Skip to main content
SFU Public Square
Event + Volunteer Coordinator
SFU Staff

Students discussing at the campus
Passion about the cause comes back into play here; if you love what you are a part of, you will naturally gravitate towards playing a larger role.

Volunteering. You have always been told it is important, but perhaps never thought about why? If you were like me, volunteering your time to a cause was a sign of good character, it told future employers that you were an active participant in your community, and that you had qualities that would make you a great member of their team. Although, how has the act of volunteering changed over the years? The job market has become more competitive, and volunteering is now not only a demonstration of character, but an opportunity to develop real life skills. Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your volunteer experiences.

1 - I’m going to say it, no matter how obvious it may seem. Pick an organization that means something to you.

There are lots of opportunities out there, so it is easy to find volunteer positions with organizations that reflect your values. Non-profits, sporting tournaments, school organizations, and film festivals, are just a few examples. You will not only feel more fulfilled by contributing to something that holds value for you, you will also be happier doing it. You will be surprised at how quickly rookie mistakes are forgotten when you are perceived as someone who is positive and a pleasure to work with.

2 - Pick positions that demonstrate your soft skills.

These are skills you can’t prove with a degree, your work experience, or sometimes even with your references. For example, I always looked for volunteer positions that offered me leadership opportunities. This put my desire and ability to be a leader onto my resume, taking it from just words to concrete evidence on a piece of paper. It showed that I was there to get as much experience as I could. Your mom might describe this as being a “go-getter,” and she would be right (as moms usually are). There are more strains on student time than ever before, so if you are going to spend your valuable time somewhere, you need to think of costs and benefits. If it’s a great volunteer program, and you are putting in as much as you can, you will reap the benefits.

3 - Don’t be shy, stand out! Find a person with an impressive title, and impress them.

The most significant aspect of a volunteer experience can often be attributed to the things that no one asked you to do. Find ways to go above and beyond. This can mean different things in different roles, but you should always try to find a way to stand out. Position yourself to work closely with key individuals, so you can request personalized reference letters from them. There are two kinds of reference letters, one that tells an employer you were there, and the second tells them what they really want to hear: what your responsibilities were, what your work ethic was like, if you were easy to work with, and the cherry on top… if they would work with you again. No one owes you this kind of letter; you have to earn it, and you have to inspire that person to take the time to write it for you.  

4 - Don’t just act like you are getting paid; act like you want a promotion. Be on time.

Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Open the lines of communication with the people you are working with. Know about the organization. Passion about the cause comes back into play here; if you love what you are a part of, you will naturally gravitate towards playing a larger role.

Now get out there! Engage with the community around you, and develop the skills needed to move you forward in your career.

Beyond the Blog

  • For more information on the Summit, visit our website

  • SFU Public Square's 2014 Community Summit on Innovation runs October 19-24th. This year our Summit includes; our RISE environmental ideas competition, in partnership with the Vancouver Foundation, that has teams pitch in a 'dragon's den' style exhibition day on October 19th for a chance at $75,000 worth of prize money. Also on October 19th, in partnership with the City of Vancouver, is our Young Innovators Crawl at hubs throughout Gastown.

SFU Public Square
Event + Volunteer Coordinator
SFU Staff
Averyl Bancroft is the Event & Volunteer Coordinator with SFU Public Square. To be part of the Summit volunteer team contact: averyl_publicsq@sfu.ca
visibility  51
Aug 21, 2014

You Might Like These... Volunteering, Sustainability

Iceberg Melting
What’s Your Cause? Polar Regions, Climate Change, Cultural Awareness, New Immigrant

Over the course of the past semester, SFU Volunteer Services set out to learn what causes motivate SFU students to get involved in their communities–either on campus or beyond. We collected information through the ENGAGE blog and want to highlight some now in hopes of inspiring others to think about what their cause is and how they can contribute!

Children playing hopscotch
An SFU student perspective on the Big Sisters Study Buddy program

You may have heard of them–you may even have an idea of what they do. But have you ever thought of being one? Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland has been serving girls in one-to-one mentoring relationships since 1960, with the mission of “enhancing the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of girls through supportive friendships with caring women”. Each Big and Little Sister match gets together once a week for at least one year. 

Mubnii smiling with her hands in an open position, in front of an aquarium
Health Sciences Student Profile: Mubnii Morshed

Heath Sciences offer students one of the most comprehensive and diverse programs, focusing on everything from epidemiology, molecular biology to political science anthropology. These days, there are many volunteer opportunities associated with the Health Sciences.

You Might Like These... Volunteering

SFU students looking at their laptop
A Letter to A Reader

Why do you volunteer? There are many reasons why people volunteer for both professional and personal reasons. This is a personal article on why I volunteer at specific organizations. 

picture of rwandan children in their school uniforms
Volunteer Profile: Emmanuel Krebs

While many entered the WIL photo contest, only one emerged victorious in the category of Community Engagement. We chatted with Emmanuel Krebs about his photo “Recess”, taken while volunteering abroad in Rwanda.

Children in colourful clothing playing a game
Reflecting on a Life-Changing Co-op Term

In the fourth and final entry of her series, Kali reflects on her final weeks in India working at Destiny and the Socio Legal Aid and Research Training Centre, as well as taking time to travel and appreciate all that India has to offer before heading home to Canada.