities.