Volunteers

Guidelines for Volunteers

The STC acts only to facilitate volunteer opportunities: we are not responsible for any perceived or actual difference between what is described and what you are asked to do, as volunteer requirements can change.

Please treat a volunteer opportunity with the same care and attention you would give to a paying job. In particular, we recommend:

• Be honest about your abilities and experience when discussing a position. People seeking volunteers should be willing to be flexible, but they need to understand what kind of volunteer they are getting.
• Clarify the expectations and requirements of the position, especially timing, deadlines, commitments, ownership of materials, communication, and so on. If you plan to use the material you produce as part of your portfolio, be sure you are clear about that from the start.
• Make sure that, for a writing position, you help the person for whom you are working to clearly define the audience and objective for the material.
• Be prepared to work within the constraints of the organization, but do the best job you can – you are likely to be the first technical communicator that an organization has encountered, and the impressions you leave will be lasting.
• Keep in touch with the people you are working with until the project is complete, and be sure both parties recognize when the commitment is ending.
• Have fun – volunteering is a great way to meet new people, try new challenges, and make a difference to your community.