When it comes to choosing what you are going to do when you graduate, do you find yourself asking any of these questions?

• I already volunteer, how can more volunteering help me with my career?
• Why is it important to make sure I have volunteer experience that supports my degree or major?
• I have no work experience, should I volunteer?
• I enjoy giving back to my community, and my church where can I volunteer?
• How can a job shadow help me know what career or vocation to choose?
• I want to volunteer but not for credit. What would be best?

Answer: It is important then, for you to learn about the different volunteer programs and paid internship opportunities in Calgary, Canada and abroad.

Also look at the option of job shadowing since it can help you learn more about different careers and also about how volunteering benefits our community, individuals and how a combination of these activities may help you identify or confirm a calling, vocation or a career!

Learn more by doing job shadowing and volunteering while in school!

Living your vocation, or calling means responding to the world around you using your gifts, talents, abilities, passions, etc. Often, through volunteering and different ways of exploration you can uncover your purpose.

When you uncover these gifts and can match them up with where God's desire to meet the needs of the world are, you will be able to find your calling in job and careers that fulfill your vocation.

Volunteering can be your vocation as well as part of building valuable skills for a future occupation. It provides a means for you to give back to the community and exposes you to people, opportunities, occupations, and vocations that you might not normally have exposure to. How will you know if you don't test it out? These provide valuable opportunities to put your values and your beliefs into action!

Job shadowing is an excellent way to begin exploring different careers without a commitment to volunteer. Many students choose holidays or reading-week to find 1-day job shadow opportunities. It is important to find time to explore careers and short-term commitments are an excellent opportunity!

Informational Interviews are another way to learn more about different occupations and careers for the student who has limited time for exploration. You can easily prepare a list of 10–20 questions and telephone or visit potential professionals in the line of work in which you are interested.

Be Strategic about your summer employment goals:

Have you reviewed the transferable skills list? If you have, try to identify the types of jobs that would enhance your skill set and experience as you step forward into a professional career.