Here’s the deal – the moment you start working somewhere you can no longer volunteer in the same place. This doesn’t always work this way but it can. The issue is that the moment you’re employed, your time is a commodity that you must be paid for.
I will beginning working at the MCM Rochester as a Floor Lead in one week.
I had been debating whether or not I should accept the position for some time. Accepting the job means I can no longer volunteer at MCM. But the truth is, I will still be spending time helping out.
Another important lesson to learn from this is that volunteering can and should lead to potential job offerings.
(Momentary Tangent) Did you know that some companies now have robots looking through the resumes sent to them as job applications? These robot look for specific words in the text and, if they find them, the resume is tossed.
So if you can become a real person, as opposed to a piece of paper, to these companies, you’re chances of being hired may be increased. More importantly, volunteering allows you some time to decide whether or not you enjoy working somewhere.
Final Message: Get out there and volunteer, my friends.
Showing posts with label Minnesota Children's Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesota Children's Museum. Show all posts
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester: Spark
This is something I’ve only found while performing volunteer work. Specifically, I’ve only encountered the spark while working with kids. On Friday, Jan. 4, I found the spark again.
I had been playing with cushion blocks at the museum’s architecture and design exhibit when I asked a very young lady if she would like to help me build something. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t need to. But the girl pointed up at a suggested design and we got to work.
We proceeded to build an arch and then a small doorway by building up the cushion blocks. She relished in the opportunity to hesitantly knock the constructions down once they were completed. Seeing what we had created, two young boys offered to help and one of them had an idea.
Spark.
His eyes dilate and go wide. A smile spreads across his face. He gets it and, most importantly, he has an idea to add! The moment disappears in a flash of jumping and running and building of blocks.
First we built a house, then it was a tiger’s cave, and then it was a tiger’s maze and eventually a space ship, which we used to travel to a desert. In the middle of the desert, we had to escape from a shark into the safety of our space ship, only to repeat the same adventure. More kids joined into our fun and they brought their ideas.
If you can think back to a moment when you experienced the “spark,” please leave a comment and let me know.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Minnesota Children's Museum of Rochester: Volunteer First!
On Friday, Dec. 20, I was reading a book about kangaroos to kids called “Pouch” when I realized that doing the same thing for payment wouldn’t be the same.
The reason I’m bringing this up is that there’s a weekend job offering at the Children’s Museum as a facility fun manager (something to that effect). I’m tempted to take the position as a way of supporting my writing endeavors.
But the problem is this: what should volunteers do when they are offered a job?
Of course, the answer is dependent upon your situation. If you’re a student, you may not have time to work. If you’re already employed, you may not need the job. But if you take the job, how will the experience change?
The beauty of volunteer work is that you’re performing a service without an exchange of money. But if you can continue to enjoy the experience, why not take a paid job doing what you enjoy?
Volunteer work is centered on service. However when you volunteer, you meet awesome people, discover new things you enjoy, learn about yourself and realize you have potential.
If it were up to me, everyone would spend time doing volunteer work before they ever decided on a career path.
The reason I’m bringing this up is that there’s a weekend job offering at the Children’s Museum as a facility fun manager (something to that effect). I’m tempted to take the position as a way of supporting my writing endeavors.
But the problem is this: what should volunteers do when they are offered a job?
Of course, the answer is dependent upon your situation. If you’re a student, you may not have time to work. If you’re already employed, you may not need the job. But if you take the job, how will the experience change?
The beauty of volunteer work is that you’re performing a service without an exchange of money. But if you can continue to enjoy the experience, why not take a paid job doing what you enjoy?
Volunteer work is centered on service. However when you volunteer, you meet awesome people, discover new things you enjoy, learn about yourself and realize you have potential.
If it were up to me, everyone would spend time doing volunteer work before they ever decided on a career path.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester: Volunteer Orientation
My volunteer orientation with the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester is complete. We went through an informational PowerPoint, discussed learning techniques and played with Play-Doh®. What else would you do in training to become a “Playologist?”
I’ve been through a few of these orientations and, although the experience varies by organization, there are a few actions you can perform to ensure your success.
1) Be happy. Smile while greeting other volunteers or employees of the organization.
2) Firm handshakes and good pronunciation of your name. The goal here is being remembered. Some volunteer coordinators see a lot of volunteers in a given day. Don’t go overboard by dancing or screaming … too much … but ensure your presence is known.
3) Get to know another volunteer. May sure you’re paying attention to the orientation speaker but, if you get a chance, chat with another volunteer. It’s good to have friends at work for questions, problem solving and collaboration.
4) Know the job. Orientation is a great time for asking questions. If the job isn’t clear, ask as many questions as possible. Once you’re on the floor, you may not have the guidance you’re getting in orientation.
5) Have fun. You’re a volunteer, doing good work for a good cause. If you enjoy parts of the orientation, you will have a great time working for the organization.
I’ve been through a few of these orientations and, although the experience varies by organization, there are a few actions you can perform to ensure your success.
1) Be happy. Smile while greeting other volunteers or employees of the organization.
2) Firm handshakes and good pronunciation of your name. The goal here is being remembered. Some volunteer coordinators see a lot of volunteers in a given day. Don’t go overboard by dancing or screaming … too much … but ensure your presence is known.
3) Get to know another volunteer. May sure you’re paying attention to the orientation speaker but, if you get a chance, chat with another volunteer. It’s good to have friends at work for questions, problem solving and collaboration.
4) Know the job. Orientation is a great time for asking questions. If the job isn’t clear, ask as many questions as possible. Once you’re on the floor, you may not have the guidance you’re getting in orientation.
5) Have fun. You’re a volunteer, doing good work for a good cause. If you enjoy parts of the orientation, you will have a great time working for the organization.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester: Easing into Story Time
Volunteering at the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester on Thursday and Friday, Dec 13-14, I discovered youth volunteers often have to perform their work in subtle ways.
For example, as a Playologist, I can’t approach a child, say that I want to help them learn, and begin lecturing on the difference between fruits and vegetables (trust me, I tried it). Instead, you need to play around with blocks or a toy cash machine until children come up to you.
Even without wearing the costume of Clifford, the big red dog, I discovered I can be a frightening person to 4-year-olds. But once the ice is broken, and the child isn't running to his or her mother in fear, you can begin to ask questions.
“What’s that you’re playing with?”
“What color is it?”
“Is that your favorite color?”
“What else shares the same color?”
Sometimes, youth volunteers can start their own program or projects. I wanted to read to children in the company of a pet therapy dog named Sadie on Friday. But instead of telling children it was story time, I gave them and their parents the heads up: “We will be having story time in 10 minutes.”
When children came to me for story time on their own or supported by their parents, we could be engaged without all the fear or ice-breaking.
I had to hand it for Sadie the dog. She may have been my most attentive listener.
For example, as a Playologist, I can’t approach a child, say that I want to help them learn, and begin lecturing on the difference between fruits and vegetables (trust me, I tried it). Instead, you need to play around with blocks or a toy cash machine until children come up to you.
Even without wearing the costume of Clifford, the big red dog, I discovered I can be a frightening person to 4-year-olds. But once the ice is broken, and the child isn't running to his or her mother in fear, you can begin to ask questions.
“What’s that you’re playing with?”
“What color is it?”
“Is that your favorite color?”
“What else shares the same color?”
Sometimes, youth volunteers can start their own program or projects. I wanted to read to children in the company of a pet therapy dog named Sadie on Friday. But instead of telling children it was story time, I gave them and their parents the heads up: “We will be having story time in 10 minutes.”
When children came to me for story time on their own or supported by their parents, we could be engaged without all the fear or ice-breaking.
I had to hand it for Sadie the dog. She may have been my most attentive listener.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Minnesota Children's Museum, Rochester: Live - Laugh - Play
What? Learning through play for infants to grade school children. This is a satellite site of Minneapolis’s museum.
Who? Mature high school students and older
Volunteer Process Time: With contacts, I made it through in one week
Website: http://rochester.mcm.org
It’s finally going to happen. After years of debating whether I’d become a doctor, a lawyer, a writer, an astronaut, a dinosaur or a super villain, I've decided to become a Playologist!
“Playologist” is the name for volunteers of the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Rochester. I’m loving the basic concept: learning through play.
This upcoming Thursday, I will be patrolling the small, restaurant-sized Children’s Museum for opportunities to play, ask questions and goof off. Roughly two months back, I had the opportunity to dress up as Clifford the Big Red Dog at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, Rochester and, despite the countless terrified children; I had a blast playing the role of one of my childhood heroes (who doesn't love a friendly red dog the size of a house?). I can only hope I will have as much fun when the true me is revealed.
More to come,
Andy Seifert, Playologist
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