National Volunteer Week: How volunteering can help COVID-19-affected jobseekers into work

Aussies out of work as a result of coronavirus shut downs are encouraged to use their time for a good cause – and upskill in the process.

Volunteering can be a stepping stone for people who are out of work as a result of COVID-19 shut downs – or for those who want to make a career change or re-enter the workforce after a break.

It can be a way to gain new skills, avoid gaps in employment on resumes, or establish professional referees who can vouch for a person’s work ethic the next time they apply for a job.

Sometimes it can lead to a paid position with the organisation for which they are volunteering.

SEEK Volunteer head Rebecca Miller says people who have lost their job or been temporarily stood down as a result of COVID-19 can use a volunteer position to keep their brain sharp and in a positive headspace.

“It’s about having something during this period to pop on your resume but also having a purpose and contributing to something meaningful so they are in the right headspace when the job comes around,” she says.

“We have always had an ‘online and remote’ volunteering category so if people are (isolating) at home, they can still volunteer.”

There are about 180 of these roles listed now on the volunteering portal.

Maria Palumbo with some of the volunteers at Junction Hackham Community Centre. Picture: Jo Robinson

Miller says many organisations are looking for volunteers with skills that would otherwise be costly, such as legal advice, social media management and web development.

“If they can get a volunteer to help them do that, they can put that money toward service delivery rather than business operations,” she says.

“Some require a specific skillset, some just require a good attitude.

“There is pretty much something for everyone.”

Junction chief executive Maria Palumbo says people choose to volunteer for the community support and housing provider for many reasons, both personal and professional.

“Some volunteers work out of our community centres where they gain experience while they are studying or searching for employment, often in the fields of social work or childcare and early education,” she says.

“For some people, they might not be able to work, for a range of reasons including disability or illness, but find volunteering a more flexible way of contributing to society while staying connected to other people.”

It is National Volunteer Week 2020 from May 18-24. Picture: iStock

Palumbo says volunteering can boost the self esteem of people who find themselves out of work amid the COVID-19 economic fallout.

“You can’t underestimate the satisfaction you get from contributing to something ‘bigger’ and feeling valued because of that,” she says.

“While, for most people, paid work is preferred, volunteering can be an avenue for this too.

“Volunteering can be a wonderful opportunity to learn new skills and try new things.

“It can be a chance to try working in a different environment and gaining exposure to another career path.

“Importantly, it’s also a fantastic way to meet new people, widen your networks, your experience and understanding.

“You never know where it might lead.”

VOLUNTEER TO MAKE A CAREER CHANGE

Vince Boyle used his background in finance and mortgage broking to turn a voluntary role into a paid opportunity.

After six months volunteering on the intake desk at South East Community Links, taking down information from callers in financial need, he was offered a job as a financial counsellor.

Vince Boyle volunteered for six months before nabbing a paid position with not-for-profit South East Community Links. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“I rang South East Community Links out of the blue and said ‘I want to do some (voluntary) work for you’ – I got to see if I liked the job and they could see if they liked me, too,” he said.

“They had another financial counsellor buddying up with me and I was helping them take down information to allow callers to be seen by a financial counsellor at a later date.

“I was also looking around for a course to do and my manager introduced me to a Diploma of Financial Counselling.

“After six months as a volunteer they advertised a job and I got it.”

Boyle, 56, urged other people aiming to use volunteering to make a career change to consider what skills they can transfer to a new industry.

“I am doing a 15-month course and there is plenty for me to learn on the counselling side but on the financial side I have experience that comes to the fore,” he said.

“You would be amazed by what you don’t know that you do know.”

READ MORE EMPLOYMENT NEWS IN THE CAREERS SECTION OF SATURDAY’S THE ADVERTISER, THE COURIER-MAIL, THE HERALD SUN AND THE DAILY TELEGRAPH