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Choosing the Right Volunteer Position
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If you decide that volunteering is an option you want to pursue, your next step is to find the right position. There are several things you need to consider when choosing a volunteer position.
 Think about why you are volunteering. Is it to develop new skills and learn new things? Is it to help others? Is it to gain experience in the occupation of your choice?
Think about what skills you have to offer and what skills you would like to develop (job-related skills, transferable skills, and self-management skills).
Think about what causes or issues matter the most to you, and what particular organisations work in these areas. Ask friends, relatives, teachers, career counsellors or a volunteer centre for ideas.
Think about what types of things you like to do.
Think about what types of things you don't want to do. There's nothing wrong with identifying certain things you don't want to do as a volunteer. Don't feel you have to agree to any type of volunteer work.
Think about how much time you are willing to commit. How long are you willing to volunteer (a week? a month? six months?), and how many hours per week can you work during this period?
Think about how far you can travel. Does the volunteer position need to be close to home? Close to a public transportation route? Or are you able to drive to the position? Also think about transportation as part of the volunteer position. Will you be able to travel as part of the job?
Where can you look to find volunteer positions? There is no shortage of opportunities in Calgary. There are hundreds of non-profit organisations that could use your help. There are several ways you could go about finding these positions:
Check out the Volunteer Bulletin Board - a list of volunteer opportunities on the web provided by CharityVillage, it includes a listing of volunteer opportunities available in Calgary.
If you already know a particular organisation which you would like to help out, give them a call and see if they have any need of a volunteer at this time. Some organisations may even allow you to design your own volunteer position.
If you have particular skills you want to develop and are not sure who would offer you the chance to develop these, or if you know what type of charity or organisation you would like to work for but don't have anyone specific in mind, head on down to the Volunteer Centre of Calgary. They have over 300 agencies whom they work with, and around 1,700 position descriptions on file at any one time. You can schedule an appointment with a referral volunteer who can help you find the position that best suits your needs, or simply browse through their guidebook which contains a short description of all the agencies that are members of the Volunteer Centre. The Centre is located on the 9th floor of 640, 8th Avenue S.W.
City of Calgary Parks & Recreation values volunteer contributions to our programs and facilities. Where possible, we encourage volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities and experience to contact us and see what we have to offer. Our volunteer opportunities range from a brief, one time only 2 hour commitment to a weekly commitment on a year round basis. We had over 5000 volunteers registered in 1999. We have volunteer opportunities in every area of the city.
Whether you have chosen the agency yourself or whether it has been suggested to you, it is always a good idea to arrange to tour the agency and speak with people who work there, both paid employees and other volunteers. Make sure you know what the agency does and that you feel that you will be able to fit in with those who work there.
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