Finding employment in today’s economy can be challenging – whether you have just recently graduated, are re-entering the work force, want to change career paths, or are seeking new challenges. Perhaps you have been reviewing the classified ads in the local newspapers, searching the jobs postings on Craigslist or Kijiji, or contacting recruiters, all to no avail.
And although you’ve been told that networking is an excellent way to discover that “hidden” job market, the source of unsolicited jobs, you are somewhat introverted or simply aren’t comfortable using this mode. In fact, many people don’t even know how to begin to network. If you are this type of person, you might try volunteering, which could be considered a non-networking way of networking.
Volunteering your time, services, talents, and energies is actually a multi-faceted endeavour with a great deal of benefits. In addition to helping others, it will help you as well. Through volunteering, you expose yourself to other people with similar interests. Along the way, you are bound to learn new skills as you take on the duties and responsibilities for the activity you have committed yourself to. Your leadership potential, willingness to take initiative, desire to assist, ability to function as part of a team – all these assets will certainly be discovered. You could very likely be working next to well-connected people, even a senior executive of a company that you are considering targeting.
When deciding where to volunteer, one prospect to consider is trade shows, a highly targeted way of exposing yourself to people in your field. Another is civic activities. Many chambers of commerce plan and staff local events and are always looking for people to help. And be sure to search the internet – countless opportunities are available.
If you feel you are being held back from using this method of finding employment because you have a criminal record, you should definitely contact Pardon Services Canada to obtain a Pardon. A Client Specialist will ensure that your application will be processed expeditiously and you will be kept informed at each stage of the process.