It’s true, the job market is tough. It’s especially bad for those who have just graduated college. And with the older workforce staying at their jobs for longer, it may not look any better for recent grads.
Still, when the job market comes back up, what will happen to grads? As the famous saying goes, in order to get a job, you have to have experience, but you can’t get experience unless you get a job. Right?
Not exactly.
As college students already know, non-paying internships during school have always been a great way to get hands-on experience, plus the extra-added benefit of industry connections that could turn into valuable professional references.
Now that you’re out of college, you certainly can still go the internship route, as many graduates have. But beyond the conventional internship, which are generally geared towards the current learning community, you can still get experience by volunteering.
Times have been just as tough for non-profit organizations, as they see growing numbers of people in need while faced with dwindling financial contributions. No matter the case, many of these organizations are actively seeking volunteers for a number of duties.
How can this benefit for you? At the very least, it’s something to do. And sometimes, a break from the daily job search grind can be refreshing.
Also, fellow volunteers, as well as paid non-profit staffers, can, like internships, serve as both good sources of career advice as potential professional references. It’s always important to remember that in your career, from the beginning to the end, your human interactions will always remain vital.
Finally, even if your volunteer experience has little to nothing to do with what you studied or the type of position you’re seeking, there’s the feeling you get for doing your part to help the community. It may not be much, but someone will appreciate it.
There are a number of different places that can help you find volunteer opportunities, including your college’s career services department or the local United Way. And you never know. By helping out others, you could also help yourself in the process.