2 Your next steps
Having reviewed what you’ve learned about the voluntary sector and identified areas you’d like to learn more about, now is the time to clarify your thoughts before deciding on your next steps. If you did this course just for personal interest, you may not have any ‘next steps’ – you may be happy with your current situation and not wish to do any further learning or make any changes. If, however, you would like to do further work, volunteering or learning about the voluntary sector then the next activity will help you work through some decisions.
Activity 3 Clarifying your thoughts
Read through the list of questions below and make some notes. The questions are divided into topics related to learning, working and volunteering. They are designed to prompt your thinking but do not feel constrained by them.
There is quite a lot to think about here, so you might want to write detailed notes and reflect on them before moving on to the next stage in your decision making.
Learning
- Did you enjoy learning online? What were the best aspects and what did you find challenging?
- Did you enjoy learning about the voluntary sector?
- Which topics did you want to learn more about (revisit Activity 1 if necessary)?
- Were there topics you wanted to know more about that were not covered by this course? What were they?
- Do you want to do another course? If so, which subject area?
Working
- If you are already working, do you want to stay in your current role?
- If you are already working, what do you like best and what do you like least about your role?
- If you want to stay in your current role, what would improve it?
- What do you need to do in order to get a promotion (if that is what you are looking for)?
- Do you want a new or different job? If so, what?
- What skills or knowledge do you need to acquire?
Volunteering
- If you are already volunteering, do you want to stay in your current role?
- If you are already volunteering, what do you like best and what do you like least about your role?
- If you want to stay in your current volunteering role, what would improve it?
- Do you want a new or different volunteering role? If so, what?
- What skills or knowledge do you need to acquire?
Comment
Reflecting on these questions should have helped you clarify what you want to change or how you want to progress. Alternatively, you might find that you now realise that you are happy with your current situation and do not wish to do any further learning or make any changes.
However, if you would like to do further work, volunteering or learning about the voluntary sector then the next activity will help you make some decisions.
Activity 4 Making a decision about your next steps
Read through your notes again and express them as statements of action, such as:
‘I would like to apply for a volunteering role.’
or
‘I want to get paid work in the voluntary sector.’
Comment
You might have a lot of ideas about what to do next – which might seem stressful! Just think about one at a time. Also be realistic about what time you have available to plan and implement any changes – there is no need to rush in. Your plans will probably be a mix of short-term and long-term goals. You may also need to do further research if you are interested in more study or looking for a new job or volunteering role. The next sections will help you with planning some of these steps.
Having reviewed what you have done over the past few weeks, and taken a bit of time to clarify your ideas, you are now in a good position to think about how to achieve what you want to do next.
In the next section, you will look at how to get your first, or a different, volunteering role. Even if you are certain you do not wish to volunteer or change an existing role, you will still find this section useful.