Questions to ask yourself when choosing an agency

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It is important to determine what you want from your community service experience.  These questions provide things to think about before you choose a community-based agency to serve.

(Source: University of South Carolina Office of Community Service Programs)

• To help people make a change in their lives?
• To break up the routine of campus activities or get off campus during the day?
• To learn more about a career in public service?
• To learn new skills related to career plans?
• To gain practical work experience for your resume?
• To meet new people?
• To be active in the community in which you live?
• To fulfill a course requirement?
• To tackle an area in which you need improvement?
• To apply knowledge you have learned in the classroom?
• To actively work on a serious social issue that is important to you?
• To do something that makes you feel needed?
• To have fun?
• To explore something totally out of your usual realm of experience?
• To learn more about yourself – skills, needs, strengths, weaknesses?

Where do I really prefer to work? And with whom?

• Do you prefer to work with children? Adolescents? Adults? Senior citizens? The environment?
• In what type of setting would you prefer to work?
• What setting would be the most comfortable for you?
• What setting would be the most challenging for you?
• Do you prefer to work in a group or one-on-one?

Could I really work in any type of environment?

• What type of supervision works best for you?
• How much structure do you need in a position?
• Are you looking for set hours a week or flexible time commitments?
• Do you prefer set work responsibilities or are you comfortable not knowing what to expect?
• How do you handle feedback?
• Do you like to see immediate results from you work?
• How do you react to situations that aren’t working out as you anticipated or hoped?
• Do you prefer a position that is highly creative or one where you follow set directions?