Changes in the economy have put some workers in Phoenix into positions where they may not have the opportunity to build upon or develop skills needed for their specialty or industry. One venue to gain key workforce skills can be in volunteer work. There are several things to consider when evaluating volunteer experience and which ones could support your career goals:
- What responsibilities/activities are you involved in during your volunteer work? Will those activities utilize skills that are valuable in your career?
- Can you learn new skills at the location that could be transferred into your career? Are there opportunities to gain leadership, organizational, project management, administrative, or communication skills that you would like to build on to use in your next job?
- How can you network in your volunteer work to expand your professional contacts? Will there be situations to interact with other volunteers who have a common interest and may be aligned with your career goals?
- Will prospective employers identify the volunteer work as bridging a gap in employment if you are between positions? Have you focused the choice of location and activities on skills that are relevant to your specialty and industry?
For those who would like to volunteer through contribution to career-based organizations, there are several options in the Valley of the Sun. An example is Dress for Success Phoenix, which is currently working toward a special donation based goal for 2011. More information about how to support this particular organization is available at:
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