When Christian lost his job during COVID, he decided to take the opportunity to upskill and change careers.
Find out how volunteering helped him build skills and experience to land his dream job- right here at Dublin City Volunteer Centre!
Why did you decide to volunteer? What motivated you?
During COVID, I lost my job and decided to go back to school to study Community Development and Social Policy. It was important for me to gain relevant experience and develop skills in my areas of interest.
I discovered the huge variety of volunteering opportunities available on I-VOL.
Volunteering offered me the chance to gain knowledge and experience while contributing to a great cause at the same time. I learned skills in everything from peer support to stewarding and event management. I also learned administration skills that lead me to my current job.
As someone who advocates for mental health, I was lucky to find such amazing volunteer opportunities within that field and support so many people who needed a helping hand and assistance.
How did you get started volunteering with Dublin City Volunteer Centre and why?
I found all my volunteering roles on I-VOL had great experiences volunteering with organisations I connected with. When I found that my University course didn’t offer work experience, I went straight to I-VOL to find volunteering that would help me gain experience. Hence, I found my recent administration volunteer role with DCVC where I volunteered for 10 months.
Tell us about the volunteering that you did. What was a typical day like?
One of my volunteering roles was on the administration and organisation support team for Dublin City Volunteer Centre. I was responsible for making sure that the ads you see on I-VOL are easy to read and have all the information to help you choose a volunteering role that suits you.
On a typical day, I reviewed and edited volunteer roles sent to us by organisations looking for volunteers. Once I was happy the information was in tip-top shape, I posted the volunteering roles on I-VOL.
I really liked the creativity of editing the descriptions for each role to make sure they conveyed the key information clearly. I challenged myself to make each role as attractive as possible to potential volunteers.
What has surprised you or been unexpected about volunteering?
What surprised me was the immense support I received from people that I worked with through volunteering. I was lucky to be surrounded by supportive people who encouraged me to work to the very best of my ability.
Have you gained anything from volunteering? If so, what?
I have had so many positive experiences here. The administration skills I gained through volunteering gave me the confidence to apply for a full-time paid position, and I am now a staff member here at Dublin City Volunteer Centre.
Volunteering has been such an incredible journey for me, and I am so thankful every day for everyone who guided me throughout this experience.
What would you say to someone thinking of volunteering? Is there any advice you would offer?
Just try it out! Find out what you are passionate about, something that interests you or even something that catches your eye. There is something for everyone on I-VOL. You might just surprise yourself with what you can achieve.