Volunteer Opportunities in the Baltimore Community The Center for Social Concern at Johns Hopkins University and the Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising have compiled a list of volunteer opportunities for you to gain valuable experience in the Baltimore community. DOWNLOAD LIST OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Volunteering is one of the best ways to gain experience in a field you are interested in pursuing. Almost all volunteer efforts build skills in communication, motivation and teamwork and, occasionally, will provide you with a good reference. The important component of a volunteer experience as it relates to a career decision is your ability to test the water and see if you are truly motivated to pursue a career in this area. Think carefully about the type of experience you want and whether or not it will provide you with skills you may be lacking, while also challenging you to define your interests and develop realistic professional goals. If you are a pre-health student, direct patient/client contact is desirable. Transport opportunities are medically related if they give the volunteer an opportunity to establish a rapport with a person who is sick and needs your assistance. Any volunteer experience that shows dedication and commitment in service to others is valuable. Here are some other considerations: Questions To Consider when Selecting a Volunteer Opportunity: - Is the work related to a field in which I am interested?
- Are the volunteer opportunities offered relevant to my professional goals?
- Is the agency responsive to individual needs of volunteers?
- Does the agency provide training?
- Does the agency supervise the work of volunteers?
How to Approach Your Volunteer Experience: - Take initiative and be a problem-solver. Look for ways to improve the effectiveness of the program and ask for opportunities to do more.
- Have a sense of direction. Know what you want to accomplish and find out how to most effectively make that happen.
- Let your volunteer supervisor know your career goals. When the supervisor knows what most interests you, they may be better able to offer experiences to satisfy those interests.
- Learn what career you want to pursue. Use your volunteer experience to gather ideas about the kind of career you may wish to pursue.
- Take advantage of training. Many volunteer experiences offer specific training courses so always take advantage of those opportunities to further your skills.
- Be consistent, responsible and dependable. Show up on time, fulfill your responsibilities in an effective manner – your supervisor may be a good source for writing a recommendation letter one day.
- Learn from challenges. Always ask yourself what you can learn from any experience you may encounter while volunteering.
- Be flexible. Your volunteer experience may not always be what you expected. Be willing to do what needs to be done and learn what you can.
Bill Tiefenwerth, Director, Center for Social Concern
David Verrier, Director, Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising | 
