mixed experiences with volunteering

Post Reply New Topic

Just wondering:

Does anyone else have problems not only finding work, but volunteering?

I?m something of a serial volunteer, doing it on and off for the past decade or so in various contexts. I started out in a local Oxfam store (which I enjoyed but that just seemed to taper off naturally), then I was an ?official? full-time volunteer for almost a year with a set allowance and expenses and for a fixed period of time, then I didn?t do any volunteering for a while when I was at university.

Shortly before graduating, I applied to be a mobile library assistant, delivering books to housebound people, but the recession had well and truly kicked in by this time, so even voluntary positions were hugely oversubscribed and there was practically a queue out the building to get a place. I didn?t hear from them again after the first interview in any case.

Shortly after graduating, I applied to be a researcher and contributor to a magazine being run by a local grassroots society, showing great and genuine enthusiasm for the role, and after a couple of sessions I got the whole ?we?ll give you a call when we?re ready to start planning the next issue? but I never heard from them again.

I volunteered in a local library for about a month, then they were like ?There doesn?t seem to be any more work for you here, we?ll let you know if there?s anything else? but I never heard from them again. Seeing a pattern here?

More recently, I applied to be a volunteer for a society which preserves artefacts of archaeological interest and promotes local history, and they need people to dig up more info (sorry!) on that sort of thing. The introductory sessions were promising, I put myself forward for joining in some of the existing research projects and from what I gathered I would be ?shadowing? others in the role before doing it more independently. The volunteer form asked if there was anything I didn?t want to do and I said ?front-line customer service? (leading tours of the place and stuff like that, because I wanted to stick to my strengths), but the last couple of sessions, I was basically led into a freezing cold basement room and told that I could just look through the manuscripts for the whole session.
I understand this was to gain a better understanding of the resources available, but with no project to ?apply? the knowledge to, it all felt a bit pointless. Also, although I didn?t want to do too much in the way of customer service it didn?t mean that I wanted to be left alone in a freezing room the whole time

I guess these experiences have all led me to wonder: am I just doing it wrong? I?m trying really hard to be proactive in seeking out experience and expanding my skills and stuff, and stating as clearly as possible the type of experience I?m looking to gain and at the same time not making any false promises about my people skills (of which there are little I think it goes without saying), but most of the time it feels like I?m not being useful at all and that I?m just wasting time, like I?d be better off just staying at home and reading, at least then I?d still be expanding my brain?

Like anything, a volunteer organization wants the best they can get. If hardly anyone is offering (or they need bodies desperately) they'll take anyone who shows up. If they have more than they can use, they will pick the best.

Ultimately, a volunteer is a reflection on them just as a paid staff person is, so they are going to want those who project the best image for them.

Volunteering is like working--except you don't get paid for it.

It's fine if you feel it's a good cause. However, it rankles me when, in the midst of performing an altruistic service, one lords their boss status over me.

I understand that they need the best people "on display" to interact with the public, but I don't do well there especially when I'm nervous and just starting out somewhere, so they really wouldn't be projecting the best image if they placed me in that role

They way I see volunteering is that it's like a mutually beneficial hobby, where all involved gain something from the experience. However, I guess it can only be a good thing, from a non-selfish point of view, if an organisation is so inundated with willing people that they have to turn them away...

I used to like volunteering. Lately though, especially where I live now, it seems like you have to apply to volunteer to do anything, which completely turns me off. I understand screening people for criminal history and such for a lot of positions, but why should I have to fill out a Taleo style application, attach a copy of my resume, tell you exact days and times when I'll consistently be available (which I can't do with my inconsistent work schedule anyway), and then come in for an interview just to hand out food at a food bank? I just want to help people for free, not head a Fortune 500.

Where I used to live, it wasn't like that at all. The end result is I volunteered, met some nice people, and enjoyed doing it in my last county/city, but not here. It's a pity, but having mentioned it to a few old friends, this seems to be where volunteering is headed.

Edit:
I tried to come in live to just help out at the local food bank. They said I had to fill out the application and come in for an interview. So it really is necessary to volunteer there, and not just something they'd prefer volunteers do.