What if your chances of finding paid work are slim? Consider volunteering, urges career coach Heidi Los. Because action breeds confidence.
Similar to paid work
“People often think of volunteer jobs as less demanding or bearing less responsibility. I don’t agree with that. If you choose to be a volunteer, you turn up on time and do what is expected of you. Whether or not you’re earning money has nothing to do with that,” says Los, who has worked with many Global Connection members. “What matters is that you are delivering quality and service, and developing yourself too.
Devote time
When I bring up the subject of volunteering, there are of course expat partners who will resolutely tell me: ‘I need a paid job’, either because they need the money or they can’t imagine not working. I understand that, but sometimes there are barriers to employment – because of language requirements, for example, or diplomas that can’t be transferred. Barriers like that can turn a job search into a long process. In such cases it’s a good idea to spend some of that time volunteering.
Stay active
After all, having something to focus on is much better than sitting at home, where you will eventually grow stale – making it harder to return to the workplace. I always compare it to the effects of physical inactivity: if you break your leg and have it in a cast for six weeks, you’ll need to do rehab before it functions properly again. So staying active is crucial. If you keep taking initiative, instead of just dreaming of and hoping for the job you want, something will eventually happen.
Move forward
When you volunteer, you will broaden your network, develop your skills, and grow or remain confident in your own abilities. That confidence is really important. It’s what helps you take initiative – to keep moving forward in whatever direction you want.”
Photo: San Jose Public Library – Flickr
