As the graduating class of 2012 gets ready to hit the pavement to look for work, many students may be interested in gaining some on-hands experience by volunteering. Not only are many employers now looking for public service experience on a candidate's resume, volunteering is a great way for new college graduates without a solid career path to acquire important and employable skills, according to The New York Times. Volunteering to work for organizations such as Peace Corps or Teach for America can be a gateway to a variety of careers as well, including positions outside the public service and nonprofit sector. Career counselor Susan Jewkes Allen told the news agency that those interested in adding volunteer experience to their resume should first take inventory of their skills and weaknesses to find the best fit. "Take stock of yourself, writing down things like what you’re good at, not good at, your natural communication style, level of adaptability and aversion to risk," Allen noted. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there were approximately 12.5 million people unemployed in the U.S. as of April 2012. |