Warning to Volunteers?

Question

For a bunch of "upstanding citizens" it must be said you lot have come out with some real nasty and quite personnal stuff...

Answer 1

I have volunteered, still do, for youth serving organizations for over 20 years and I never felt any of the above.

I fell appreciated just by the act of what I am doing and hope that I reach someone child in one small way.

I did not have a boss, we were all volunteers and all input was respected and acted on if possible.

I was hired by one of the groups I volunteered for until we ran out of funds for employees so I went back to volunteer status.

I have worked with substance abuse prevention and early intervention with most of our kids being court involved but I never felt that anyone considered me to be a user and even if they did.... that was their d**n problem.

Giving back to your community through volunteer work looks amazing on a resume and will actual give you a leg up on someone who does not volunteer. Some employees will actually pay you for time spent doing your volunteer work.

It sounds like you did your volunteer work for the kudos not for the right reason... to give back to your community or you were with an organization that did not interest you.

Both of my daughter's grew up volunteering with me and as adults they both still do volunteer work for various organizations.

Answer 2

Volunteering isn't about getting recognition, or money, or consideration. it's about helping others with no thought to your own personal gain. Therefore, all your points are invalid. Being "angry and bitter" is personal and your problem, no one else's. Hopefully, the next time you volunteer you'll have a better experience.

Answer 3

You don't volunteer in hopes of getting a job you volunteer to help people.  So you volunteer and thought they would hire you for a position that they didn't have open nor have money for which is why non profits ask for volunteers.  We don't ask for volunteers to see how well they work to hire them!  If they would be the case then we would go through a employment agency.  

You volunteer and put in 18 hours a day?  When did you work at your real job or go to school?  

Then when you work for a non profit you really don't make money that way because their funds are from Grants.

And the reason you are not getting employed is not who you used to volunteer/work for.  IT'S YOU.  

NOT BECAUSE YOU WORKED FOR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE PLACE!!!!

Answer 4

I agree with you! I just recently volunteered at a head start for about 4 months and aside from falling in love with 60 kids it was the biggest waste of time ever!!! The boss wouldn't even let me pick which class I wanted to be in, half the time she would have me doing data entry and paper work, I did this thinking that it would help me become a teachers assistant there. When I was done I had all of the teachers and parents wanting me to work there, but I still didn't get the job! Some other woman did that had never even stepped foot in the school before and no greater experience then I did. They chewed me up and spit me out as I am sure they did to you!

You cannot insult what this guy is saying unless you have been through it!!!

Answer 5

volunteering should give you a good feeling. too bad this didn't happen where you were

Answer 6

Volunteer means giving without expectation of anything, then once the second party involved gets past the challenge may or maynot reward depending on the said party. So in your case where u do volunteer and expect appreciation, existence or even approval is all for YOUR OWN recognition.

Just try to do something, not necessarly be work without expectation and see what will happen later without you knowledge. GOD first appreciates you remember that.

I am a volunteer and what i do feel is more than what i get(when they do finance me sometimes).

So it's NOT ALL to do with exploitations. And again if you encounter an exploitor run and run and run fast

Answer 7

I don't think you can generalize like this. I am sorry that you had such a negative experience, but that doesn't mean every volunteer in every situation will be used and abused.

I have volunteered for over two years now with a wonderful organization that not only appreciates my work, but which is making a real positive difference in the world, and I am happy to be a part of that.

Answer 8

Pretty much sums up my experiences.  From now on if I see someone that I can help I do try, but as far as organized volunteering. Nope. That ship has sailed for me.

Answer 9

If you are volunteering to be appreciated you are doing it for the wrong reason.

Answer 10

As far as not being able to get another good job because people will assume that you are a former substance abuser...........if you apply for a job they will do a background check. If there is nothing there to find they won't find it.

If you are a volunteer no one can overwork you. You have a mind of your own don't you?

When you volunteer you may not feel appreciated but you should know that you have helped someone and that should be enough reward.

If you are volunteering to gain something as Jennifer above did then you are not going to be satisfied no matter what you do.

Answer 11

They'd never get anyone to volunteer.  I apologize for all us morons who have to direct your work.  We don't know anything or as much as you do.  We often aren't paid either and are volunteers.  The only reason we're the "boss" is because we have more experience.  Sheesh, imagine that.