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You are now living in Canada, you have updated your resume to meet Canadian standards, experimented the Face-to-Face interview, and attended two ConnectWorking events. If you want to increase your chance of finding your dream job and have a better understanding of Canadian culture, it is time to take the next step and find a volunteer position in Canada!
Volunteering is highly regarded in Canada. Regular, formal volunteering is to provide unpaid help at least once a month through groups or organizations that benefit other people. Volunteering maintains many important services affecting the lives of Canadians: supporting those in need and contributing to sports, arts, cultural, and environmental causes, are a few examples.
A majority of Canadians have a volunteering background. It is part of the culture and Canadians who grew up volunteering are happy to give back, as it improves the well-being of their communities. New immigrants are also an important source of volunteers in Canada. Every cities have a diverse range of volunteer opportunities to fit your goals, skills, and schedule.
The best place to start is to go to Volunteer Canada’s website which has an entire list of the different volunteer centres across Canada. In this article, we have listed some important benefits you can expect from volunteer work as a newcomer in Canada.
A first Canadian experience that will help you find a job
Volunteering in Canada is an excellent way of integrating into Canadian society and it can be a valuable step towards starting your career. Volunteering is considered as a real professional experience in Canada. Mentioning local references make your job application look more appealing and it will make a difference on your resume. Remember you can always ask the institution you volunteered with to provide you with a reference.
Volunteering can be a good way to get your foot in the door and improve your effectiveness in the workplace. Also, giving your time helps developing and refining new skills that could be easily transferred to future jobs. Volunteering will help you to find out a lot more about Canadian culture, to really connect to the local community, and to learn about what’s happening around you.
Stronger social bonds
Volunteering is a great way to make new social connections. Pursuing volunteer activities is a great opportunity to meet new people that share similar experiences and interests. It can become a great networking tool that will expand your networking circle. If you meet someone who works in the same field as you, they might let you know about new available positions or even recommend you for an opening.
Stepping outside of your “comfort zone”
Giving your time to help others will bring you a lot of personal benefits. It provides an excellent opportunity to improve and practice your interpersonal skills. If speaking English is more of a priority at the moment, break out of your comfort zone and try to find volunteer work where you are expected to communicate with people on a regular basis.
Volunteering is also a good way of discovering new interests and hobbies. Getting involved with something you have never experienced or something that seems a bit challenging to you may give you a different perspective and broaden your career horizons. It is a great way to explore new career paths and gain valuable professional experience.
You probably got it, volunteering will bring you many benefits by expanding your experience, skills, and social networking opportunities. Find a volunteer position where you can develop the skills you would like to use in your professional life. At Canada Talents we are always looking for new volunteers to join our amazing team. You can check out our open positions now!