What am I interested in?

Are you a sports fanatic, a greenie, an artist or a tree hugger? You may want to volunteer in an area similar to your work, study or perhaps your religion. Make a list of your interests and then choose two or three.

What skills do I have?

Some volunteer positions will require that you have certain skills. Make sure that your skills match up to those required by the organisation or group. For example, you may be really good at building things so you could volunteer at an organisation that builds houses.

What am I hoping to learn?

Becoming a volunteer is a good way to learn many things. You can get valuable experience that can help you in your career but you may also want to learn more about yourself or your community.

What will I gain from volunteer work?

Most people become volunteers to help others; but there are also benefits for yourself. Volunteering experience may help you get promoted at work or may give you added experience for a new job. It also improves your ability to serve others.

Do I have enough time to volunteer and still be effective at work/school/
home?

Becoming a volunteer should not interfere with the commitments you already have. It's not a good excuse to perform badly at work or school because you are helping others. Make sure you have enough time to volunteer and still be effective.

Am I willing to help out in all areas of the organisation?

Sometimes as a volunteer you may be asked to do things you didn't really intend to do or don't really like doing (waking up early to help, cleaning toilets, etc.). Many organisations don't have enough people helping out so each volunteer has to take on several jobs. Prepare yourself to get your hands dirty.

Do I share the same values as the organisation?

Many volunteer organisations have specific values or they might be associated to a specific religion. You might like the work they are doing but find you don't fit in with their beliefs. It's better to work in an environment you are comfortable with.

How long do I want to volunteer for?

Volunteer opportunities are varied. You may want to volunteer for a day at a charity event or for years at a certain organisation.

Do I want to work alone or with a group?

Some volunteers prefer to work alone, and that will require finding a very specific position for example becoming a bookkeeper for a charity organisation. Other volunteer work requires working in a team, sometimes a big team. You should decide according to your personality.

Will I have to use my own money?

You don't get paid to volunteer. However there are times you may have to use your own money – perhaps for transport or airtime. Make sure you keep the slips for these purchases because you can claim it from your annual tax.