"You can observe a lot just by watching"
-- Yogi Berra

Wisdom

Listed below are stories of other people's experiences that provide insight into work/life issues.

Why work for free? Here's what you're likely to get if you choose the right not-for-profit organization: face-to-face access to hiring managers, an expanded network of contacts, and a chance to showcase your skills and learn new skills.

Here are a few examples:

• A nursing school graduate, who relocated after completing her clinical rotations, began her job search with a disadvantage compared to local graduates. Others were familiar with the operations, staffing procedures, and nurses at area hospitals while she was not. She volunteered at a large hospital and secured placement in a unit that held great interest for her. The unit nurse manager learned that this new volunteer was a nursing school graduate and soon hired her for a full-time staff nurse position.
• A materials engineer employed by a state agency was involved in a civic club for many years. He held leadership positions at the club, district, and state levels; as a result, he developed strong public speaking skills. Because day-to-day job duties were focused on his technical knowledge, he may not have gained these skills otherwise. When he became eligible for state retirement, he was recruited and hired by a company in the private sector not only for his technical capabilities but also his ability to motivate, influence, and lead people.
• A writer/editor provided free professional services to a national not-for-profit agency while working full-time for a publishing and consulting firm. When her employer decided to exit the publishing business and she was displaced, this volunteer told the agency that she would need to pursue paid work and would have limited time to offer without compensation. A grant that the non-profit had pursued months before, however, now funded a part-time position so she moved seamlessly from volunteer status to a paid contracting position.

The need for volunteers exists in nearly every not-for-profit organization although the type of positions available may vary greatly. Many have screening and placement processes that are designed to protect the organization and serve its clients most effectively. This process should be an assurance of an agency's dedication to its mission rather than a deterrent from volunteerism. (Even as a volunteer at my children's school, for example, I am subject to a background check.)

For the nurse and the writer/editor, volunteering yielded nearly immediate results. For the materials engineer, time and energy was expended over many years before benefits became apparent.

If you can find an organization with ideals that match yours and a purpose you support, you can most likely find volunteer opportunities that will help both you and the organization meet its goals.

Return to Wisdom Index

Career Building at a Medium-Sized Company

Working at the corporate office of a well known, publicly traded company with a global presence, Antonio had always assumed that his next career step in would be with a similar company. A recruitment call from a much smaller company a few hundred miles away changed his perspective.

Could they afford him?

The compensation issue was the biggest one on Antonio's mind and he was convinced, at least initially, that this relatively small, seemingly insignificant organization could not afford him. A credit manager by professional, he was being recruited by a regional distributor that considered $50,000 a high level of credit exposure. In contrast, he routinely made multi-million dollar credit decisions in the international arena.

Decision-makers at the privately held, medium-sized company had heard about him through a professional association and were aware of his background and his current level of responsibility and compensation. A colleague strongly advised him to interview with the company if it was willing to pay for his travel expenses. The company readily agreed to reimbursement, a positive sign.

Still, Antonio was reluctant to consider this opportunity. Having spent his entire career with large corporations, he felt that career growth would most likely be found in an organization large enough to accommodate upward mobility. However, in order to grow, he had had to change jobs (and employers) as these corporations placed a ceiling on his growth, changed corporate direction, or experienced financial problems.

The company apparently wanted new talent and was willing to pay a reasonable amount to get it. Antonio negotiated a compensation package above his current earnings, and accepted the position.

In his new role, his boss has mentored and developed him in a way that generally does not happen at publicly-held corporations under close scrutiny from Wall Street analysts and demanding shareholders. His responsibility has increased at a challenging, though reasonable, pace. Antonio has learned to make decisions and institute policies not in a credit vacuum but based on what is best for the company and its relationships. He has learned how to manage and motivate people, implement innovative ideas in a traditional culture, and interact with people in a way that cultivates cooperation and respect. Along with strengthening his management skills, he has produced significant, measurable results for his employer.

The company has demonstrated its commitment to his career development in many ways. He completed an Executive Development program at an Ivy League university, for example, with all tuition and travel expenses paid.

Antonio does not miss the corporate environment although he is considering his inevitable next step, which may be to an international corporation or to another medium-sized company. Wherever he goes, he is more prepared for career growth than had he stayed on the traditional, corporate path.