I write this because anytime job seekers attend seminars on how to build careers or land jobs, the speakers at such events always advice the job seekers to pick up volunteer jobs for a start. Even here on nairaland, once an angry job seeker vents his anger about being unemployed, fellow nairalanders advice such a person to pick up a volunteer job. In other words, the idea being sold to job seekers is that volunteer jobs are everywhere, just go to any company closest to you, and they'd gladly absorb you in as volunteer.

This is however, far from the reality. The reality in our society is except the job seeker knows the HR of the company personally, or has an insider who can help him/her talk to the HR, the job seeker would find it extremely difficult to get access to the HR, not to talk of telling the HR of his desire to volunteer. These days, immediately a job seeker gets to the gate of a company, he is stopped at the gate and asked where he is heading to, the moment he mentions the HR department(which he has to mention for the purpose of directions) he gets questioned and immediately he says something close to CV or letter, the men/women at the gate collect the letter or whatever application he has written from him. Whether these applications get to the HR's desk is, a story for the gods.

I've come to realise that the best way to get a volunteer job, is to network with people, one day you may just be fortunate to find somebody who is a top person or knows a top person in a company, the person can help you talk to the HR. I say this because I've samped the opinion of job seekers who have gone to companies to seek for volunteer jobs, and they all have the same story to tell. Infact, a job seeker, once said in today's Nigeria, the stress you put in to get a volunteer job, is equivalent to the stress you put in to get a paid employment.

Please friends, I'd like to know your job hunt / volunteer hunting experiences, and to people who were able to secure volunteer jobs, please how were you able to get it?

You are so right OP. Even though I work as a call centre agent; that has never been my career goal neither is it any close to my profession. I studied Business Administration and I want to develop skills in the area of office management, personnel management, decision making and the likes. I have written letters and spoken to some HR people about my desire to work for free but all to no avail. The last time I spoke to Kimberly Clark's Human Resource Manager (I was fortunate to have his contact though) he said volunteer vacancies is not available at the moment. So you are very right op. God help us!

tosh26: The last time I spoke to Kimberly Clark's Human Resource Manager (I was fortunate to have his contact though) he said volunteer vacancies is not available at the moment. So you are very right op. God help us!

So they now have vacancy for someone who wants to work for free.. What are they scared of, not being able to pay u?
God save us in this country eh!!

polymathic: So they now have vacancy for someone who wants to work for free.. What are they scared of, not being able to pay u?
God save us in this country eh!!

Would you blame them?...They probably are afraid, cos most of us Nigerians are allergic to what its called volunteering.

glitest:

Would you blame them?...They probably are afraid, cos most of us Nigerians are allergic to what its called volunteering.

Allergic? This got me rolling... The HR just don't wanna get familiar with someone broke, scared he/she might one day beg for money...

polymathic: Allergic? This got me rolling... The HR just don't wanna get familiar with someone broke, scared he/she might one day beg for money...

Such gesture, probably did seem to good to be true to the people in the HR dept. There might be possible reasons why the individual prosposed to volunteer.

1. The individual might have been sent from another competitive company, as a spy to know what the next move of the company would be.

2. The individual wants to use volunteering as an easy way of getting into the company, in hopes of gaining access to some important information about the company, so as to use it either for his/ her own benefit or maybe as a means of attack on them in the future.

3. Although, I think he/she is volunteering in hopes of increasing his or her chances of getting hired by the company, in the near future.

glitest:



3. Although, I think he/she is volunteering in hopes of increasing his or her chances of getting hired by the company, in the near future.

This is the main reason why we wanna volunteer, and also to be experienced cos jobs now requires atleast one year of experience...

polymathic: This is the main reason why we wanna volunteer, and also to be experienced cos jobs now requires atleast one year of experience...

Exactly!..Its just that most Nigerians will never consider, working for free.

polymathic: This is the main reason why we wanna volunteer, and also to be experienced cos jobs now requires atleast one year of experience...

Igzactly! One can't get relevant experience if you are not employed first. Just as the OP as pointed out...'Except you are substantially connected (lols) to these big business or company executives, you are on your own.

Needless to say, big men children don't beg for volunteering. We will make it by God's grace.

plain truth.

tosh26: Igzactly! One can't get relevant experience if you are not employed first. Just as the OP as pointed out...'Except you are substantially connected (lols) to these big business or company executives, you are on your own.

Needless to say, big men children don't beg for volunteering. We will make it by God's grace.

There are ways one can av connections too, nt until u are a big man child... Currently I've been sending cold mails on linkedin and some been replying positively.. Maybe u can do same too.. And/or use FB, a friend got a job thru a connect on FB

glitest:
Exactly!..Its just that most Nigerians will never consider, working for free.

Yea, me sef aint in for this free thingy...
wen will I marry wen I'm busy working for free

polymathic: Yea, me sef aint in for this free thingy...
wen will I marry wen I'm busy working for free

Na marriage dey your mind?...Abeg, enjoy life small joor.

glitest:

Na marriage dey your mind?...Abeg, enjoy life small joor.

before nko, I want to start rearing children on tym...
Besides, I will I enjoy wen I'm working for free...

polymathic: before nko, I want to start rearing children on tym...
Besides, I will I enjoy wen I'm working for free...

Well, my advice is that you focus on first solidifying your OWN future first, before including another mouth/ mouths to feed and look after....Stress no good oh.

glitest:



Well, my advice is that you focus on first solidifying your OWN future first, before including another mouth/ mouths to feed and look after....Stress no good oh.

OK ooo... Iyaf hear u well.
will make sure the future is nt only solidified, it will be ironified as well...
Thanks for the advice

polymathic: OK ooo... Iyaf hear u well.
will make sure the future is nt only solidified, it will be ironified as well...
Thanks for the advice

Hahahahahahaha!

Make sure your future is very well ironed and smoothly pressed, before you join another person put oh.
You're welcome.

glitest:
Hahahahahahaha!

Make sure your future is very well ironed and smoothly pressed, before you join another person put oh.
You're welcome.

Tis best I give it to my Dry cleaner, the guy sure knws how to iron well, maybe he can help do a clean job
Wat do u think 'bout this?

glitest:
Hahahahahahaha!

Make sure your future is very well ironed and smoothly pressed, before you join another person put oh.
You're welcome.

Antell95:

Hello love!

polymathic: Tis best I give it to my Dry cleaner, the guy sure knws how to iron well, maybe he can help do a clean job
Wat do u think 'bout this?

#Serious side eye#.Very long pause.

'The truth' indeed...

glitest:
#Serious side eye#.Very long pause.

Oh C'mon, why d long pause?

polymathic: Oh C'mon, why d long pause?

I had no clue of what you were talking about/ referring to.

glitest:
I had no clue of what you were talking about/ referring to.

Oh really U want clue or clues...

polymathic: Oh C'mon, why d long pause?

Perphaps, you should do your dry cleaning yourself.

polymathic: Oh really U want clue or clues...

Yesssss!

glitest:
Yesssss!

I understand ur plight ba'e prolly too much mentions to reply so u forgot wat we talkin 'bout... Ok, no clues at all.
How u been?

@ OP,you are so right, getting volunteering opportunities is hard to come by these days but that shouldn' t discourage us from trying.Lets keep hope alive.

I am also very much interested in volunteering,though not every trials came through. but some did.So much that I even turn some down for one reason or the other but the truth is....opportunity abounds

Part of the things I suggest we do to get these opportunities like I did are:
1) Identify organisations that specialises in your area of interest
2)send them mails,follow them on twitter/linkedin for constant information and browse through their website
3)Networking is also very important

N.B, A volunteer accountant is needed for an NGO,if you reside in Festac town,mile two and environs.the role is flexible to suit your schedule.08096575950.

polymathic: I understand ur plight ba'e prolly too much mentions to reply so u forgot wat we talkin 'bout... Ok, no clues at all.
How u been?

Hahahaha!
I'm doing great...Thanks for asking; You?

glitest:

Hahahaha!
I'm doing great...Thanks for asking; You?

Me doing good!!! Just that there are too many chaos in this country and the good pple like u that would av fought for us are outta this country...

polymathic: Me doing good!!! Just that there are too many chaos in this country and the good pple like u that would av fought for us are outta this country...

Hahahaha ( sarcastic laugh).
Fight for who?.