This document discusses the value of volunteering and provides information to support gaining business experience through volunteer opportunities. It outlines reasons to volunteer such as networking, learning new skills, and personal well-being. Different types of volunteer roles are described along with specific business skills that can be developed like communication, responsibility, and creativity. The document also provides examples of volunteer opportunities and resources for finding opportunities as well as tips for marketing volunteer experience on resumes and in interviews.

1. The Value of Volunteering Gaining Business Experience Through Volunteer Opportunities

2. Agenda Reasons to Volunteer Types of Volunteers Business Skills Gained Through Volunteering Opportunities Marketing Your Volunteer Experience Call to Action

3. Reasons to Volunteer Volunteers are seldom paid; not because they are worthless, but because they are PRICELESS! --author unknown

4. Reasons to Volunteer – Discussion Notes This list was created by the audience during the presentation. Work Related Know what students / children are “up to” To expose myself To Help Others Networking Sharing Knowledge Learn about an organization or job opportunity See if you like it – try before you buy Learn about other people; culture, personal, ethnic, friendship Because it feels good Gain intra-spective – to get to know yourself

5. Reasons to Volunteer To learn something about yourself To have fun Because you’re passionate about a cause To explore career possibilities Be productive - It’s time to get off the couch Learn some new skills…and add them to your resume Make someone else’s day Feel good about yourself Required by your college/university or employer To be more involved in your community

6. What it Boils Down to….. Personal Health & Well Being – More and more, a substantial body of research evidence is indicating that there are very real personal, physical and emotional benefits to helping others. Employment Skills - Across the nation, thousands of volunteers have developed marketable skills and made valuable job contacts through their volunteer efforts. Some areas of frequent skill development are computer skills, public speaking, project and program planning, building/construction, and counseling to name a few. Growing A Better Community and Quality of Life – A community can only be as healthy, vibrant and active as its members are willing to make it. Making it so involves time, energy, effort and commitment - from every single member.1

7. Types of Volunteers "Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.” -- Erma Brombeck

8. Types of Volunteers Boards of Directors Business and Corporate Children and Youth Family Volunteering Older Volunteers People with Disabilities Professions in Service/Pro Bono Volunteering Entrepreneurial and Self-directed Service Students in Service3

9. Business Skills Gained Through Volunteering "Not everything that counts can be counted. And not everything that can be counted, counts." -- Albert Einstein

10. Skills & Benefits Gained from Volunteering Learn technical skills Learn business world skills Learn how to work as a team Gain work experience Try something new Gain practical experience Build networks Gain inspiration and motivation Build a solid work ethic “Try before you buy”

11. Core Skills Gained Through Volunteering Responsibility – being in a position of authority with accountability for results Communication - with all levels of management and different types of people Creativity – having to be resourceful and find ways around problems Commitment – to projects and their work in general.2

12. Opportunities Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that it's done above and beyond earning a living and deals with what people really care passionately about. Remember, no one gets paid to rebel. All revolutions start with volunteers. -- Susan J. Ellis

13. Opportunities Finding Them Making Your Own Be Creative It never hurts to ask…

14. Opportunities – Discussion Notes This list was created by the audience during the presentation. Churches Helping Friends and Family Nursing homes Hospitals Schools Clubs and Organizations (student and professional) Shelters / Humane Societies / Rescue Political activism FUN – Independent radio, the arts, museums

15. Marketing Your Volunteer Experience "The road to success is not crowded. Because while most are looking for ways to take, the truly successful people are finding ways to give. With a giving attitude, every situation is an opportunity for success.“ -- Unknown

16. Marketing Your Volunteer Experience Target your resume and cover letters to specific positions or employers whenever possible. List volunteer experience in your work history, especially when there is a gap in your employment. Include points of intersection Use the heading “Professional Experience” instead of “Employment History” Ask your volunteer manager for a volunteer job description. Always maintain two solid references from volunteering.

17. Resources Do all you can with what you have, in the time you have, in the place you are. -- Nkosi Johnson, a Zulu boy, born into dire poverty while also being infected with AIDS, who died at the age of 12

18. Call to Action On-Line Resources American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/Involved/Volunteer/index Goodwill: http://www.goodwill.org/get-involved/volunteer/ Non-profit Center of Milwaukee – Jobs that Serve: http://epic.cuir.uwm.edu/entech/jobs/ The Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee: http://www.volunteermilwaukee.org/welcome.php AmericanTowns.com: http://www.americantowns.com/wi/milwaukee-make-a-difference National & Community Service, Learn and Serve America: http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/programs/learnandserve.asp VolunteerMatch.org: http://www.volunteermatch.org Charity-charities.org: http://www.charity-charities.org Books Who do you know? Social Networking: Linked In, facebook, My Space, Yammer, etc. Neighbors Friends Colleagues Mentor

19. Thank you. Foot Notes:1. http://www.wcwc.org/volunteer.htm2. http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/fileadmin/docdb/pdf/2006/Valuing_volunteering_Jan_06.pdf3. http://www.energizeinc.com/art.html#types