Volunteering Your Way Up the Career Ladder
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Transcript of Volunteering Your Way Up the Career Ladder
Volunteering Your Way Upthe Career Ladder
Todd DeLucaTechCommTodd
Rochester Chapter
About the Speaker
• Technical Communicator for 15 Years (Software Development)
• Master’s Degree in Tech Comm• Senior-level Technical Writer• Manager, Tech Comm team• Active STC Volunteer
- Chapter Past President (Philly Metro Chapter)
What is Volunteering ?• Helping out or stepping forward
to assist.• An offer to help (a promise)
thatbecomes a commitment when initiated.
• Completed promise becomes a commitment and builds trust.
• Result is often a contribution to a greater good that is recognized by others and leaves a positive impression.
Where Can You Climb?
Volunteer Opportunities• Charitable organizations• Professional society• Church• School• Sports• Work
What Can You Offer ?• Time = Stand in for others
(temporary fill in)• Effort = Extra pair of hands
(more horsepower)• Information = Share
knowledge (document info)• Expertise = Skills and
experience (mentor or train)
What can you learn ?
Sample Volunteer Skills• Leadership• Project Management• Event Management • Marketing and Promotion
Learn in a ‘safe’ environment while others assist, provide guidance, and share their own experiences.
Why Volunteer ?Reasons to Volunteer• Personal request • Help others / serve a cause• Do the right thing• Address a need• Fix a problem• It feels good to help• Career advancement
Rewards & Benefits• Meet new people =
relationships and friendships (wider network)
• Greater exposure = recognition at work or in community
• Skills and experience = career options and advancement
• Satisfaction = it feels good to help, learn, or grow
RisksThings to Consider• Unfamiliar people or organi-
zation • Losing focus from day job• Not having the required
skills or experience• Worry about meeting expec-
tations• Committing too much time
or effort
What are Some Steps ?Sample Volunteer Activities
• Fund raising• Proposal writing• Event promotion• Leadership• Community outreach• Social committees• Email marketing• Client engagement
Are You Prepared ?What does it take?
• Commitment • Time and Effort• Keeping Promises• Accepting Risk• Stepping Out • Being Enthusiastic
How Do You Start ?Steps to Begin
• Raise your hand• Step forward• Say ‘Yes’• Just do it!
Note: The percentage of people who actively partici-pate is low, so just by volun-teering you already begin to set yourself apart.