Be Open to Anything

You might come across a classified ad where an NGO is looking for volunteers and since you are an accountant by profession you assume you can contribute your services to the NGO. But in reality volunteering doesn't involve doing what you like to do all the time. You might be expected to do things that are really simple and don't require your expertise.

Subha Mitra, a programme executive with Population First says, "I had been trained in disaster management and was sent to Bihar during the floods. But my training was not really required there. Instead I merely had to open bottle caps and pass them to those who needed them."

You need to be prepared to clean a cupboard, handle inventory work or do just about anything during the time you have committed to the organisation.

Match Goals

It is good to have a clear idea of what your goals are and what you want for yourself from volunteering. So whether you are doing it for your resume or personal satisfaction you must define your goals clearly.

"Once you know your goals you will be able to figure out whether or not a certain project is meant for you. The main idea is to ensure that your goals and the organisation's goals do not clash," Peter Westman, an international volunteer with Response Net explains.

If you are a student and need, say, two months of social work experience and you are put on a project that will last for six months, you cannot afford to drop out after two months, can you?