Job Search Strategies: 5 Steps to Make Volunteerism Work for You

1. Job Search Strategies:
5 Steps to make Volunteerism Work for You
Laura Short, Assistant Director
Trinity University Career Services

2. How volunteering helps job search
List of benefits
• Builds work experience/skills
• Builds references
• Builds network
• Shows passion
• Improves morale
• Test drives a career
• Puts you on the short list

3. Steps to leverage volunteerism
Put it to work for you
1. Gather your resources
2. Research jobs
3. Research companies
4. Draw comparisons
5. Pull it together

4. 1. Gather your resources
To-do list for during and after volunteer activities
• Imagery: photos, video, slideshows
• Writing: blog or journal articles, status updates on social media
• News clips
• Other documentation: thank you notes, certificates of recognition
• Anecdotes: the experiences that sum up transferable skills

5. Discussion:
What are your transferable skills?
Transferable skills sets for job seekers – QuintCareers.com

6. 2. Research jobs
Find and dissect job descriptions
• Indeed.com
• LinkedIn Jobs
• GoinGlobal
• Your career services center

7. Exercise:
Analyze key words
Wordle.net – Word cloud app tip

8. 3. Research companies
Learn more about companies that are hiring—causes they fund, volunteer corps
• Company website
• Google alerts
• Follow them on social media
• LinkedIn (who works there)
• Glassdoor.com

9. Exercise:
Personal mission statement / branding
• What is your never-changing purpose?
• How will you make those around you better?
• How can you make you better?
• What change do you want to see in the world? What part do you
play in this change?
• What can you do that no one else can? Hint: What dots can you
connect for an employer? Why should they hire you?
• What will you never do again?

10. 4. Draw comparisons
Note similar words and phrases
• Your personal documentation (blog articles, memories, etc.)
• The job descriptions
• The company descriptions
• Your personal mission statement

11. Exercise:
Use your similarities to develop
• Resume bullet points
• Cover letter examples
• Interview answers

12. 5. Pulling it together
Resume example

13. 5. Pulling it together
LinkedIn example

14. 5. Pulling it together
Cover letter example

15. Exercise:
STAR method to answering interview questions
• S – Describe the situation.
• T – What was the task that had to be done?
• A – What action did you take?
• R – What were the results?

16. Steps to leverage volunteerism
Questions?
1. Gather your resources
2. Research jobs
3. Research companies
4. Draw comparisons
5. Pull it together