PAY to work or get PAID to work?

In a society where unemployment figures are rising and work is becoming increasingly harder to find, there are alternative ways of developing skills and keeping busy which may keep you happy without the thought of money coming into the equation.

Imagine the benefits of helping others. Ponder the prospect of making a difference and working towards something that is worth a lot more than your next paycheck.

Volunteering offers this opportunity and by standing up for what you believe in, attempting to make a difference to the lives of others or to even try and find a way into a career which may otherwise be tough to break into, the positives easily tend to outweigh the negatives.

Volunteering is now more than charity shops!

Of course, financial income is key to living and therefore must always be considered but there are other options to consider.

Gone are the days of helping out at a local charity shop and thinking that this is the only way of giving something back to the world.

Explore the alternatives such as community radio, raising money for charities in a way which takes the shop aspect away, canvassing for political parties or greater still, volunteering at a major sporting event if the chance comes along?

Choosing radio for example, movements have been made in a personal capacity by helping in both student and community radio with Radio Sonar, a station based at Southampton Solent University which has been mentioned in earlier posts on My Autistic Life and with WCR FM, a station that broadcasts to Wolverhampton, Great Britain but there are other types of station in the industry too.

How about hospital radio?

How about helping those who need assistance on a daily basis?

How about helping revelers in a town or city that have a little too much to drink on a night out?

There really are many options and while working for nothing may seem to be a thankless task, a sense of kindness and achievement really can be far more fulfilling than earning money in a job that may not inspire you.

Chasing a dream job

I’ve always believed that by disclosing any disability on an application form for any job, this immediately puts a doubt into the mind of a potential employer.

Such thoughts are meant to be dispelled as the ‘two tick’ scheme is aimed at showing how an organization is keen on showing no prejudice to disabled people, a move which can only help in breaking down the stigma that comes with having a disability.

But does it work?

Can a logo on a piece of paper give complete faith and piece of mind?

Having previously offered thought on the British government initiative, considering the true value of a couple of ticks is something that should be done on an individual basis but through volunteering, such confusion on the validity of a company’s claim is avoided.

Chipping in and helping out is encouraged but more importantly, a feeling of group spirit can come from volunteering together in search of a common goal.

WCR FM has done this personally and so has representing the Liberal Democrats during campaigning for the 2010 general election in Britain, these both being roles where volunteers are expected to work together as a team.

For somebody who has aspirations of working in the radio industry, this is vital to feeling good about the future.

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