Volunteering allows you to meet different people, boost your CV, and update your skills, says Helen Raine.
When you’re fresh out of school or university and looking for a job, submitting applications and getting nowhere can be pretty discouraging. There is one sure fire way of getting a foot in the door though: volunteering. Yes, you’ll be working for free (mostly) but along the way, you’ll be picking up essential skills. And when a job comes up, everyone will know your face already – it’s hard to overstate how important that is when it comes to nailing a job interview. Some organisations will even create a position for volunteers who show potential.
Here are some of the volunteering options in Malta and what they mean for you.
Not for profit: conservation
Who to approach: BirdLife Malta, Nature Trust and Gaia.
What you’ll be doing: If you enjoy being outdoors, then try working in the nature reserves – you might end up weeding, planting, fixing fences or guiding visitors. If you’d rather find out about how the organisations work behind the scenes, then office work could include administration, fundraising and research.
What’s in it for you: You’ll get a solid grasp of how a nature reserve or a conservation project is run and as the organisation sees what you can do, they’ll give you more responsibility. In the office, you’ll pick up useful computer and time management skills and understand the different working parts of the organisation so that you can talk about them competently in an interview. You might not be earning money, but there’s a lot of job satisfaction to be had. These organisations are relatively small so you’ll be able to experience lots of different aspects of the business.
Not for profit: humanitarian
Who to approach: The Red Cross, SOS Malta, Befriending Programme (Mental Health Services), Caritas Malta, Malta Hospice.
What you’ll be doing: There’s always plenty of administrative work in these groups, but the Red Cross also need people to run first aid courses, staff ambulances, help with protection work for migrants and to assist with welfare programs for elderly people. SOS Malta offer placements at Mater Dei intended to improve the patient experience, such as greeting and guiding, reception duties, tea and coffee service or just talking to lonely patients. The Befriending Program offers the chance to help people with mental health issues by going for coffee or to an appointment with them.
What’s in it for you: Apart from a great sense of satisfaction, you’ll prove to a potential employer that you can work with many different strata of society. If you are a greeter in the hospital or a ‘befriender’, you’ll demonstrate that you have good communication skills. These organisations will also provide you with some solid training that you can take with you to your future job.
Company internships
Who to approach: Any business – if you want to work in the financial sector, for example, approach an organisation that does what you’re interested in and offer to work for free in exchange for the work experience. Prepare for plenty of rejections – but someone will take you on if you’re determined.
What you’ll be doing: You’ll be the office dogsbody – but if someone is off sick and there’s work to be done, you might get pulled in and you’ll soon find people relying on you for more than just a trip to the post office.
What’s in it for you: Your CV will show that you worked for a major company in the field that you’re interested in, and while you’re there, you’ll pick up on all the little details that will help you ace an interview. You’ll also make contacts in the industry who will remember your face and the time you helped them with that rush photocopy job – meaning that you’re more likely to end up first past the post when a job comes up.
Paid options
Who to approach: Youth Voluntary Work Scheme (through the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector - CVS), European Voluntary Service (EVS – an EU initiative).
What you’ll be doing: With the CVS, you can choose from various enrolled organisations; placements last from one to 12 months. EVS will place you with organisations within the EU – there’s a huge range on their website, from monitoring birds in England to helping run an orphanage in Romania.
What’s in it for you: CVS pay a monthly stipend locally – if you go abroad, they’ll also cover up to 75 per cent of your flight and accommodation. EVS cover ‘all essential costs related to your project’ including accommodation, board, local transport and sometimes pocket money as well as insurance. They also offer training and at the end, you’ll be certified through the ‘Youthpass recognition tool’ which shows a potential employer the skills you developed. Employers are likely to be impressed that you had the motivation to apply for a position within these schemes.
And it’s fun – after all, who doesn’t want an (almost) free trip to Europe?