It’s a new year and time to start planning for the upcoming summer’s schedules. For many students, summer means working.
For many, the beginning of a new year means that they must start looking for apprenticeships and summer jobs. Those can be found online, on schools’ bulletin boards, and through connections with friends and family. Not everyone, however, finds a position despite sending numerous applications.
One still shouldn’t sit idle and give in to self-pity. For a young person, it can be an eye-opening experience to participate in volunteer work that relates to an interesting study program. Even though volunteering doesn’t pay, one will gain experience, additional skills, and most of all, contacts.
Volunteer work is considered vital in the field of culture. Many events – or at least executing them in the same scale – could not be done without the contribution of volunteers. For a young person, participating in volunteering can be a stepping stone to a career. Many organizers offer more complicated tasks to those, who participate in the events several times. Believe it – this will be noticed by recruiters! When you’re looking for a summer job next time, your application will be noticed, because you have acquired the necessary experience by participating in volunteer work.
Johanna Kari
The writer is currently studying volunteer leadership at the HUMAK University of Applied Sciences.
Translation: Satu Puolitaival