volunteering (in IT)

[NotAllThere]

I've done a few stints with a team working in Russian orphanages. Specific skills aren't a requirement - it's your presence that speaks volumes.

Last time, I mainly played Durak (Russian card game) with the kids. Chatted with them through our interpreter. Also went sledging with the younger ones - I was the sledge.

[tim123]

I've done a few stints with a team working in Russian orphanages. Specific skills aren't a requirement - it's your presence that speaks volumes.

Last time, I mainly played Durak (Russian card game) with the kids. Chatted with them through our interpreter. Also went sledging with the younger ones - I was the sledge.

doesn't quite enhance the CV though, does it?

tim

[tim123]

Looking at some of the rates being offered on Jobserve these days I'd say stick to contracting, it's starting to amount to the same thing!

Nomadd

But without the required three years experience of whatever, you aren't going to get the inverview.

With the charity, you could probably blag it.........

..... but should you (or rather how far should you go?)

(I'm the sort of person who always downgrades my abilities, and when I do try and sell myself as an expert am unconvincing - even when I am expert at something.)

tim

[expat]

...
Edit edit: as for VSO, when I enquired a few years ago they would not consider IT people unless they had at least an MSc; many posts required an IT PhD, FFS.

So charities would refuse my work for free? No wonder I'm having trouble persuading businesses to pay me for it

[northernladuk]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NotAllThere
I've done a few stints with a team working in Russian orphanages. Specific skills aren't a requirement - it's your presence that speaks volumes.

Last time, I mainly played Durak (Russian card game) with the kids. Chatted with them through our interpreter. Also went sledging with the younger ones - I was the sledge.

doesn't quite enhance the CV though, does it?

tim

I don't know about that. With the amount of artistic licence being applied to some CV's I have seen recently this kind of experience could easily put you in line for some Senior Program Managers job or something

[NotAllThere]

doesn't quite enhance the CV though, does it?

tim

Well, I was doing it for their benefit rather than my own. ( It goes down well with the client, when they know I'm spending some of my cash on "good causes" - i.e. renew my contract or the poor little orphans STARVE ).

[portseven]

What about contributing to an Open Source project?

Always looks good on the CV if prospective clients use the Open Source project in question

[Sysman]

Well, I was doing it for their benefit rather than my own. ( It goes down well with the client, when they know I'm spending some of my cash on "good causes" - i.e. renew my contract or the poor little orphans STARVE ).

I worked with a guy who did similar in somewhere like Romania. Clientco did a feature in the in-house magazine and put up a public facing web page about his experiences.

Not just Brownie points, but damn good CV material.