[rescue_toggle title=”What is a volunteer?”]A volunteer is someone who works to help others but doesn’t get paid.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”What are the benefits to volunteering?”]You can learn and develop new skills; work at your own pace; improve your personal health and well-being; personal rewards (i.e. free training, gain references; personal satisfaction of giving to others).[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”So, I want to volunteer but where do I start?”]Begin by setting goals for yourself. Ask yourself questions like: What do I have to offer? What are my skills? What are my current abilities and where does my experience lie? What are my interests? Where are my skill gaps and how can I fill those gaps? What I want to do with my time when do I want to do it?[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”Where do I find volunteer postings?”]Check your local volunteer centre, community bulletin boards, visit CharityVillage at www.charityvillage.com.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”How do I choose the right organization in which to volunteer?”]If you’re going to be giving your time to help others for free, you want to make sure that you choose the right organization to volunteer. You should find out the location of the organization; what kinds of volunteer opportunities they have to offer; what is their mandate and what population they serve; who are they funded by; if supervision and support is provided; if they are willing to provide me with the kind of access and accommodation that I require; and; what the organizational culture is like.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”Once I find an organization that I’m interested in, what’s next?”]Find out what kinds of volunteer opportunities they have and if they match what you want; what benefits do they offer their volunteers (i.e. TTC tokens); and what the application process includes.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”How can I best prepare for the interview?”]Do your homework. Research the organization ahead of time. Find out their mission statement, client base, who they are funded by, how long have they been in existence and what are their main programs.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”What are some good questions that I should ask during the interview?”]What will I be doing? What is the required time commitment? What skills will I be able to use and develop? Is there a probation period, and if so, for how long? What kind of environment will I be working in? Will I be provided with a written evaluation?[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”What volunteer opportunities does CILT have to offer?”]CILT’s volunteers assist staff with clerical tasks including mailings, filing, photocopying, assembling information packages, typing and researching information on the web.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”Who are CILT’s volunteers?”]Persons with disabilities; seniors; newcomers to Canada; and students.[/rescue_toggle]
[rescue_toggle title=”How do I become a CILT volunteer?”]You may submit a resume outlining your skills and past experience and/or fill out a volunteer application form. You may send it by mail, fax or email to peers@cilt.ca. Once your resume/application is received, the volunteer coordinator will contact you in order to set up an interview time. During the interview you will be asked to provide a minimum of two references.[/rescue_toggle]
