add something that my current volunteer work was not: a means to keep my work experiences current and to expand my skills while still being able to dedicate time to my family. MSCCN’s Career Corps training position allowed me to do just that.
I have been fortunate to be a volunteer trainer with MSCCN for the past year and a half. My volunteer position with MSCCN has exceeded my expectations; as a trainer, I was provided the opportunity to work with eLearning Articulate Storyline software and have designed courses such as “LinkedIn® 101” and “Plan Your Job Search.”
Volunteering with MSCCN gave me the opportunity to become familiar with eLearning Articulate Storyline software, a skill that I will take with me to my next location. As a training volunteer, I also wrote informative articles, providing tips for veterans and military spouses searching for employment, while keeping a flexible, volunteer work schedule I could design around my other commitments.
As a MSCCN Career Corps Volunteer, I was
able to maintain my Instructional Design skills while also gaining knowledge and expertise that will help me be competative when applying for jobs at our next location.
I was also able to gain these skills while working as a part of a larger training team that encouraged and supported me. My supervisor, Amy Rossi, was very welcoming and supportive of my
goals. She invested time at the beginning to get to know me and always provided me with resources that I needed, while also allowing me creative control on projects. As I look for future work as an Instructional Designer and using my eLearning Instructional Design talents, I know that I will be better prepared not only in terms of my résumé, but also in terms of the work that I will produce.
Although I did not set out to be a volunteer while we were stationed in Wyoming, I am grateful for the experience. As I refined and furthered my Instructional Design skills with MSCCN, I also learned that volunteering can be more than a way to support an organization that you are passionate about; volunteering can also be a strategic move for a job seeker to apply current skills, develop new talents, and expand her network as well as her professional references. Volunteering can be more than the next best option—it can be a catalyst for further developing your career.
"...the position would add something to my life that my current volunteer work was not: a means to keep my work experiences current and to expand my skills while still being able to dedicate time to my family."