Dealing with Job Loss? Volunteering can help with your job search and boost self- confidence
Saturday, April 24, 2010 10:46By Ellen Brown
Were you recently laid off, or have you been out of work for awhile? If so, consider volunteering.
Although it may sound strange to consider giving away your time when you could use some cash to pay the bills, volunteering can go a long way toward helping you through what is often a challenging time. As a coach, I’ve worked with a number of clients who have seen positive results by volunteering their time.
Volunteering can help you:
- Have a sense of purpose
- Rebuild your self confidence
- Gain new skills
- Network with new contacts who could help you in your job search
- Make new friends
- Provide you with a sense of belonging
- Demonstrate to a prospective employer that you would be a good employee
- Give back to the community
While only a few of the clients I’ve worked with have parlayed their volunteer work into fulltime jobs, everyone has agreed that volunteering enriched their life, during a time when they were feeling anxious, lonely or disenfranchised.
What are your thoughts about volunteering to help you deal with job loss?
How has it helped YOU?
I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment, here, on Stepping Stones, by scrolling down to the bottom of the page.
Are you dealing with job loss, the death of a loved one, or another challenging life transition? If so, I’d love to help out. Visit my website at http://www.ellen-brown.com to sign up for an introductory coaching session or a coaching package that’s right for you. Since coaching sessions are conducted by phone, I can work with clients anywhere in the world.
Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach based in Cleveland, OH.
Carolyn from LiquidWholeFood.com says:
April 24th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
While I haven’t dealt with the crises you cite, I find that when I am volunteering I discover all you listed and also I get out of myself more. Volunteering really brings home that the world is bigger than what I’m dealing with, and I can be a blessing even if I’m feeling really stressed about my own circumstances. That helps alleviate the intensity of the stress for me.
Ellen Brown says:
April 24th, 2010 at 8:09 pm
Thanks for your thoughts, Carolyn! I so agree that volunteering offers us a broader perspective and gives us a chance to see our connection to the greater good.
Miriam Cox says:
April 29th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I have been unemployed for over a year. I volunteer at two different places; a public library and my grandson’s school library. Volunteering has given me a renewed sense of purpose in my life and something to look forward to doing two days a week. It has built my self-esteem at a time when I felt like, gee, maybe there is something wrong with me because I can’t get a job. It helps to keep my skills and my mind sharp. I’m out of the house and interacting with other people, and who knows one of those people may know of someone who is looking for someone like me. I have always been told it is better to give then receive. In my experience, that is so true. If I get a job I will still want to volunteer.
Ellen Brown says:
April 30th, 2010 at 9:11 am
That’s great that volunteering has been helpful to you, Miriam! I think the self esteem issue is huge. And I so agree that it is better to give rather than to receive, though it sure is nice to receive sometimes. Good luck with your job search!