All work and no pay

As a volunteer for the National Heart Foundation of New Zealand, Marco FitzPatrick has been giving his time there three days a week for the past few months while searching for fulltime employment. As well as contacting local authorities about this year's appeal, he works the front desk and deals with external suppliers.

FitzPatrick, who has an engineering background, has been surprised to discover he has a talent for handling people. As a result, he has started applying for customer-support roles in his job search.

He is happy to donate time.

"I feel I'm doing something worthwhile because this organisation promotes health in such a good way. It is a bonus that volunteering is honing and expanding my skill base."

The foundation needs volunteers for street appeals, office duties, promotions, client liaison, web research, trust applications and account reconciliations, says National Heart Foundation volunteer coordinator Marie-Jo Wilson.

As well as meeting altruistic needs, volunteering helps people to build up existing skills, discover new ones and develop networks and knowledge in the health sector, says Wilson.

"It also helps new immigrants develop an understanding of the New Zealand business culture."

Wilson advises volunteers to make the most of their experiences by continually reflecting on the skills and knowledge they gain volunteering.

"Then you can articulate about that at an interview," says Wilson.

She says it is important volunteers are clear about the time they can offer and the work they want.

"We want people who are passionate and committed but it is okay to say you also want skills as well in x, y, z."

AUT public health masters student Kristin Wilson is about to start a voluntary job with the Jump Rope for Heart project. She also volunteers with Radio Lollypop at Starship Hospital, and Camp Quality, a camp for children with cancer.

"Volunteering has developed my ability to talk to a variety of people, including children," she says. "I also enjoy putting my time and effort into improving the quality of children's lives for a little while."

Kristin Wilson, who started volunteering at high school, says she approached the Heart Foundation to volunteer after missing out on a paid job there because of inexperience.

"So I've offered to volunteer to get a better feel for the foundation, build that experience and broaden my horizons in the health sector."

Postgraduate student Allan Chen decided to volunteer after attending a careers workshop at AUT. Chen works in Volunteering Auckland's office two days a week, answering the phone, receiving faxes and making appointments.

"I speak good English but don't have much opportunity to talk English on the phone so this is helping me a lot," he says. "It is also helping my interpersonal skills."

He wanted to do something useful in the community and gain New Zealand experience.

"People tell me I'm either over-qualified or I don't have New Zealand experience so I have to change that this year."

For Marja Van Straaten, volunteering built up her self-esteem and skills after a marriage break-up and serious illness.

She started volunteering in 1999 at Volunteering Auckland's office, then got a 10-month paid administration job at Allergy New Zealand, volunteered again at the centre and then worked for 18 months helping to set up Volunteering New Zealand.

Van Straaten returned to Volunteering Auckland on a voluntary basis before being offered a paid administrator position there in 2003. Aside from updating administration skills that had lain dormant for years, volunteering has given Van Straaten a new life.

"It gave me the chance to make wonderful new friends and work with people from around the world. It also made me much more aware of the struggles of communities at the grassroots level."

Volunteering Auckland regional manager, Cheryll Martin, says she has 180 community groups looking for volunteers. Around 10,000 volunteers have signed up since she began 12 years ago.

When she started, 70 per cent of volunteers were Pakeha; now 85 per cent are new immigrants. Martin believes this reflects the diversity of Auckland's population as well as the tendency for immigrants to volunteer to develop skills and networks.

But volunteering is not simply work experience or a quick answer to gaining employment, she says.

"A good volunteer must care about people. It is about the personal reward of knowing you're making a difference to someone and contributing to the community in a positive manner. And yes, you're also gaining new skills and mixing with people who may be able to help you."

Volunteering Auckland is careful to avoid exploitation. "For example, a voluntary role cannot have been a paid job in the last 12 months," says Martin. "You also can't work more than 16 hours a week and should get reimbursed for travel expenses."