From Volunteer To Vocation—How Good Intentions Can Lead to Paid Employment

We Need Your Help! All-Call for Volunteers!  Give Back to your Community! 

We've seen these messages in backpack mail, on community boards, or our email in-box. A twinge of guilt comes over some of us and we think about all that we have to do and how we could possibly fit in anything more.

But for others, volunteering has become increasingly popular as many women have benefitted from training and experience transferrable to a professional career.

And more women are volunteering—according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of women volunteers rose by approximately 1.5 million for the year ended in September 2009. 

Pound Ridge resident Becki Fleischer turned a volunteer gig into a paid position—one that promotes volunteerism. As a past president of the Junior League of Northen Westchester, and their current Training Coordinator, she is now a paid consultant for the Association of Junior Leagues International.

"A core focus of AJLI is to prepare women for civic leadership," says Becki. "Today I use the skills that I honed as a volunteer for the Junior League, to consult for AJLI on their strategic road map planning process."

Pam Veith of Katonah kept her skills sharp during her stay-at-home years with her children by volunteering in the schools, at her church and for the Town of Lewisboro Meals on Wheels program. 

Now the Senior Adult Director for the Town of Lewisboro, as well as a Program Coordinator for the Town of Bedford, she said that her volunteer experience led to the realization she wanted to work with an older population.

"I particularly enjoyed the contact and interaction with the seniors," she said. "I knew when I went back to paid employment that my organization, flexibility, patience and ability to maintain a positive attitude were qualifications gained through volunteer work.

Women often don't value themselves for the work they do for their families and their volunteer organizations, according to Certified Life and Sports Performance Coach, Heidi Michaels. One of her clients running a school book fair increased its revenue by a significant percentage, and her skills would have impressed many employers, she said.

Pound Ridge resident Beth Beekman said she her interior design business was strengthened by her work in the Junior League. Many of the league projects are accomplished with a small amount of funds, and she can now design tight budgets and better negotiate resources, she said.

"I volunteered because I wanted to give back to the community, but I've received so much more in return," she said.