As I reflect upon my time at Camosun I have come to realize the importance of volunteering. In first year I got a job with City Green, a local non-profit specializing in helping homeowners access grants to make their houses more energy efficient.
By donating my time I was able to get my foot in the door and assess whether I liked the work while my employer was able to gauge if I was a good fit. If I had applied for a position as a total stranger the chance of getting an interview would’ve been very slim.
Since then I volunteered by helping with plant sales for my program at Camosun and I got involved with my neighbourhood association. Having these experiences on my resume gave me more to talk about when I applied for co-op jobs. When I got hired to work at the CFB Esquimalt one of the reasons they chose me was because of my volunteering experience.
Now, my time at Camosun is winding down and I’ve stepped up my extracurricular efforts by running the college’s student environment club. Doing so has enabled me to gain more experience by planning and promoting events, fundraising and networking with other students and teachers who also want to contribute to positive change on campus and in the community.
So, instead of burying your head in the books and hoping that everything will work out, I encourage you to get out and volunteer. So many great organizations out there need your help, and the experience gained will help you stand out when your resume is sitting in a giant pile on an employer’s desk somewhere.