Nicholas Lepinski - 6 Tips For Getting The Volunteering Experience

"By following these tips, you will find it much easier to discover the perfect volunteer opportunity."

Volunteering can be a great and fulfilling experience. It can provide just as much value to you as the volunteer as to the organisation. However, it is not always easy to find the perfect opportunity with an organisation that matches your availability, ability and goals. Here are some tips on getting the most out of your volunteering experience.

Find a cause you are passionate about
Volunteering for a cause you are passionate about will help you stick to it in the long term and will help you get the most out of the experience. If you are not sure where to start, short-term volunteering at multiple organisations can help you find what you are passionate about.

Ask yourself, "What are my goals and interests?"

Knowing what you want to get out of volunteering and being able to communicate that to the organisation will enable you to get the most out of it.

Do you want to try something new or stick to what is familiar? Trying something new, gaining new skills and experiences can be some of the biggest benefits of volunteering. It is always a good idea to consider this.

What is my comfort zone? Do I want my experience to stay within my comfort zone or should I expand my horizons? Volunteering can be one of the best ways to expand your horizons and gain new skills. You can try new experiences by doing things you do not normally do at work or home.

Do I want to make a difference locally or more further afield?

Additionally, these questions will also be useful to finding the perfect opportunity.

What are the skills I can bring to the organisation? These skills can be from work or from other social clubs you belong to.