Volunteering Your Way to a Job

Returning to the workforce after many years of unemployment is a challenging thing to do. It’s especially difficult for mothers who stay home to raise their families and are out of work for ten or more years. They wonder how to fill the hole in their resume and what professional skills they still possess. Who would hire someone who hasn’t been working for many years? Alice Johnson* faced all of these questions and more, yet she found a clever way back to a paying job.

Alice left her job as an Activity Director for an adult day care facility to raise her family. During her fifteen years as a stay-a-home mom, she made some extra money teaching music, giving piano lessons and being director of music at a local church. None of these jobs were consistent, though. She spent most of her time raising her family and volunteering at church. In the last few years, her volunteer positions centered around children at the church, including children’s choir, Sunday school and the church youth group.

The current Director of Children’s Ministry at her church decided to leave in order to raise her own family. Alice and her friend, Carol, served as interim co-leaders for the Children’s Ministry while the church tried to find a new director. After a fruitless search, the church elders noticed that the interim co-leaders were doing a great job and approached them with the position. Carol was not interested in the job, so fifteen years after leaving the workforce Alice found herself being offered a position as the Director of Children’s Ministry at her church. The best thing is the flexible hours that allow her to be around for her kids. She also likes the fact that she contributes to something she really cares about.

Alice admits she has never really looked for a job. The jobs she had in the past were offered to her by people she knew, mostly through her musical connections or volunteer work. Even though her current job “fell into her lap” through her volunteer activities, she doesn’t attribute it to luck. Alice believes a higher power has guided her through the years to bring her to this point.

_{* Fictitious name is used to protect the privacy of the job seeker.}