Whether you want to give back, build contacts, or fill a gap in employment, there are many good reasons to volunteer. But as one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, Murray Resources knows that finding a rewarding volunteer job isn’t always easy. To help you in your quest, follow these tips:

Look online for opportunities.

Check online for leads for volunteer opportunities. Many local governments have databases of organizations in need of volunteers. You can also check out sites like volunteer.gov for a variety of jobs around the country.

Be open.

When you’re looking for an organization to volunteer with, those you’ve already heard of are most likely to come to mind. But don’t cross of smaller, less established organizations from your list. Those are the ones that probably need help the most. So keep an open mind about where you’d be willing to work.

Be discerning.

That being said, if an organization seems chaotic or not well run, then move on. Some organizations really do need volunteers, but are unprepared to train or supervise them.

Be direct about the work you want to do.

Many organizations need volunteer help in a variety of areas. But if you don’t speak up about the area you’d like to work in most, you’ll likely get placed where there’s the most need. Instead, be direct about what you’re interested in doing. You’ll wind up doing the right kind of work for you, and delivering better results.

Be realistic about the amount of time you can volunteer.

You might have every intention of devoting 20 hours a week to volunteering. But if that doesn’t realistically fit into your schedule, don’t offer to do it. You’ll wind up overworked and miserable, as well as unlikely to follow through with the volunteer experience. It’s better to start off with just a few hours a week. After a while, if you’d like to volunteer more time, then do it.

Be prepared for some tedious work.

Many organizations have experienced volunteers calling it quits after just a few days, or not showing up at all. As a result, in order to test out volunteers before assigning them important work, an organization may give you some menial work to perform right off the bat. But don’t be insulted. Understand they just want to ensure that you’re going to stick around.

If you’d like help finding a full-time, paying job, call the experts at Murray Resources. As one of the leading staffing services firms in Houston, TX, we can assist you with the entire job search process – from crafting a strong resume to preparing for interviews to finding Houston job opportunities that are a great fit for your skills and background. Contact us today to get started.