Job Experience/Volunteering

[flashy]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

I know the Sense shop in Accrington are always looking for volunteers Flashy, oh sorry - just seen that you said apart from charity shops - although it could be a start. They also have a part-time paid job going at the moment if you're interested.

i didnt mean 'other' than charity shops, i have already sent my details in by email to lots of them lol


i would work in them all if i could, i worked in one in Rawtenstall when i was 16 and i really enjoyed it

[Less]

I was struggling and looking for work several years ago and every training course/subsidised job needed me to be at least 6 months unemployed.

6 months went by, I looked along the hopeless offerings and one sprang out at me, someone to work interviewing 'Job Seeker Clients'.

I went to the counter and enquired, 'Ah right you've been unemployed over 6 months, we won't employ people over that period because they will probably have forgotten how to write basic English!'

How am I doing so far? I still don't know if this is good enough.

[flashy]

good god thats pathetic Less, i'd have given them a right gobfull , i hope you did

[AccyMad]

Originally Posted by flashy

i didnt mean 'other' than charity shops, i have already sent my details in by email to lots of them lol


i would work in them all if i could, i worked in one in Rawtenstall when i was 16 and i really enjoyed it

Sorry, that was me reading it wrong

[Less]

Originally Posted by flashy

good god thats pathetic Less, i'd have given them a right gobfull , i hope you did

Obviously not, my verbal vocabulary is even more restricted than my written word!

[flashy]

Originally Posted by AccyMad

Sorry, that was me reading it wrong

no it wasnt you at all, it was me, i didnt write it properly, i didnt make it clear what it was i was after

[mattylad]

I on the other hand have been working in electronics for the past 20 years, being redundant & there being no suitable jobs am looking to move over to care work instead as I often see vacancies in that.

[AccyMad]

Originally Posted by mattylad

I on the other hand have been working in electronics for the past 20 years, being redundant & there being no suitable jobs am looking to move over to care work instead as I often see vacancies in that.

I work in a residential home for deafblind people and we are regularly looking for bank staff, it's a good way of seeing if this kind of work is for you.

[blazey]

I wonder what percentage of employers actually see voluntary work as enough to prove skills.

You obviously DO gain skills and many employers accept it alongside paid work, but does it stand for much alone?

I mean, you aren't paid and charities aren't too fussed about who works for them because they're happy for anyone to be there. So there isn't really any real evidence that you would have that job if it was a paid role... you know, worthiness of employment?

Do maturer people seek work experience in normal businesses? Like office environments and stuff? I don't hear much of that.

I've done bits of voluntary work but I don't put it on my CV for the most part because it takes up too much of my two sides allowance for law placements.

[AccyMad]

Bank staff are not volunteers - they are paid at the same rate at our full time staff but do not have any contracted hours, they cover holidays,sickness etc. and means they can work only the hours that are suitable for them.

[jedimaster]

Originally Posted by blazey

I wonder what percentage of employers actually see voluntary work as enough to prove skills.

You obviously DO gain skills and many employers accept it alongside paid work, but does it stand for much alone?

I mean, you aren't paid and charities aren't too fussed about who works for them because they're happy for anyone to be there. So there isn't really any real evidence that you would have that job if it was a paid role... you know, worthiness of employment?

Do maturer people seek work experience in normal businesses? Like office environments and stuff? I don't hear much of that.

I've done bits of voluntary work but I don't put it on my CV for the most part because it takes up too much of my two sides allowance for law placements.

yes employers do look at skills gained from volunteering this is why they also look at hobbies and leisure activities. not only does it show off any skills you may have gained from the organisation but volunteers are sometimes offered training courses relevant to the post - for example before i found a full time job i was going to volunteer as a community minibus driver in return they were going to pay for my MIDAS course, first aid course and offer training in loading/securing wheelchairs - which would have cost me over £200.
by looking at these instances on c.v's employers can also make a better judgement on the sort of person you are.
for example (in layman's terms) wow this person is motivated to get off his/her backside and work to help other people with no financial return this is the kind of person I want working for me!

[AccyLass]

Originally Posted by blazey

I wonder what percentage of employers actually see voluntary work as enough to prove skills.

You obviously DO gain skills and many employers accept it alongside paid work, but does it stand for much alone?

I mean, you aren't paid and charities aren't too fussed about who works for them because they're happy for anyone to be there. So there isn't really any real evidence that you would have that job if it was a paid role... you know, worthiness of employment?

Do maturer people seek work experience in normal businesses? Like office environments and stuff? I don't hear much of that.

I've done bits of voluntary work but I don't put it on my CV for the most part because it takes up too much of my two sides allowance for law placements.

The volunteer work I do needed a training course... CRB check and ongoing training after I started so I would put it on my CV and would think that it would be very worthwhile doing so
Just because it isn't a paid job, does not mean you do any less of a job at it than someone who is paid would

[emamum]

I used to volunteer for home start, that was pretty good

[vera]

Once heard this about someone reading this in the Joke-Shop, School leaver required for shop work, preferably with at least 6 months experience.

[polly]

Of course employers consider voluntary work when then are recruiting!!
And yes mature people do ask for voluntary positions in office and similar environments.
We currently have 2 highly qualified volunteers working for us so that they can update their skills.