If you feel that you don’t enjoy volunteering, you are not alone. A lot of people go into a volunteer experience with the best of intentions. But they wind up disappointed by something that should be making them feel good.
Does that mean you should give up volunteering for good? Or that you just have to suck it up since it might be good for your career? Or simply that doing good doesn’t have to feel good.
Reasons People Don’t Enjoy Volunteering
Here are things people have told me about their own volunteer experiences:
- When I signed up, I wanted to use my skills. But they have me in a corner stuffing envelopes and making copies. It’s boring!
- They aren’t managed well, so things are going wrong all around. Feels like unmanaged chaos.
- They mean well, but are just too busy to manage me properly. Managing volunteers well takes time and effort — and training.
- The people who work there don’t pay attention to me at all. I feel like an outsider. But I want to feel like part of the team.
- I hoped to be contributing to something important. But I don’t see all that much going on.
- They don’t know what to do with me. Some days I just sit waiting for something to do.
- Different people tell me what to do. And I have to drop everything and listen to my latest “boss”.
Can you make volunteering feel better?
Good question. Well, one of the first things you can do is to ask some key of questions before you start. If you have different picture from what they expect of you, then this may not be the right volunteer experience. Even if you love what the organization does.
Questions you might ask before starting:
- Please tell me a little about the work that goes on in this office.
- What kinds of things do you need help with?
- What do you see me doing at first?
- Who will be managing me?
- Will there be an opportunity to use my skills such as ______?
- What hours will I be working? (You negotiate this together.)
- Have you had volunteers before? What did they work on? (If not, they may need help clarifying specifics and finding time to manage you.)
- What kinds of unexpected things might come up?
And if it feels like it won’t work for you, be honest. You’ll save everyone time and effort. The same is true if you do start and, after trying your best, still feel like it’s a bad fit. But, the following story shows how sometimes you can make it work even with a slow start.
My own “don’t enjoy volunteering” story
There was a time in my life when I wanted to change from a career in banking to something in the non-profit sector. I especially wanted to work in housing and/or issues of homelessness. So I was thrilled when a friend got me a volunteer job at a well-known transitional housing organization.
But when I got there, everyone was too busy to figure out how to use me best. So I stuffed envelopes on some days. Answered phones on other days. Made copies on most days. And just sat waiting on some days, since no one had a permanent role for me.
But I used that time to observe and ask questions, when people didn’t look to busy to answer them. And I waited for an opportunity. One day I heard something about a study they were doing to help get a new residence built in a Staten Island neighborhood.
Taking advantage of opportunity
Since I had some background working with research analysis (not that I was an expert), I screwed up my courage and approached the Deputy Director. I told him I could help by gathering information about the neighborhood demographics and social / political “personality”. And he said yes.
While I still helped with other tasks, I now had an interesting project. One that made me feel I was contributing to their important mission. And when they got approval, they told me they had used my report to help tailor their proposal to fit the neighborhood. And I got to talk about that when I interviewed for my next job working with the New York City shelter system.
It took time and patience — and some unobtrusive snooping. But eventually I found a way to make that particular volunteer job work. Not all of them will. But hopefully with the right questions up front — and some creativity once inside — you can turn “I don’t enjoy volunteering” into a big “I love it here!” Or at least I feel good about what I’m doing, which is the point after all.
More articles you might enjoy
Do You Feel You’re Not Appreciated at Work?
So You Want To Leave Your Job?
Does It Feel Like You Do All the Work at Your Job?
Are Your Job Expectations Too High?
Real Problem (Maybe) If Your Job Feels Wrong
How Changing Your Attitude Can Change Your Job!
Workplace Solutions: The Whole vs The Parts
How To Change Your Job Without Quitting
Job Morphing: 20 Ways You Can Improve Your Job and Career
15 Tips for Starting an Entry Level Job
Build Work Relationships Face-to-Face!
Will Volunteering During Job Search Get You a Job?
ALSO: Check out Work–Life Balance
At one point I was volunteering for 3 different organizations. I am now just on one, and my entire mood has shifted. I engaged initially hoping that I could make a positive difference in our community. The worst one was for a city neighborhood council. Most of the other members were lazy, incompetent, and/or there solely for their own ego. The competent members resigned over a relatively short period of time. Nothing got done. Meetings were disorganized and started late. At the start of each meeting, I had to text other board members to remind them of the meeting so that we’d have a quorum. I had to frequently correct others’ agendas and paperwork/protocol errors. I felt like I was having to be a mother these alleged adults. Plus, because it was a government organization, we were required to take regular time-consuming and tedious training. For me, it was not worth the time, effort, and aggravation.
Great addition to the conversation, Cindy. You described what so many people experience even while sincerely trying to give back to their community. I’ve seen similar things on non-profit Boards and even in highly regarded not-for-profit organizations headed by what I call the “zealot leader”.
As your situation tells us, sometimes you just need to let it go and move on to a place that feels good to you. It’s a shame that so many situations like the one you described exist when so much needs to be done by people who can push their egos to the side and just do the work.
I applaud you for what you attempted to do and for realizing where you can actually do more good. Best of luck!
I only enjoy volunteering if there is a feeling of self-worth or reward afterward. Now I want to explain why roles in outdoor conservation and working with wildlife does not work for your average person. I have applied to be a volunteer for wildlife trusts and aquariums; here’s the catch!
Unless you are part of a higher state university group or a younger person about to sit A-Levels or part of a minority group, most of us will not be able to perform basic tasks like feeding animals at the zoo, taking simple science surveys, or even putting up bat boxes, why?
The word VOLUNTEERING is misleading because the institutions that run wildlife volunteering groups are either part of the Natural Trust or part of a skills-placed venue yet it never states that on their websites. This means that actually most of the higher opted roles that allow people to take on preferable constructive practical work are only for those wishing to go into the relevant professions. Meanwhile, bonfire lighting and the burning of bracken to coppicing duties [all equally important] are only fit for those that wish to join a community of friends. This is wrong!
Some of us oldies are fit and healthy. Furthermore, some people like myself have gone on to study, and so is pretty knowledgeable in such chosen fields and whilst we may not choose to become Marine Biologists at the age of fifty plus [who says we can’t?] the experience we receive would be invaluable. The experience could provide further education or practical work within a nature park setting, a zoo, and so on.
Volunteering roles should be for everybody no matter what they choose to do. It should not be about getting boxes ticked by the higher institutions to boost their Ofsted scores. Volunteering should not just be for the privileged, or minority groups.
Wildlife trusts need to think more about mature students that choose to study at home for mental health reasons. They also need to learn that those less fortunate can still have the dedication needed to undertake more scientific roles if they truly want to learn. Simple support is needed for most of these hands-on roles. You don’t need an A-level to learn how to feed an otter in animal care VOLUNTEERING roles, just common sense, a little trust, and a chance in life.
Thank you so much for your comment, Tanya. Your well-written, heartfelt comment based on real experience offers a valuable point of view that hopefully can help others. I also hope you find a way to put your talents, transferable skills, and passion to use in outdoor conservation and working with wildlife. Raising your voice to lobby for change, even in this small way, might be a start toward finding accommodations that serve each party’s needs. Best of luck!
Most of the volunteer work I have done is planning special events, such as fund raising dinners, for membership organizations — in the Snowbelt. The organization meets in the fall so members can gift us with terrific, ambitious programming ideas. Ask them if they want to chair. Hell no.
First, they are busier now that they are retired than they were when they were working. (I must be a real loser to have time to volunteer.) Anyway, they are going to Florida or Arizona for the winter and won’t be around.
Good news. They will be back in the spring to evaluate and give more ideas.
Hell no.
Almost every organization I belonged to has since fallen apart due to lack of volunteers.
Hi Artemis!
Really appreciate your thoughts on this. I can only imagine how many people are feeling your “hell no!” even if their precise situation is different. Volunteer relationships need to be designed well and nurtured — not taken for granted … especially with how precious good volunteers are nowadays.
I also wonder how much of the “volunteer supply” difference is a result of social media. Years ago, volunteering was a way to add dimension to your life, apart from home and / or work. But now people can find connections and rewarding interaction right on their computer or phone.
Thanks again, Artemis. Good luck with any future volunteer work … and saying “hell no” when needed. 🙂
I believe that when you volunteer to help an organization help people, you yourself aren’t actually helping people, the organization is not you.
Interesting comment, Kenneth. Thanks for adding your thoughts. I am guessing you have other readers nodding their heads in agreement.
For me, whether you are an employee or volunteer, if people wind up being helped, your contribution matters. But sometimes as a volunteer you can feel so far from the end result — and also often the work you do seems so unconnected to your real skills or interests — that it can feel like you aren’t really helping the people who need it most.
If we want to help directly, there are places that provide ways to do that too. I once worked for a woman who ran a wonderful literacy organization. But she began as a school volunteer helping kids one-on-one learn to read. She loved it. Also I’ve known people who entertain in senior centers or just offer company to lonely older folks. I’ve done that myself. And I’ve helped people learn English. I’ve also helped people do their resumes as a volunteer. I often enjoyed the one-on-one experience more than volunteering “once removed”. Then again, some people prefer being part of the org. and feel they are helping that way.
All that said, even the best-sounding volunteer experiences don’t always feel right to the volunteer. It’s not for everyone. Would love to hear more opinions and experiences!