History is replete with examples of volunteerism. There have been occasions and times of crises when volunteers have played major roles in solving problems for societies across the world. From disaster relief or in the field of social development, the helpful interventions of volunteers have been crucial. Some individuals like to pitch in to help out of religious motivation, or out of concern for their fellow humans.
The present environmental crisis in India and across the world have thrown up a new set of challenges for those who wish to something to bring about change in society. Society is today increasingly polarised between those who are rich and enjoy the fruits of the earth and those who are poor because they are dependent upon their environment that has become degraded.
For organisations, recruiting volunteers is a cost-effective way of providing a range of social and welfare services. To flourish, the programme requires effective infrastructure, both at national and international levels, to help mobilise support and match volunteers to appropriate organisations and tasks.
However, while the contribution of Volunteers is vast, much of their work often goes unrecognised because it is often unpaid and because it is usually spontaneous, unstructured and informal. Irrespective of the varied regional perception of Volunteerism or the manner in which it is practiced, Volunteers strengthen any cause. Their participation and involvement is the cornerstone of any successful programme.
The present environmental crisis has thrown up a new set of challenges for India and its citizens. Like most developing countries, India needs to seize every opportunity to grow, but do so in a sustainable manner. We need to look inward for solutions to our problems. Awareness of these issues is however sorely lacking in the country. By volunteering for the CSE’s programme you can enrich yourself with a wealth of knowledge and a perspective that will enable you to contribute meaningfully to society and to your profession.
Key Motivations
By volunteering you can:
Each Volunteer who comes to CSE has varied reasons and motivations. For the youth, Volunteering offers opportunities for self development and risk-taking while providing a valuable grounding for future practices. For senior or retired citizens, volunteering provides a positive contribution as it helps the newly retired to adjust to the new retired life.
Each one has a special reason for volunteering, but once you are on a Volunteer you will continue to serve as long as you feel that your efforts are accomplishing something and that your talents are being appreciated.
Volunteering to Explore Career Possibilities
Are you in a threshold of starting your career or are you looking for a job shift? Volunteering is the best way to explore different career options. It is risk-free as you can venture out in different areas without the fear of making a long-term commitment. It will give you a chance to explore your capabilities, experiment with what you are good at or pursue what interests you the most. If you feel that a certain area or kind of work is not for you then you can easily withdraw without disrupting your resume. For those who are looking for a change in their job or line of work, Volunteering is the best available option. It will allow you to be tested in new situations and give you a chance to experiment even if does not work out.
On the other hand, if you find your work exciting and interesting you can increase your commitment to the organisation. You can learn more about issues and build a relationship with the organisation.
Finally, Volunteering can get you a paid job as you can build contacts through the organization for which you are Volunteering. You will have something tangible to show in your resume, which will support your career goals.
For young graduates and post graduates, Volunteering can place you a step above your fellow students as you can show and prove that you have been involved outside the classroom as well. CSE often hires volunteers who have gone further to pursue a career in environment and have come back to work with the organisation as permanent employees.
A Volunteering opportunity with CSE will give you real-time exposure to a professional organisation
When you are looking for a job, your resume initiates the job-hunting process. It presents you to your potential employer and you have to ensure that you are able to capture the interest of your employer.
One way of doing this is to show Volunteer work in your resume, which proves you are an involved citizen. The most important thing is to present this information in such a way that it supports your career goal and statement of purpose.
The approach most commonly used is to add a section on your resume commonly termed ‘Voluntary Work’ or ‘Voluntary Experience’. Highlighting the Volunteer work will show that you have interest beyond classroom. Even if it is not paid work, it surely is productive work and can be counted as work experience. You can describe your volunteer experience in terms of your achievements, highlighting the skills that you have gained and shared. Even if you do not have experience of a paid job you are aware of the day-to-day challenges in a work place.
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