Internship Seekers' Guide

Volunteering is another way to gain experience and build your professional (and personal!) network.  Although being a volunteer does not have the formal structure and learning outcomes like being an intern, it could lead to interesting projects and opportunities.  If you choose to be volunteer consider the following:

• Are you passionate about the organization's mission?  Don't volunteer for the sake of volunteering. Find an organization whose mission you truly believe in. 
• What skills do you have to offer? You may have a skill like web design or you're a great event planner. When choosing an organization to volunteer for, make sure you have something to offer.
• What skills can you build?  Depending on where you volunteer you may be able to work on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and project coordination.  These are all valuable skills for work, school, and life.  
• Does it fit into your schedule? Don't bite off more than you can chew. Make sure what you sign up for works with your schedule and the organization's schedule too.  

If you have a LinkedIn profile, you can let nonprofits know you want to donate your time and skills! By filling out the Volunteer and Causes section of your profile, these organizations can find you and discover you’d like to serve on a nonprofit board or do skills-based volunteering.  You can also search postings for opportunities as well.