Volunteering & Internships: An Opportunity to Brand Yourself

Volunteering paves the way to self-branding, allowing you to demonstrate your expertise, talents, knowledge and experience to potential employers.

By Joseph Perera, C.I.M., C.Mgr. | Chartered Managers Canada

Experience is one of the key elements employers look for when recruiting new employees. However, work experience cannot be obtained unless you are given an opportunity to work in your field and apply the skills and talents you possess. In some situations, particularly for newcomers to Canada, relevant Canadian work experience related to one’s field of study can be difficult to acquire. In these cases, volunteering offers a valuable way to gain relevant, hands-on experience and demonstrate your capabilities.

Self-branding involves many elements such as technical knowledge, communication skills, analytical skills, and, in today’s competitive job market, soft skills. Employers are not solely focused on technical expertise. Soft skills reflect flexibility, teamwork, leadership, and the ability to collaborate, essential qualities for success in a group-based work environment.

Work experience is always an asset in a competitive job market. As business environments evolve and competition increases, internships have become an important component of a student’s education and training. Employers recognize internships as an effective way to develop a reliable pipeline of incoming talent aligned with their specific staffing needs.

Internships benefit both the intern and the employer by allowing each to assess mutual compatibility. An organization’s culture and work environment, as well as an employee’s personality and performance, are just a few areas where internships provide valuable insight. For new graduates, internship experience can be a deciding factor when compared to candidates without such experience. Employers are often willing to invest time in training interns, as internships allow them to evaluate potential talent over an extended period.

Students, in turn, are willing to invest their time as they seek strong employers and value the opportunity to assess their host organization’s work environment. Companies frequently recruit from their pool of former interns, as these individuals are already familiar with the organization and possess the specific skill sets the employer values.

Training institutions have developed more formalized internship programs, resulting in interns gaining greater hands-on experience than in the past. Many human resources departments acknowledge that candidates who have previously interned with their organization receive serious consideration. An internship often serves as an ongoing interview to evaluate adaptability and overall suitability within the workplace.

Valuable tips to be a successful intern/volunteer:

• Build strong work relationships through respectful communication, professionalism, and a commitment to excellent service.
• Demonstrate a positive attitude and a genuine eagerness to learn, while remaining open to feedback and growth.
• Set clear goals for your internship and regularly reflect on your progress with your supervisor or mentor.
• Seek guidance and insights from experienced professionals in the workplace to expand your knowledge and perspective.
• Become involved in a professional association or organization relevant to your field of study to broaden your professional exposure.
• Ask thoughtful questions when you want to deepen your understanding of a subject or process.
• Attend professional and organizational events to build and strengthen your network.
• Maintain daily notes to help track your development and identify areas for improvement.
• Approach workplace challenges with professionalism and discretion, and use appropriate organizational channel such as your supervisor or human resources if you encounter concerns related to conduct, ethics, or workplace culture.
• Avoid engaging in office politics by remaining respectful, objective, and focused on your role and responsibilities.

Good luck in achieving your goals and reaching your objectives!

About the Author:

Joseph Perera, B.Sc. Admin., C.I.M., C.Mgr., is a well experienced talent consultant and he counts more than 30 years of solid experience in the HR field. His experience branches out to recruitment, staffing, training, and career counseling.

Credentials:
Higher Diploma in Business Management
Association of Business Executives
Former Director of Career Development, Herzing Institute, Ottawa ON
Human Behavioral Consultant
Canadian Personnel Professional (CPP), International Personnel Management Association, Canada
Former Director, Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce 2005- 2009