Volunteering and interviewing! In my mind, these are two very important parts of career management and job search! In fact, they sort of go hand-in-hand.
Volunteering can be a “test-drive” in many cases. It allows people to see your talents in action. It also gives you a chance to show off your abilities beyond the view of your current employer or from behind the walls of unemployment.
Volunteering
This week, Fast Company’s article “Volunteering Will Save Your Career” highlights the importance of volunteering AND announces LinkedIn’s newest addition. Your action item for this week? Add your volunteer experiences to your LinkedIn profile.
If you aren’t currently volunteering, what are you waiting for? Find an organization that needs your help and start giving back.
The United Way and its partners need your help: Check out volunteer opportunities on their site here.
Or this site helps match you with opportunities: VolunteerMatch.org
Google “Volunteer opportunities” and I am sure you will find more local resources.
Interviewing
Interviewing is like marriage, it should not be entered into lightly. There are thousands of questions you should get answered during the process to make sure you know what you are heading into. 5 Questions to Ask the Hiring Manager from On Careers is a great place to start.
Hannah Morgan speaks and writes about job search and career strategies. She founded CareerSherpa.net to educate professionals on how to maneuver through today’s job search process. Hannah was nominated as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Job Search and Careers and is a regular contributor to US News & World Report. She has been quoted by media outlets, including Forbes, USA Today, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, as well as many other publications. She is also author of The Infographic Resume and co-author of Social Networking for Business Success.