Interview Process

The volunteer interview is an important step in ensuring that both you and the organization feel that you are well-suited for a particular volunteer position.  This interview is a great opportunity to ask any questions that you have about the position along with giving the organization the opportunity to get to know your skills and personality. Information on issues such as potential  time commitment, particulars of duties they expect you to perform, and what the work environment will be like, are all important topics to raise with the interviewer.  Treat the interview as though it were one for a paid position. It will help you to practice your interview skills and will also allow you to get a better feel for the topics that future employers might question you about.  Prepare for the interview, and remember that if you are not placed in the position, there are many other volunteer opportunities out there that might be better suited for your qualifications.

Tip - Always do independent research on prospective employers and prospective volunteer placements.  Word of mouth is a great indicator of the way an organization is viewed in the community.  Checking out an organization, may save you the heartache of an unsuccessful position!

  What Can A Person Gain From Volunteering?

• Enhance or develop skills
  By developing your skills you will better negotiate future endeavors in life such as finding employment or even dealing with some of  life's problems .
  

• Gain "hands on" work experience
  Volunteering gives you on-the-job experience that can be very beneficial when applying for a paid position.
  

• Find new talents
  Whenever you try something new, you could discover a talent that you didn't know you had!
  

• Meet new people
  Whenever you volunteer, you meet new people; these people bring wisdom and talents of their own that you can learn from.  You may even meet some friends.
  

• Learn
  Learning is part of life, volunteering helps expand your knowledge by assisting you to learn about yourself and your community.
  

• Discover more about yourself
  Learning about yourself is one of the greatest benefits a volunteer receives, self satisfaction and personal growth come from taking the time to give a bit of yourself  to help others.
  

• Critical thinking
  When you volunteer you get the opportunity to look at your community through a new angle that allows you to critically assess some of your past ideas and views about your community and yourself.
  

  What do you have to give as a volunteer?

  	Time-Your extra time can brighten the day of a small child who needs a mentor or a senior who needs a companion to talk to.  Time is one of the most important things that you bring to volunteering.
  	Experience- Your skills can make a world of difference to people around you. For example, if you had teaching experience in the past, you could share those skills by teaching a child how to read.
  	Wisdom- Life knowledge is a wonderful gift to bring to volunteering, being able to understand what others are going through and being able offer a lending hand or kind word can really make a difference in peoples' lives.
  	Patience- Patience is a gift that few have, sitting with someone whom otherwise does not have someone willing to do so, can greatly enhance the quality of life for someone who is isolated or ill.

Volunteers are needed in almost every aspect of any community from theatre productions to hospitals. Volunteering is not free labour, but active volunteers can  make real differences within their community. 

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  Why Do People Volunteer?

• To give back to a cause that helped them in the past

• To say thank you

• To meet new people

• To support a specific cause

• To gain experience

• To lower stress 

• Because they have the time and want to!

FACT:
Only ONE in every FOUR people in Canada volunteer, sadly only 75% of all hours of volunteer work come from less then 10% of the total Canadian population.

                                                                              Volunteer Canada

Statistics about volunteering

    Who Volunteers?

Anyone can volunteer their time

The highest number of volunteers comes from those over the age of 50.  With people retiring at earlier ages, with grown children out on their own, people find that they have some free time on their hands and want to get involved within their community.  Some specifically like to help a cause that gave them support in the past, or work within an organization that allows them to use their skills and/or to meet new people.  

Volunteering as a family lets you spend quality time, demonstrate responsibilities and show your children the importance of lifelong learning.  As a family you can participate in food drives, park clean-ups or help in a shelter.  It is a great way to make a difference in your community while building a special bond with those you care about most.

Volunteering as a young person can have significant effects on your life.  Volunteering opens a whole new world and makes you feel like an important part of your community.  As the parent of a child that wants to volunteer, make sure to ask lots of questions, also make sure that you see a printed copy of the job description.  Making sure that your child is safe in the volunteer environment is important.  

Some important questions to ask when your child decides to volunteer:

1. What are the duties that my child will be performing?

2.  Will I be comfortable letting my child work with this organization?

3.  What will my child gain from this experience?

4.  Are the times and location convenient?

5.  What is the organization's history, mission and environment like?

6.  Who will be working with my child?

7.  Is there volunteer screening?

8.  Does the agency have insurance to cover my child?

9.  Will my child have fun?

Students that volunteer gain excellent work experience that will help them gain future employment.  Getting involved with different opportunities can help you make some lifelong choices on careers and hobbies.  Most students find that volunteering is like a break from the everyday norm where they can do something productive and have fun at same time.  In addition to the obvious benefit to future employment, many post-secondary institutions will now include volunteer work as a condition of acceptance to programs.  The Ontario Ministry of Education and Training has now mandated 40 hours of volunteer work as a requirement to an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.