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Finding a Volunteer Job

America has a long tradition of volunteer work and it is therefore, relatively easy to find a good cause, to which you can devote your effort. Volunteer programs cannot replace government efforts, but they can make a difference in many social areas. Much of what in Europe is done through government programs, is here, in the USA, done by volunteer work. Just reflect on the following:

	More than 55% of adult Americans volunteer in some form, that is about 105 million adults.
	Volunteers contribute about $225 billion to the economy. That is based on an average of 3.5 hours per week a volunteer spends for the issue he/she supports.
	Almost 60% of teenagers volunteer for causes. Although, that includes participation in bands and other forms or entertainment which would not be called volunteering in other parts of the world. But still, it is a large number that shows the public spirit.

There are many reasons why people volunteer. Some do it because they want to give something back to the community, others because it is a form of networking, others to overcome loneliness or other forms of social isolation. Almost everyone is getting something measurable out of volunteering: The people for whom you volunteer and the volunteer him or herself. Before you look for a Volunteer job, ask yourself a few questions about your own motivations:

	How is my health? Do I have any relevant health problems?
	What skills and abilities do I bring to the volunteer job?
	What kind of financial resources do I have to allocate to my volunteer work? Remember, you might have to travel to a place, etc.
	What past volunteer experience can I offer?
	Can I offer other resources such as computer access, networking,office space, car usage and space, etc.?
	How much time and effort do I want to devote to volunteer activities?

Once you have decided on these issues, you can go further.That is, selecting what you would like to do and asking yourself how it will affect you:

	Do you want to work as someone who implements programs, develops programs, or do you want to manage a process or only work at the board level?
	Would you like to work directly with individuals, within small or medium sized institutions, or with nationwide and international groups?
	Would you like to work locally, regionally, nationwide or globally?
	What type of work touches you directly. how does it affect your values and sense of mission and how will you focus on that task?

When you have determined all these issues, you can start to search for a voluntary job. Some local areas where you can look for volunteer jobs are show below. Some of them might not be that attractive, but volunteer work is supposed work to help someone else, unconditionally and without reservation!

Some Local Volunteer Opportunities

	Public Hospitals and churches		Civic Clubs		Community Theatres
	Public Schools and Libraries		Local Sports Teams		Museums and Art Galleries
	Non Commercial Day Care Centers		Community Sponsored Soup Kitchens		Orchestras and Ballets
	Colleges and Student Organizations		Meals on Wheels		Community Choirs and Bands
	Neighborhood Watch		Food Pantries		Monuments and Public Parks
	Prisons, Halfway Houses		Habitat for Humanities		Historic Restorations
	Drug Rehabilitation		Shelters for Battered Women and Children		Youth Organizations

Other volunteer jobs can be found in some or the organizations shown below. Some of these are obviously a considerable challenge. There is a wide variety of jobs available and each site specializes in different types of volunteer jobs.

A useful source for volunteer jobs are always libraries, churches and local sports clubs. Check with them and see whether they have anything to offer. You should always submit a full tailor-made resume if you apply to any of these jobs.

They deal with a whole host of issues, especially, when you consider doing voluteer work abroad.

If you have any specific suggestions, send us an e-mail.