By Jennifer Colbourne (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: May 23, 2012
Jobs are scarce for students in this economy. However, UFV’s volunteer coordinator Michelle Rickaby believes she has the solution to giving students that extra boost for getting hired: volunteer experience.
Rickaby explained that, all too often, students “don’t have the practical experience. They finish a degree, and they haven’t done any work or volunteer experience … It’s going to be harder to get a job than someone who has experience. If you put up a job posting, 50 people apply. Minimum requirement is a degree, so everybody’s got a degree. So what are they looking for next? A degree and experience, your commitment and your skills.”
Rickaby added, “[Volunteering is] a good way to meet new people, get involved in the community, get community connections … I always tell [students] about the potential of volunteering. You never know what will happen.”
Most student volunteers ask for reference letters and keep track of their hours and commitments to build a portfolio for their resume and scholarship applications. Rickaby noted that students also can apply to have a certificate issued verifying their volunteer involvement.
What people come away with from volunteering, Rickaby said, “depends on the person. For me, personally, it’s helping people … I think for students, it’s a matter of getting involved, getting the experience, developing their skills and using what they’ve been learning. It depends on where they’re coming from.” Consistently, however, Rickaby noticed students coming away with “more pride in themselves for getting involved – getting the experience of helping people. I see a lot of pride in them, and something they can relate to their next job.”
The Volunteer to Work program initially began in the UFV International department, where Rickaby still works as a program coordinator. “The origin of it was, in the past, international students couldn’t work … were not allowed to work,” said Rickaby. “They ha[d] experience at home, but how [were] they going to find a job without having Canadian experience?” Rickaby began searching for volunteer opportunities, not only so that international students could get relevant work experience, but also so that they could practice their English, develop their leadership skills and make connections in the community.
Soon, the international students started getting their Canadian friends involved, and Rickaby’s volunteer program rapidly expanded to include all of UFV. Now, for students who want to volunteer, Rickaby shares numerous opportunities in the community or on campus for both long-term and short-term commitments, primarily via Facebook. The list is endless: the hospital, the Food Bank, the MSA Museum, the Abbotsford Entertainment Centre, Agrifair, Red Cross fundraisers, the Airshow, Children’s Fest, the BC Cancer Agency … There is no lack of options.
Currently, Rickaby is gathering volunteers for several upcoming events, such as the Relay for Life, Abby Fest, Convocation, Run for Water, the Harrison Dragon Boat Regatta and the Valley Gran Fondo. Interested students can contact Michelle Rickaby by email or join the UFV Volunteer to Work Facebook group. There is also a bulletin board with volunteer postings just outside of UFV International and a hub with more links on UFV’s website.
