A great way to earn skills, knowledge, contacts and experience..
..which you can include in job applications for paid jobs and more valuable internships in the future. Volunteer work and internships are also a great way to get your foot in the door of an organization you want to work for. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the potential to be an excellent employee. Once you’re there, your boss might discover that they need to create a paid position for you. Work experiences are where you can gain: skills, perspective about what kinds of work you enjoy most, as well as contacts and references who can help you get jobs in the future. (You will need 3-4 references and work experiences to include in job applications!)
Volunteer Resources
Volunteer experience includes (ongoing or time-limited) community service and civic engagement. Show up on time, do your best, learn, and ask adults you work with if they will serve as a job reference in the future.
- VolunteerMatch.org
- ACT Volunteer Center
- Senior centers
- Neighbors
- Libraries
- Animal Shelters
- Youth Serving Agencies/Camps
- Church groups
- Non-profit agencies
Internship Resources
Internships, whether paid or unpaid, are intentionally designed to help you gain a specific set of skills and knowledge over a pre-defined period of time (6 weeks, 3 months, etc.) in exchange for your effort and time. Show up on time, do your best, learn, and ask your supervisor(s) if they will serve as a job reference in the future.