Volunteering in Your Community

[scoop422]

A lot gets written here about pre-service courses and life experience and such, but what about volunteering in your community? I was always told it is so huge on a resume. Do you guys volunteer? What do you volunteer at? I'm not talking about firefighting.

[Red_Devil]

i volunteered with St Johns, but have also heard of people volunteering at hospitals and distress centers, good experience there

[DoubleHelix]

I have like 220 hours through a public school and 248 through a local church. I've heard they don't like those little 3 or 4 hour volunteer gigs. They like to see that you've committed to something for a couple years atleast. I got a bunch of those little things too but I doubt they mean much.

[Jurassic]

EVERYTHING means something. Even if it means a Run for the Cure or raising money for the FF Burn fund selling chocolate. Anything you do to volunteer and help in your community is a benefit. But yeah, you should have something solid that you do weekly like St. John brigade, red cross, or whatever else.

[iamvff]

-2 years V/P Chamber of Commerce
-2 years Pres. Chamber of Commerce
-couple of years on the Bowling executive
-Currently in 6th year on Town Council
-Currently trainer (Joe boy) on the Senior Hockey team
-Very short stint with Kinsmen, before Fire Dept. (You did not get near dirty enough at Kinsmen)
-Lots of little odds and ends
-Occasionally, I go home to see my wife and kids:rolleyes:
- It all adds up and I never hesitate to list it on a resume, or transcript!

Be safe,
iamvff

[FireGeek]

I would have to say that Volunteering in your community is HUGE for the resume. I know that it helped me big time in getting hired. Personally I think it is more important then taking all the extra courses outside you NFPA 1001 like high angle, swift water............. the list goes on, and best of all volunteering costs you nothing but time. I would reccomend volunteering in the community with organizations that are near and dear to your heart and/or you find stimulating because you should be getting something out of it besides a letter for your resume. Aswell as looking into the events that the local hiring depts. put on, they are always looking for help. Being a Volunteer Fire fighter is not enough anymore for you volunteer contribution to your resume. Some of the organizations that I regularly volunteer at (before and after getting hired) are:

Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver
Canadian Blood Services
United Way
Salvation Army
Various Local Fire Dept. Functions
Local Youth Center

Those are just some of the main ones. I wish you all best of luck (because you need a little of that too) and encourage you all to Volunteer in your communities.

Take care :)

[FiremanMDM]

Volunteering is great but the recruiters usually also notice if all your volunteer experience started a month before the interview. I would really suggest if you are serious to try and start early to volunteer in your community.

[Ethan]

I was thinking of joining the reserve. I'm under the impression that if I score fairly high on their tests (after basic training); I can train to become a medic. Being the reserves this is considered volunteer...I think... and being a medic would give me great experience. I dunno though, i'm still thinking it over...not sure if i'll be able to do it.

[FFWannabe]

I love my volunteer work!!!
- various school functions at my daughter's school - three day camping trips, ski trips, skating trips, museums, art galleries, whatever they need me for, I'll take a day off work and help out!
- personal trainer - strictly volunteer basis... I have 5 "clients" - I think it's important and a lot of fun to help others achieve their goals in health and fitness
- various fund raising events for the Cancer Society (I even shaved my head once to raise a few grand... but did I ever go through a lot of makeup trying to feel like a girl.. haha)
- various fund raising events for CHEO (the next one is with our dojo, 8 hours of training... yeeehaaw, that's going to be a great one)
- Just Juniors program with Boys and Girls Club (this week I'm swimming for 4 hours... yipeee).
- Soccer coach
- Volleyball coach (private clinics as well)

I also started a memorial fund in honor of an amazing young woman who passed away a few years ago.. the recipient each year has to exemplify the qualities she possessed, it's a wonderful bursary that I'm very proud of.


I like to do whatever comes along for the causes I believe deeply in. I am also committed to spending more time at the Boys and Girls Club, but I have to make sure to spend enough time at home with my young one as well! ;) I likely should be doing more volunteering that is relevent, but I have to do what I am passionate about... if I have spare time, it's spent with kids!

Sue :)

[Jon1]

Originally posted by Red_Devil
i volunteered with St Johns, but have also heard of people volunteering at hospitals and distress centers, good experience there

How was volunteering with St. John's? I'm currently thinking about doing that.

[Pumper99]

I'm a volunteer with a local distress centre.........It's great experience. A mandatory 32 hour training coupled with a minimum of 16 hrs/month is what is required. One thing to remember is, once you do get on with a full time department, more of your time is freed up to committ more time to the organization you're volunteering with if you enjoy it.

[Sparky2004]

Originally posted by Jon1
How was volunteering with St. John's? I'm currently thinking about doing that.

I volunteer with St. John's Ambulance. PM me for more info.

[Jon1]

PM sent!!! Thanks.

[firescout]

Ive been involved in scouts canada for the last 18 years and i can say as a youth i looked up to my leaders and as leader i enjoy teaching kids and young teens amazing new skills. check out being a scout leader, lots of skills to teach and learn like knots wilderness skills rock climbing water rescue.
come wear the uniform...
also some large citys have a partnership with the fire departments and scouts canada MEDVENT/FIREVENTURES programs. Toronto, windsor and some in the west