Fall is here, which means it is Halloween season! With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to interview a volunteer coordinator who has survived their first year of full-time volunteer coordination. Whether you are in your first year or are a seasoned veteran, we all have had to face a steep, sometimes nerve-racking, learning curve when it comes to starting a new profession. This interview is meant to gain the perspective of someone who just made it through their first year. I encourage anyone who reads through my frighteningly-horrible Halloween puns to share in the discussion by commenting below. We would love to hear advice from new and veteran volunteer coordinators, and may even share in our next newsletter or on social media.
Mary: Before we get started, tell us who you are, where you work, what you do, and how long you have been doing it.
Olinda: My name is Olinda Oliveira and I work for a city parks department’s Volunteer Services Program. I coordinate volunteer projects between the public and our parks staff. These could be litter cleanups, mulching, plantings, invasive plant removals or more. I have been doing this for close to three years now, but only full-time for a year and a half.
Mary: I am a firm believer that volunteer coordinators have to pull skills from a wide range of experiences and wear many costumes, so I am always interested in learning about my colleagues’ professional/life experiences that developed the skills to succeed in this profession. How did you end up in the volunteer coordination field? What skills do you think these experiences gave you to succeed in this profession?
Olinda: I ended up in this field because I was looking for something new. I had previously been a Montessori school assistant teacher, child yoga instructor, and even a camp counselor. I always loved working with others, being outside, and helping. Throughout my life, I had always volunteered for various opportunities and even lead volunteer trips. When I saw a job listing for a volunteer coordinator that lead volunteers - and did so outside - I knew it was for me!
I believe that my past experiences helped prepare for this role by teaching me the flexibility to pivot and adjust in any situation. It's taught me to be compassionate of others and open to differences. Most of all, it has provided me with communication skills to relay important information and instructions.
Mary: What has been your favorite thing about volunteer coordinating?
Olinda: I think one of my favorite things about being a volunteer coordinator is watching a group of strangers or coworkers go from being somewhat shy to making connections and building relationships over the course of a project. It’s amazing what happens when you gather people together to complete a common goal.
Mary: BOO! What have you found to be the most frightening (challenging) aspect of volunteer coordinating?
Olinda: I feel the most difficult aspect of being a volunteer coordinator is balancing needs - both staff needs and that of the public. There are so many factors at play and sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to meet needs or find other suitable options when someone’s initial idea can’t be met.
Mary: For most of us, this career will never be a 100 Grand Pay Day, so what keeps you coming back for more?
Olinda: I love helping. Even when it’s exhausting or overwhelming, I know I am helping out by building connections and relationships, as well as fostering a more caring community. It is an amazing opportunity to share a new perspective to those volunteering and to watch friendships being made.
Mary: What has been the best professional advice or idea you have received about the job?
Olinda: Take care of yourself first. Being in a helping field, sometimes we get lost in giving and forget to fill our own cups first. Selfcare has to be integrated to keep up with the endurance it takes to stay in this field.
Mary: As a volunteer coordinator with a year and a half of experience under your belt, what advice would you give someone starting out in the field?
Olinda: Build a sturdy foundation first. If you are just starting out that means you are bringing a fresh perspective, take advantage of that. What challenges are you facing? Is there a way to make it easier? What isn’t making sense? Can it be changed? Don’t be afraid to try something new.
Mary: What advice would you give to someone who has been in the field for a while?
Olinda: Remember to stop and take care of yourself too.
Mary: Do you have any tricks (or treats) for staying organized?
Olinda: I absolutely love the application Trello for staying organized. It has helped me keep up with the hundreds of different tasks I have to do. You can assign due dates, use checklists, and even categorize items. It’s entirely customizable to your needs and how you’d like to use it. It is great for tracking the planning progress of various projects.
Mary: Being new to the field, what is an idea or project that you brought to your organization that has made a change in the program?
Olinda: I think I brought a general fresh perspective to our organization overall. When I came into it, I felt like everyone was struggling to keep their heads above water (myself included). So I started looking for ways to make our program more efficient through our processes. By doing that we were able to start dedicating more time to connecting with volunteers rather than just logging their hours.
Olinda, thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about your first year of full-time volunteer coordinating. I want to encourage any readers to also leave some words of advice or tips and tricks in the comments.