Career Services

Volunteer Opportunities

Look at the bottom of the page for current opportunities

Volunteering is an investment in your career. The return on your investment may include, but is not limited to:

  • Valuable experience
  • Connections with new people, potentially people in your industry
  • Credible references
  • New skills

Volunteering is the part of your career development that links your gained skills to the community and/or industry in which you would like to gain employment. By investing in your career through volunteering, you will learn about the industry and gain confidence in applying for post-graduate jobs.  Most people spend 1 to 2 years doing non-related work while making the right connections and building the higher level skills (which include leadership, evaluation, decision making and initiative) that are the basis for more professional work.  Doing that higher level work, networking with the potential employers and proving your professional potential while you are in university will help you exit Saint Mary's more prepared for the workforce.

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience as you set your own hours. You can volunteer for annual events (e.g. a charity run/walk) or throughout the year with a weekly or monthly commitment of your time. Depending on the sensitivity of the organization and its clients and/or information, you may be invited to start right away or you may need to be interviewed and screened, including a criminal record check.

Some organizations may ask you for a long-term commitment. Avoid volunteering at such places unless you have at least a good chance of fulfilling that commitment. Of course, things can happen that drastically change plans, but leaving on a minor and predictable issue despite a promise to stay for a certain length of time may damage your chance for a good reference from the supervisor.

Consider what role, industry, working values and skills are going to be in high demand in your career. What kinds of agencies will best help you showcase them?

Any agency might need:

  • Organization or administrational help
  • Data entry, computer work
  • Event planning assistance
  • Reception or client assistance
  • Sorting/organizing of resources
  • Day-of-event help
  • Promotional help

Think about

  • Who do I need to have experience working with in order to get access to good jobs in the future?  For example, certain clientele, certain types of issues, age ranges, gender, certain types of professions.
  • Who do I need to network with to get information about my future career? Where do they go to do their non-professional volunteering?  What kinds of associations/ memberships could be useful to meet such people?

Some logistical issues:

Vulnerable populations such as the elderly or the very young usually require clearance of any criminal charges, especially any relating to abuse. Access to cash or the personal documents of clients usually requires clearance of property or fraud charges.

A criminal record check process changes slightly depending on the departmental office you go to. It must be in the community where you live, and depending on the depth of the check, may take a few days or a few weeks.

A major source of volunteer opportunities is the many non-for-profit and/or community agencies in HRM.  Find out about these agencies through the resources at the Career Development Centre in Room 302, Student Centre. 

To search on-line for volunteer opportunities check out: Charity Village or Fusion - Volunteer Here

Currently needed in the HRM Community:

Volunteer listing featuring events and agencies that have opportunities.

Volunteer Brochure: Why Volunteer? (Download three panel brochure for display in your area)

Dartmouth Heritage Museum

DHM is looking for volunteers to help do inventory, photograph and tag artifacts. Click attachment for more details on this volunteer position.

Dartmouth Heritage Museum- Volunteer Position

If you are interested please contact Stephanie Mansfield at 902-464-2300

 or by email to museum@bellaliant.com

FRONTIER COLLEGE

Frontier College is recruiting Volunteer TUTORS for fall and winter programs.

Would you like to share the gift of literary & love of learning to someone in your own community?

We are looking for volunteer tutors/mentors for our children, youth & adult programs throughout HRM.

For more information please click here.

SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY (SMUES) WANTS YOU!

SMUES is a group of students working towards a healthier environment and a more sustainable campus.

If you are looking to meet great new people, spruce up your resume with valuable volunteer experience, or simply interested in helping the environment, come join us!
  Email smues@smu.ca for details of open volunteer positions.

SPENCER HOUSE SENIORS' CENTRE

Spencer House Seniors' Centre located at 5596 Morris St, Halifax is seeking volunteers in the following capacities:

Daily Luncheon Program Assistants - min. 3 hours/week commitment

Drivers - to drive seniors to daily luncheons (vehicle is provided)

Receptionists - Morning or Afternoon Shifts - min. 3 hours/week commitment

If you are interested in volunteering please call the Spencer House at 421-6131

Maritime Heart Center - Volunteer Opportunity

Are you passionate about Health & Wellness? Do you want to make a difference in preventing heart disease? Enjoy working with children? If so, come volunteer for
Maritime Heart Center a registered, non-profit charity.
If you are interested in this opportunity please email: volunteer@maritimeheartcenter.ca

Volunteer with Oxfam Canada!

Want to make a difference in the world? Interested in supporting the work of a Canadian organization working to end poverty and injustice around the planet? Consider volunteering with Oxfam Canada. What’s available?

Membership: Sign on as a member. It is free, connects you with our work and lasts a lifetime! Visit www.oxfam.ca/join to sign up. Have skills, time and passion to share? Consider these volunteer opportunities:

Fundraising Champions: Implement Oxfam Canada fundraising options such as Oxfam Unwrapped (our alternative gift-giving program), Hungry for Change (a local food dinner, hunger banquet or fast), a music fundraiser or event of your choice.

Membership, Campaigns and Public Engagement Champions: Coordinate and deliver engaging presentations about the work of Oxfam Canada to a range of audiences. Promote our work and the GROW campaign through tabling at local events and markets. Promote our work and membership opportunities through the region.

Got other great ideas? Contact us!

Janet Rhymes                                                                                            Rebecca Orbach

Outreach Officer, Oxfam Maritimes                                                        E-Communications Intern

Phone: 902-483-8584                                                                              Oxfam Canada: Maritimes

E-mail: janet.rhymes@oxfam.ca                                                             Rebecca.Orbach@volunteer.oxfam.ca

Do you know of an agency that needs volunteers?  Let us know the contact names and the types of volunteers needed, and we can add it to our guide.


This page last modified Friday, 03-Feb-2012 14:11:53 AST