Volunteering helped me find the job that was right for me!

The year is 2020 and little did I know that by volunteering, I would find my perfect job.

I started off as an aspiring entrepreneur with the dream of starting my own business, I wanted to have the enjoyment of doing the the job of my dreams. Sadly I had no idea where to start. I was on Universal Credit and had been for quite some time, I'd been bouncing between jobs that I found didn't fit with my passions and aspirations. I had a flat to maintain, bills to pay and I felt lost. I find myself to be quite ambitious and wanted a job that didn't feel like a chore. But what could I do?

I fell into depression and the Job Centre became concerned with my mental health and wellbeing, I approached a doctor and told them how I felt. This was when I was told to attend a volunteer recruitment event in Mablethorpe. My Job coach said it wasn't mandatory to receive my benefits but however it would really help me find the job that was right for me.

The following week I attended an event hosted by Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Service (LCVS), I made it my goal to just sit down and explain to the Area Officer team how I felt. I explained to them that I wanted to fix my situation, I wanted a job that was right for me, and they were more than happy to help. They asked me about my passions and skills and they matched me to the perfect volunteering opportunity.

They saw that I had a passion and skills for marketing and online promotion. I have always had a spark for social media and they just so happen to have an event coming up for Volunteers Week 2020. They wanted a volunteer to help run a dedicated ad campaign and they thought I was the perfect candidate.

I was over the moon, I attended multiple meetings where I had to where smart clothes, I was always taught to dress for the job I want and not the job I have, so I had always wanted to where a suit to work. I had my laptop bag over my shoulder and I felt like great. I was in a job where I belonged and my confidence really started to shine.

The campaign was a success and LCVS were so happy with my work that I was offered a contracted role as their Marketing agent. I continued to work on several other projects for the organisation. I could feel my old self coming back and now through networking and purposely placing myself outside of my comfort zone, I just knew that this was career route that I wanted to take. I was confident that Marketing and Communication was the right role for me.

Just by chance an apprenticeship appeared on the LCVS website. It was for a Marketing & Communications Apprentice. It was like the universe was trying to serve me the exact opportunity I was hoping for and without hesitation I applied. Within days of applying for the role I was offered an interview and it wasn't long before I was sat in a room with the Executive Officers. What stood out to them was how passionate I was about this opportunity and most of all the previous experience I already had with working with the organisation. I got the phone call saying I got the job before I even made it home by bus.

I'm now in my second year of the apprenticeship and finish it completely in less than 3 months time of writing this blog. I have learnt so much from my volunteering experience and I always say that I am a product of my own organisation " A Case study in myself"

If I didn't originally take up that volunteering opportunity I would never have got to where I am today. I now look forward to each working day doing the job I love. The job that is right for me.