Is this volunteer role THE ONE?
Finding the right volunteering role may not seem to have much in common with your favourite rom-com but there is something that cheesy romance movies and volunteering have in common. Bear with me…and I’ll try to explain:
The Right Role vs The Right Now Role
In volunteering, as in dating, success depends on finding the right fit. Every volunteer has different circumstances, interests, and needs- and so does every non-profit. Volunteers help organisations meet their goals, so finding the right match is crucial for everyone. But that’s not to say that there is only one possible match for each person.
I can’t speak to what this might mean in your love life – I’m not that kind of Engagement Officer – but I can say that when you’re looking for a volunteer role, focusing on finding the volunteering equivalent of a soul mate will most likely slow you down and leave you disappointed.
When I was a student, I was introduced to an amazing after school tutoring programme near my campus. The programme required volunteers to commit to coming in every Thursday from 4 to 6pm for one year. After visiting a recruitment open day for the programme, I thought it seemed like a great match for my skills and interests –unfortunately it just didn’t fit in with my course schedule. I might have been able to commit during the current semester, but I couldn’t guarantee that my schedule would stay the same for the full year. As tough as it was to admit, it was the right role for me, but not right now.
I could have just given up on volunteering altogether. Instead, I found a different role at a charity shop warehouse that was much more flexible and able to accommodate the changes in my schedule that came with my studies. I still enjoyed the benefits of volunteering, but in a way that suited my circumstance. And as it happens, three years later, a new job meant my schedule was more stable, and I was able to go back to that after school programme and volunteer there after all.
It's not you…
Here are a few other examples of when the right role might not be the right now role:
- Retiring soon? You might be thinking that you want a volunteer role to fill your time and keep busy. But retirement is a big transition, and you may need a bit of time to adjust. Rather than diving straight into a demanding role, we recommend starting with something less time consuming while you consider what would suit you best in the long term.
- Are you an International Protection Applicant? The IPA process can involve lots of waiting and uncertainty about the future. If you are newly arrived in Ireland you may be eager to build a new routine for yourself, but you may also be unsure about what time you can commit, especially when you might be moved to new accommodation at short notice. Short-term and once-off roles can help get you out and meeting people while you are waiting for a transfer. Click here to learn more about volunteering as an International Protection Applicant
- Working 9 to 5? If you are looking for a role to practice your professional skills while allowing you to volunteer outside of office hours- consider different kinds of roles. For example, a mentoring role might allow flexible meetings times with the person you mentor. This might not use your specific work skills, but the knowledge and confidence you’ve built up in your career could really benefit someone in their own challenges.
The great English writer Jane Austen wrote, ‘There are as many forms of love as there are moments in time.’ In a similar way, the wide range of volunteer roles you’ll find on I-VOL could mean that even if your dream role isn’t a match for you right now, you’ll find something to keep you busy until the right one comes along.