Combating Unemployment: Volunteering

Today is World AIDS Day.  Please make sure you wear a red ribbon and commit to knowing your status.

In my blog post last week, Getting Out of the House, I mentioned briefly volunteering.  You can never do enough community service and sometimes, and aside from feeling pretty good about yourself, you can get cool perks for a few hours of work.  In some places, it could impress someone enough for you to get noticed for employment.  It also is an item to list on your resume as what you were doing with your time in the transition stage.  Here are a couple areas you can consider volunteering:

Lunch and Dinner Serving - At this point, many of us are trying not to get up in the receiving line of the lunch and dinners.  That's more of a reason to volunteer. Not only is it a way to learn where resources are and the contacts for them.  Moreover, the company will allow you take a plate of food for your services.

Theaters and Museums - I mentioned before that I love theater and museums, but with my current lack of employment status and my mortgage, bills, credit cards, eating, I can't afford to really enjoy it like I used to.  Go on the websites and you will find there is a link for volunteers.  You will have to fill out an application time, but you make your own hours and can see shows and exhibits for nothing.  You can also get a discount if you want bring a guest during another time.

Cause Walks and Runs - Cause walks like the HIV/AIDS walk, Cancer Walks, 5K Walks, and Hunger Drives are always looking for volunteers to pass out water, decorate a table or just cheer participants on.  It is also good to have a cause that you are dedicated to personally because it helps you to think of others.  Imagine going into a company, wearing a ribbon for World HIV/AIDS Day, and that company ends up supporting that cause?  It could have a positive ripple effect.

Conferences - There is a conference for everything and they always need help.  If there's a skill you want to acquire, even if you just want to stay up on your industry, search for a conference in your area and request to be a volunteer.  Most conferences will waive the registration fee for the day that you work and give you a cool perk (t-shirts, snacks, and gift cards).  You can also attend at least one session for free.  Often times big named writers, artists, musicians, CEOs of companies (see where I'm going with this?) will be at the event. Just have your elevator pitch ready and plenty of business cards (Vista Print still does free ones).

Picture courtesy of http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/.  For more info on World AIDS Day, check out http://www.worldaidsday.org/