How Volunteering Can Help You Find Employment

Did you know that volunteering can help you connect with others with similar interests, develop new skills and even jumpstart a career?  No matter what job field you are interested in, volunteering can be a great way to gain new experiences and put you in a position to find employment.  

Volunteering can help you:

1.    Find a network of connections in your community - Volunteering with others can help you to build relationships. These relationships can lead to meeting potential employers or mentors who may be able to help you find a job. Read this blog post for more tips on networking and how meeting new people can help you find work options.  

2.    Add experience to your resume - Volunteering can also give you the kinds of experiences and skills that can be can be added to your resume! For tips on building your resume, visit this directory of resume resources from Disability.gov.

3.    Explore job options - Is there a kind of job you are looking for? Volunteering can help you explore employment areas of interest and practice new skills that can be useful in paid employment.

Want to volunteer, but don't know where to start? Check out these resources to find groups in your area that are looking for volunteers.

1.    Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) - CNCS provides information about community and volunteer opportunities. Use their interactive map to find national volunteer opportunities in your state.

If you are a young person with a disability looking to work through service, check out the Pathway to Employment for Youth with Disabilities section of the CNCS website to learn more about service learning opportunities that can help youth with disabilities prepare for adulthood. Their AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program - a full-time, team-based, residential community service program for young men and women ages 18 through 24 - provides stipends to participants that allow for income exemptions for Social Security disability beneficiaries. Visit this page to learn more about AmeriCorps NCCC.

2.    All for Good - All for Good is a search tool you can use to find short- and long-term community service activities in your neighborhood. Register for free here and start your search today.
 
3.    United We Serve - United We Serve can put you in contact with organizations that need volunteers like you. Interested in starting your own volunteer effort? Check out their toolkits for starting projects in your community.

The Ticket to Work program is a good fit for people who are interested in making a long-term commitment to achieving financial independence through employment. For more information about Ticket to Work, visit www.choosework.net or call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 (V) or 866-833-2967 (TTY).

_{*Image above is unchanged via the Pennsylvania National Guard. View Creative Commons license here.}