I started my undergrad degree at SFU in 2018. At the time, I was an international student who was not allowed to work in the country for my first year. I was devastated. I planned to eventually enrol in the co-op practicum when my work permit was approved, but how was I going to get work experience before then? What options did I have? 

I asked around, and everyone said the same thing: volunteer. Suddenly, my future looked much more optimistic. Nevertheless, I had overcome the obstacle of what to do. But, I was left with confusion on how and where to do it. 

I am sure that I am not the only student at SFU who has had this problem. To lend a helping hand, here are my top places to find volunteer opportunities on campus:

myInvolvement

myInvolvement is SFU’s one stop shop for on-campus opportunities. As an SFU student, you can register for career and leadership development programs, apply for volunteer and paid positions, and sign up for campus events and workshops through the myInvolvement portal. Personally, I have landed about 5 opportunities from there. 

myExperience

myExperience is quite similar to myInvolvement in that it also hosts workshops and volunteer and paid positions. The main difference is that myExperience has both on-campus and off-campus opportunities for students and alumni. myExperience is basically a huge job board (like Indeed) where organizations who are interested in hiring SFU students post their openings.

Social Media

Social media is a great tool for finding volunteer opportunities at SFU. Many student clubs, unions, and organizations post their openings online. My favourite place to hunt for postings is the SFU Undergrads and the Must Knows for Courses at SFU Facebook groups. In fact, I got this opportunity at CMNSU because I saw their hiring post on Facebook. 

SFU Career and Volunteer Services

SFU Career and Volunteer Services is an on-campus resource for students and alumni who need support and advice in anything career-related. Career and Volunteer Services often hosts development workshops, info sessions and career fairs with hundreds of organizations looking for volunteer and paid workers. They also post work opportunities frequently on their social media. 

In my four years at SFU, I have volunteered for SFU Residence and Housing, SFU Student Services, SFU Recreation, the Library, Her Campus at SFU and the Communication Student Union (CMNSU). These volunteer experiences landed me paid jobs as an events coordinator and as a communications assistant. 

Volunteering is a great way to gain experience before your first paid job, and SFU has multitudes of volunteer opportunities for students. You just have to know where to look!