Job Search: Four Ways to Stand Out in Today’s Market – Volunteering
Last in a 4-post series on standing out as THE candidate employers need. Mark Cummuta explains how volunteering landed him a job
There is perhaps nothing more satisfying than helping someone in need, especially when you're unemployed. Let's face it, getting laid off coupled with the multiple rejections you receive while looking for a new job is disheartening at best and downright depressing at worst. Volunteering is a wonderful and effective way to lift your spirits while unemployed. The volunteer work I've done throughout my job search has certainly helped preserve my sanity and self-esteem during these many long months. Efforts on behalf of others can help us manage our own emotions and re-energize us so that we can meet the never-ending challenges of a job search.
I've done volunteer work throughout my job search for a variety of reasons. My work with JobAngels, the Pay-It-FORWARD networking group, Career Renewal, the College of DuPage Career Transition Center and the Technology Executives Network are all altruistic volunteer work: I do it with the express purpose of helping others with their job searches, with no ulterior motive and no expectation for personal gain.
I've also done volunteer work during my job search for "directed" reasons — in other words, with the hope that I'll benefit professionally from the volunteer work, either by sharpening existing skills, gaining new skills, expanding my network or uncovering a lead that turns into a job offer. Directed volunteering can be pro bono work you take on in your field for a non-profit, religious or community organization, alumni association or even a political campaign. There have been times when I have specifically targeted organizations and their needs in order to maintain, improve and even gain new skills that would make me a more marketable candidate. I’ve taken on controller/CFO, fund-raising and sales roles as a volunteer for several organizations so that I could learn, build and then showcase my skills in these fundamental, bottom-line areas. The leadership and speaking roles I've taken on with organizations such as the CIO Forum, Technology Leaders Assoc (TLA), St. Louis Innovation Camp and the IT Executives Assoc of Chicago (ITEAC) are some examples of my directed volunteer work, since these organizations increase my exposure to senior executives.
Whether altruistic or directed, when you are volunteering keep this in mind: People talk. If you are a hard worker with a great attitude that shows in everything you do (even when the going gets tough) and you demonstrate a passion for both the mission and the task at hand, you will get noticed and opportunities will come knocking! It worked for me.
As a job search mentor and trainer, I have been assisting people at seminars, networking events, at churches, and via LinkedIn and Twitter since mid-2007. My efforts were noticed by Mark Stelzner, the Founder of the national non-profit JobAngels, who interviewed and “hired” me as their volunteer CIO. He personally has introduced me to key networking contacts, including several in my dream industry, defense.
My job search mentoring efforts were also noticed by a former client of mine, who hired me again for a series
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