Why working for free is actually a great idea
I’ve been with The Ontarion for almost four years now, and with those four years coming to an end, it’s hard not to reflect on where I was before I stepped into this charming yellow room. Before I became involved with The Ontarion, I was on the path to teacher’s college. I was in my second year of university and following the same path I had set for myself in grade 10, and I couldn’t have been more lost. I knew I wanted to make enough money to build a life for myself, I knew that I wanted to become something, and I knew that I hated science and that the only thing I enjoyed about school was English class, and so I decided to be an English teacher.
By the time my first year as an undergrad was over and things got a little more serious, I knew that I needed to get involved in some sort of extracurriculars (apparently it’s good for the resumé). Up until this point, I had actually adopted the habit of reading The Ontarion every week, so I became very familiar with their content. I also knew people in my English program who volunteered as contributors, so I decided to give it a shot.
I had always loved to write—I kept a journal my whole life and I also enjoyed writing fiction for fun. Seeing something that I wrote get published in a newspaper for the first time was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had, and I owe The Ontarion for that. It truly changed my life. From there, I continued to volunteer, and with the help of The Ontarion’s extremely supportive and nurturing editorial staff, I had found a new passion that I didn’t know I possessed. I also had the opportunity to combine my love of music with my will to write, which brought me down a whole new path that I would have never anticipated.
I very quickly lost interest in attending teacher’s college and knew that I wanted to explore the possibility of journalism. In my third year, the staff informed me of of a few job openings and encouraged me to apply for something, and so in my third year I was hired as Web Editor, which eventually led to my rehiring as Arts and Culture Editor the following year.
I owe where I am today to volunteering. In a time where job opportunities are sparse and following a career path is all about networking, volunteering offers one of the most efficient ways to make connections. It’s a great way to meet future employers and like-minded individuals. Jobs are competitive; it makes sense that employers would rather hire people that they know first before taking a chance on strangers. Depending on what field you’re in, the reality is that most companies will hire from their volunteer (or internship) pool before inviting the public to apply.
The word “volunteer” can often be misinterpreted as “working for free.” Yes, volunteering technically means working for free, but the gains that come out of it negates this interpretation. Volunteering is reciprocal; yes, employers get free help on top of the opportunity to become acquainted with a possible future employee, but the volunteer is also given a ton of advantages.
Not only is it useful for networking, but volunteering also provides an opportunity to build a resumé. Everywhere you look, employers are asking for ridiculous amounts of experience that make it nearly impossible for many people to score steady jobs after graduation. Volunteering in your field of study is a great way to establish a solid resumé by gaining hands on experience, which becomes invaluable when your resumé is being sized up against a pile of other candidates.
Volunteering also provides you with the valuable opportunity to test out different options. It’s a great way to explore what you like and what you don’t like while also gaining experience in the field. Not only is this useful for exploring career choices, but it’s also useful for exploring different companies and work environments under the same career. For example, you might prefer working at Company A over Company B because you click better with the staff, or you fit in well with their company goals.
Not only does testing out different career paths and environments provide you with the unique opportunity to decide exactly what you want and don’t want out of a job (or out of life), it also provides you with the opportunity to learn about yourself, your needs, your talents, and your passions. I would have never discovered journalism if it weren’t for volunteering at The Ontarion, and I wouldn’t have discovered my appreciation for freelancing if I didn’t volunteer at other publications. I also wouldn’t know what I am capable of as a writer; through volunteering I have gained confidence in myself and discovered what I’m good at, what I enjoy, and what I want out of life.
Being a student is busy, and it may seem impossible to volunteer on top of working part-time jobs and trying to make the grade. In this case, check out the clubs and organizations that the U of G has to offer on-campus. As far as I know, there is an organization for every program and most fields of interest. These campus organizations provide a ton of opportunities to volunteer, get involved with something you care about, and also make new friends.
Finally, if all those reasons are still not enough for you, volunteering makes you happy. Studies have shown that volunteering makes you feel more involved in your community, boosts self-confidence, increases your social and relationship skills, encourages you to stay physically healthy, and provides a sense of purpose. Maybe you see volunteering as a strategic move in the pursuit of your career goals, or maybe you’re looking to help out the community and make a few new friends along the way. Whatever your reasons, there are countless benefits to becoming a volunteer. As students and new graduates, we have the unique opportunity to explore our interests and various job opportunities without necessarily needing to land a job that we’ll be in for the next 20 years. Volunteering is a great way to discover your passions, while simultaneously helping you to create a clearer vision of the life that you want.