Hi , just wanted to know if we do volunteer work , how this will help in getting job and how much we should volunteer.

Please feel free to post your comments. I would like to know more before i just into it.

Cheers

New comer ( 3 Months now )

Volunteering helps in a couple of ways:
1. Gives you an understanding of ways of communicating within a Canadian organisation- a chance to brush up on soft skills that are valued very highly in Canada
2. Gives you a chance to build a network and sources of referral. Even if you are doing photocopying if your volunteer supervisor is willing to state in wirting that you were regular, hardworking, pleasent, cheerful, honest, helpful etc etc (nothing to do with your core skills/professional qualifications) it goes a long way.
3. The best type of volunteering is within your own industry. But that may not always be possible.
4. Many organisations prefer to hire people they know. If you volunteer you might stand a better chance of getting hired within the organisation itself (which might be better than other survival jobs).
5. It looks good on your resume.

You can either look at volunteering as a luxury (which newcomers dont have the time to do as they are busy looking for work) or an investment (in which case you do not mind putting in some time in hope of a uncertain future return). There are people who have got jobs through volunteering and those who have not.
My two cents..

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Immigrant Parents in Canada http://groups.yahoo.com/group/immigrantparentsincanada

Thanks for your words on Volunteering , they were open and true.

Regards

New in Canada