How to Find Internships and Volunteer Jobs

Go get those skills and that experience!

One of the hardest parts about getting a job is not having enough experience.

It kind of feels like every entry level job wants you to have achieved your PhD in every science and have 20 years of experience but still be under the age of 25.

One of the best ways you can up your experience and make yourself rise to the top of the applicant list is by getting as much work as you can, from pretty much anywhere.

That's why you definitely don’t want to snooze on internships and volunteer jobs. While they may not pay a lot (or anything, in some cases) they look awesome on your resume, can be really rewarding and can help you boost some of the skills you learned in high school, TAFE or uni.

But it’s not always super easy finding these jobs, so we’ve gathered all our best tips on where you can find them.

(While internships and volunteer jobs are great for experience, it's important to also know your rights at work and when you should be paid as some workplaces may try to take advantage of young people. Double check your rights on the government's Fair Work website.)

Through your high school, university or TAFE

If you’re currently studying, one of the best places to find and easily get internships is through your education provider. There are a number of ways you can do this:

Firstly, ask your tutor or teacher about any opportunities they know about. If you’re studying a class you really enjoy or have a decent relationship with your tutor, it can be useful to seek out any advice or opportunities they might be aware of.

Your teachers are going to want you to succeed as much as you can, so if you show interest in developing your skills and learning they may just let you in on some volunteer experiences or internships they know about.

One of the easiest ways to get an internship out of the way during your studies is to enroll in a work placement unit/class.

Each high school, uni or TAFE might do this slightly differently but if you contact the unit coordinator or your school  and ask them about this option you should eventually be directed on how to enroll and apply, and will then be given one or a few placements to choose from.

This is a great way to complete an internship without increasing your workload and is a really easy way to find them. People who work for your education provider will always have some kind internship up their sleeve, so it's always good to ask.

Most schools and universities will sometimes throw career or jobs fairs at which you can find out what fields might interest you and what opportunities could be available.

At career fairs you can get job advice, resume writing tips, interview tricks and meet people that can give you great workplace connections.

Ask some of the staff at a career fair stall about volunteer opportunities or internships, or find out how you can otherwise get involved.

Career sites

Career sites and job boards are a no brainer when it comes to any kind of job; that includes internships, temporary positions and volunteer roles. 

You may have already heard of some of these, but all of them are well worth a browse. You can even filter your searches to internships or volunteer jobs on most of these tools.

Student Edge should always be your first stop! Seek, Indeed and Jora are more traditional job sites that you can use to search and apply for volunteer roles. Traditional job sites also ask users to build a profile detailing your skills, qualifications and experiences as well as what kind of work you’re looking for, so even while you’re not applying, employers could be searching for you.

Less traditional but just as useful job boards are Jobs on Facebook and Gumtree Jobs. Here you will often find opportunities from smaller businesses or single day volunteer roles, which is great if you don’t have the spare time for a regular and long term position.

Approaching companies directly

There is a lot of value in directly contacting companies and organisations and asking if they have any short-term positions available.

A lot of non-for profit organisations or charities like radio stations, animal shelters and op shops are often run by volunteers and always need someone in a specific field, whether it be accounting, IT, communications and many more.

Many larger companies that are open about hiring interns or volunteers like news media organisations or big brands are a great option so don’t just wait for a position to be advertised, send them an email with a cover letter, resume and your interest because it shows initiative and they may want to fill a position without even having to advertise it.

Using LinkedIn and Student Edge

If you’re looking for any kind of work and you don’t have a LinkedIn account, it’s time to get one.

Not only will this social network help you look for work and see how your collogues are doing professionally, but it’s a great way to make new and important connections and find jobs that may not be advertised elsewhere.

LinkedIn works similar to a career site in that it has a jobs search section but you can also find internships, volunteer work or event permanent jobs by making connections on the app and messaging people who may know of any good opportunities or career advice.

It's also about time you updated your Student Edge profile. Use the resume builder to make sure you have an online presence that will make it easier for you to apply for jobs and for employers to find you.

Friends or connections

A simple yet underrated way of finding internships or volunteer work is through your family and friends and people they may know.

It’s worth asking your mates if their friend who is just starting a business needs a helping hand, or if your aunt who volunteers at the local dog shelter knows of any extra work you might be able to pick up.

There’s no harm in asking, not only can this be a great and easy way to pick up work, but you may even meet some new people along the way and create lasting friendships.

Social media

When all else fails, there’s always an option on social media, right?

This is a great way to find out if there are any volunteer events happening in your area. Just search the event’s tab on Facebook and you may come across a fair or fundraiser you can get involved in.

Sometimes, there are even fairs dedicated to finding volunteer work, so it’s worth a look.

You can also use your Facebook or Instagram to join a volunteer group or community, that way you can find out about upcoming work near you instead of having to search for it and even meet likeminded people.

Whether you're looking to up your experience, give back to someone in need or make some new friends, volunteer roles or internships can be super beneficial and diverse so if you've got a bit of spare time on your hands, nows the best time to check some out.

Header Image: SDI Productions via Getty Images