P a ge 18 t opside V olume 79 , I s s u e 1
Public Affairs
How the USCG Auxiliary Can Boost Your Resume By Christopher M . Orlando AUXPA3
Most members of the USCG Auxiliary have chosen to volunteer for this organization for a variety or reasons . Maybe it ’ s a sense of duty ? Love of boating ? Wanting to help preserve the marine environment ? These are all great reasons but one reason often overlooked is how volunteerism is viewed on a resume .
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics , “ In July [ 2020 ], 31.3 million people reported that they had been unable to work at some point in the last 4 weeks because their employer closed or lost business due to the coronavirus pandemic — that is , they did not work at all or worked fewer hours .”
The USCG Auxiliary has a multi-faceted mission therefore , there are plenty of opportunities to not only volunteer and serve your community , but to build your resume . This was my experience when I joined in 2016 . I had been on the water all my life but I also saw the possibility to enhance my resume through my public affairs and publications work . This same possibility can be applied to most , if not all our missions depending on your interests and career .
According to Indeed . com , volunteering has 7 job benefits :
1 . Volunteering can add experience to your resume 2 . You can expand your network 3 . Volunteering can help you avoid job gaps on your resume 4 . You can learn and apply new skills 5 . Volunteering can help you increase your job confidence 6 . You can showcase your fit for open positions 7 . Volunteering can help prepare you for a career or role change
Christopher M . Orlando AUXPA3 ADSO-PA Social
On the surface , being a member of the USCG Auxiliary pops out on a resume because of our association with our active duty shipmates , but joining the USCG Auxiliary has most likely expanded your network , connecting you to different people , in different fields , with different backgrounds . This shows growth on a resume and you never know who knows who in today ’ s world .
With the amount of missions and training opportunities , we have all learned one new skill or another during our time with the USCG Auxiliary . This could be our ability to draft press releases , understanding the marine environment , or learning how to onboard a new member through our human resources program . All these skills and more can be applied to a job application . In addition to these new skills , the USCG Auxiliary offers the opportunity to practice these new skills and perfect them in a reposeful environment .
In the last year , I have been on multiple interviews and when I pull out my work samples , there is a fair amount of USCG Auxiliary work in there and in every interview , I have been asked about this work . This leads to a discussion about our mission and how this organization has allowed me to continue to practice my skills to avoid rust .
Employers want someone who never let their skills deplete . This organization offers that . This is also an idea we should be offering to potential members : the idea of building their resume while serving their community .