Name: Margarita
Profession: Analyst
Employer: NERA Economic Consulting
Margarita Capi is an analyst at NERA Economic Consulting (part of Marsh & McLennan Company) in New York. Margarita shares her excitement volunteering with Upwardly Global.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How often do I need to volunteer?
2. When and where do volunteer opportunities take place?
3. Do I need recruiting experience?
4. I am currently in between jobs, or laid off, can I still volunteer?
5. I don’t speak a second language or have any international experience, can I still volunteer?
6. Will there be an opportunity to network with other volunteers and job seekers?
7. How can I involve my company or association?
8. Are there any opportunities for volunteers to become board members?
9. I have limited professional experience and don’t feel comfortable working directly with job seekers but would still like to help. Are there any opportunities?
10. What kind of candidates do you work with? What is their background?
1. How often do I need to volunteer?
You can determine how often you would like to volunteer, based on your schedule. Some volunteers participate twice a year, others once a month.
2. When and where do Volunteer Opportunities take place?
We schedule our workshops at a variety of times to accommodate many different schedules. Common volunteer times are weekdays after work between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm; weekday afternoons from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm; and occasionally on weekends.
Workshops take place at various sites, often at the locations of our corporate partners. Privately organized workshops can be organized at individual company offices.
3. Do I need recruiting experience?
No recruiting experience is necessary. Volunteers receive a brief training at the beginning of each workshop. However, if you are a recruiter, your experience is invaluable and helps both our job seekers and other volunteers.
4. I am currently in between jobs, or laid off, can I still volunteer?
Absolutely. Your experience is valuable and, in fact, volunteering with us is a great way to network and make connections with potential employers.
5. I don’t speak a second language or have any international experience, can I still volunteer?
Yes. All of our candidates are fluent in English and we will give you some background on cross-cultural communication. Our candidates need to learn from your U.S. work experience and this will be an opportunity for you to learn about international experiences, as well.
6. Will there be an opportunity to network with other volunteers and job seekers?
Time to speak with other volunteers and job seekers is often built into the workshops, and additional events and networking opportunities are scheduled on a regular basis as well.
7. How can I involve my company or association?
Talk to your company’s HR department to find out if you have a Community Investment or Diversity Program that would support individual or group volunteer activities. You may learn that your company has an employee match program and makes donations for your volunteer hours. To arrange a corporate volunteer day, contact one of our offices.
8. Are there any opportunities for volunteers to become board members?
Upwardly Global values leadership. Ask your local office about joining the Leadership Council which supports local activities and fundraising, and can be a pipeline for our National Board of Directors.
9. I have limited professional experience and don’t feel comfortable working directly with job seekers but would still like to help. Are there any opportunities?
Yes. We have opportunities in our office providing administrative and logistical support, as well as opportunities to help plan events that support our fundraising efforts. Perhaps you are a good writer, designer or photographer? We can always use your talents to help us tell our story and spread the word.
10. What kind of candidates do you work with? What is their background?
Our candidates come from around the world and from very diverse professions. Generally, they are from developing countries, have at least two years of professional experience, have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and have been in the U.S. less than five years and are work-authorized.