I often write and speak about volunteering in your community
as a way to increase the chances of finding a job, by highlighting the benefits
you receive from volunteering including
resume building, skill development,
references, networking, etc.
Our
community newspaper, The StarPhoenix recently completed a yearlong weekly
series called 52 Reasons to Love
Saskatoon, which included reason number 52 highlighting Saskatoon as being
the volunteer capital of Canada. The
article noted, politicians and other community boosters repeat the mantra like
it's a law, but it’s true…a 2007 Statistics
Canada study pegged Saskatchewan's volunteer rate as the highest in the country
at 57 per cent, which means more than half the province's population over the
age of 16 volunteered at least once in 365 days. In addition, a 2010 study by the
Community University Institute for Social Research 62 per cent of found Saskatoon
residents volunteered at least once in the previous three years.
A quick scan of the articles suggests that a full 30 of the 52
Reasons to Love Saskatoon involve voluntarism of some sort. You can volunteer to serve on a board, do
fundraising, read to a senior, support a sporting event, or take tickets at a
cultural event …all of which support our community and will increase your
chances of finding the right job.
