Volunteer Work

Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might— Doctrine and Covenants 75:3

There are few things I hate worse than job hunting. Looking back at times when I was searching for a job, I've tried to think of different ways to make job hunting more effective and less painful.

I do know for sure of a few things that don't work for me.

I've tried doing a job search 100% of my time before. It gets very depressing, and increasingly ineffective to send out so many resumes every day. The amount of time I spent actually looking for work decreased, and my idle time increased. There is also only so much yard work to do, and it is difficult to be self-motivated when studying without a class.

So, find some volunteer work! The job interview process for volunteer work usually isn't very stressful, and there are many different organizations always looking for volunteers, be it local Church-run canneries or farms, or other non-profit organizations, or the local government.

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17

For me, more important than any other consideration is the impact that this can have on the lives of others. There are always people with greater needs than we have. As is usually the case with service though, there are plenty of other benefits for yourself.

1. Service looks great on a resume - service I have done has been specifically mentioned when I have been hired at multiple jobs.
2. It's often possible to find service that utilizes our skills effectively.
3. It's easier to stay motivated and upbeat during a job search if you are meanwhile doing something valuable.
4. In many cases, the people with whom we serve may have great leads on jobs - and will likely be willing to recommend us.

A job search can either be a depressing, difficult time - or a chance to grow and analyze our direction. I definitely prefer the latter.