Volunteering is more than just giving your time—it’s a way to build skills, explore interests, and get involved in your community while you’re a student. Whether you’re just starting university or thinking about your next steps, volunteering can help you move forward.

Build skills that matter

Through volunteering, you can develop skills that are valuable in school, work, and everyday life:

• Communication and teamwork
• Leadership and initiative
• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Organization and time management

Tip: These are the same skills employers look for—volunteering gives you real examples to talk about.

Explore your interests and career options

Not sure what you want to do yet? That’s okay.

Volunteering can help you:

• Try out different fields (e.g., healthcare, education, community services)
• Learn what types of work you enjoy (or don’t)
• Gain exposure to real-world environments

It’s a low-risk way to explore and support your career decision making.

Gain experience (even if you don’t have any yet)

If you’re worried about not having experience—you’re not alone.

Volunteering can help you:

• Build experience from scratch
• Strengthen your resume
• Prepare for co-ops, internships, or part-time jobs

Tip: Many roles provide training—no experience required.

Make connections

Volunteering helps you meet:

• Professionals working in your field of interest
• Other students with similar goals
• Community members and organizations

These connections can lead to:

• References
• Mentorship
• Future opportunities

Make a difference in your community

Your time and effort can have a real impact.

• Support causes you care about
• Contribute to your local community
• Be part of something meaningful

Final thoughts

There’s no one “right” reason to volunteer. Your reasons might include building skills, exploring careers, or simply giving back—and all of these are valuable.

Next step: Not sure where to start? Check out our Volunteering in Hamilton tip sheet to find a role that fits you.

• Choose 1–2 areas that interest you
• Click through organizations and scan their current opportunities
• Look for roles that match your schedule and availability
• Apply early—some roles require training, screening, or onboarding time

Tip: Start small. You can always build your involvement over time.

Local volunteer opportunities

Skills you can build through volunteering

Volunteering helps you develop skills you can use in school, work, and future career opportunities. Try reflecting on these as you gain experience.

Collaboration and teamwork

• Communication
• Leadership

Thinking and problem-solving

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Research and analysis 

Teamwork and collaboration skills 

• Collaboration & Teamwork 
• Communication 
• Leadership 

Community and global awareness

• Social responsibility
• Diversity and intercultural understanding
• Technological and functional knowledge 

Putting your experience into words

• Mentoring or working with youth → builds leadership and communication
• Supporting events or programs → builds teamwork and organization
• Helpline or peer support roles → builds problem solving and empathy

Many students are interested in research, but opportunities—especially paid or formal positions—can be limited. The good news is that there are multiple ways to get started, and building connections is often key.

Start here: Understand your options

There isn’t just one path to research experience. Some students:

• Reach out directly to professors
• Get involved through courses or summer programs
• Build connections through TAs or peers
• Volunteer or start with smaller roles

Tip: Be flexible. Your first opportunity may not be your “ideal” role—but it can help you build experience and connections.

1. Explore and prepare

Before reaching out, take time to:

• Identify professors or researchers whose work interests you
• Read about their current projects or publications
• Learn how your interests connect to their research

Get your application materials ready

• Update your resume and (if needed) cover letter
• Highlight relevant coursework, skills, or experiences
• Get feedback from a Career Counsellor
  • Book via: OSCARplus → Student Success Centre → Appointments → Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching

2. Build connections

Talk to your professors

• Share your interest in their research area
• Ask about how students typically get involved
• Attend office hours to introduce yourself

Learn from your TAs

• Ask about their path into research
• Get advice on applications and outreach
• Learn which professors are actively hiring or supervising

Connect with upper-year students

• Ask about their experiences
• Learn what different roles are actually like
• Get tips on what helped them succeed

3. Take action

Reach out to professors

When contacting a professor:

• Keep your message short and professional
• Mention specific aspects of their research that interest you
• Briefly introduce your background and goals
• Ask for a short meeting or conversation (rather than a position right away)

Tip: Not all emails will get a response—this is normal. Reach out to multiple people and stay persistent.

Where can you find research opportunities?

• Faculty or department websites
• Professor or lab pages
• OSCARplus
• Summer research programs
• Recommendations from professors, TAs, or peers

Stay connected and build relationships

• Participate in class discussions
• Attend office hours regularly
• Go to workshops, seminars, and guest lectures
• Be active on LinkedIn and follow your field of interest
• Follow up with people you’ve spoken to

Gaining experience (even if it’s not a formal research role)

If you don’t secure a research position right away, you can still build relevant experience:

• Volunteer in labs or related settings
• Get involved in course-based research projects
• Join academic or interest-based clubs
• Take on roles that build transferable skills (communication, analysis, teamwork)

Final thoughts

Finding research experience takes time, initiative, and persistence. Reflect on:

• What you want to learn
• Why research experience matters to you
• What skills you want to build

What’s next: Identify one professor, lab or research area this week and take action—read about their work or reach out.

The Experiential Team at the Student Success Centre have events and opportunities on OSCARplus that help you develop your skills and learn about other ways you can get experience and make important industry connections. 

Benefits of Getting Involved 

Remember that although some of these opportunities are unpaid positions, they are not without benefit. They are one of the best ways to try out new industries and opportunities without commitment. It also exposes you to a variety of work environments and career professionals.

• Having a history of volunteer and community service experience not only improves job prospects, but also access to continuing education.
• Some jobs require that a successful applicant have a certain amount of relevant experience. In the appropriate field, volunteer work can provide this experience.
• These opportunities open the door to making vast connections to organizations and working individuals. These could just lead to a job prospect.
• Experiential opportunities can help you develop a wide range of skills – from time-management, to communication, to compassion and leadership skills.

Where to find Volunteer and Experience Building opportunities on OSCARplus

• Volunteer and Experience Building Module: Building experience is more than just filling your resume – it’s all about putting theory into practice and applying your knowledge and skills in new contexts. And there are so many ways to gain experience (not just jobs!). From placements, skill-development programs and community-based projects to challenges, hack-a-thons and more.
  • To view these opportunities, visit OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Volunteer and Experience Building > Postings
• Career Conversations: Career conversations are a great opportunity to explore a new career pathway, expand your network and learn more about an organization or academic institution.
  • To request career conversations, go to OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Career Conversations.
• Events Calendar: The Student Success Centre hosts a variety of workshops, mentorship events, volunteer fairs, and not-for-profit information sessions. They are a great way to learn about how to get involved and build a professional network.
  • To see a list of upcoming events, visit OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events
• Appointments: If you want to gain experience but are unsure where to start, we can help. Schedule a one-on-one appointment with us to discuss your options and receive helpful advice. We can also help you make the most of OSCARplus to access valuable experience-building and mentorship opportunities.
  • Book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Experiential and Employment.

Experiential opportunities offer meaningful ways to build personal, academic, and professional skills. Through short-term and ongoing micro-engagements, you can strengthen your critical thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and networking abilities while gaining experience throughout your time at McMaster.

• Skill Development and e-Learning Programs 
• Career Treks and Internships 
• Formal Mentorship Programs
• Case Competitions
• Hack-a-thons 
• Student Conferences

Professional Associations 

Joining a professional association is an opportunity to connect with others who share your interests and career goals. Through professional associations, you can present at conferences, contribute to newsletters and listservs, participate in panel discussions, and participate in professional development opportunities.

• Young Entrepreneurs & Professionals 

Volunteering 

Get involved within your community and gain valuable professional experience while assisting organizations to reach their goals and build better communities.  

• Check the OSCARPlus volunteer job postings (see OSCARPlus > Student Success Centre > Volunteer & Experience Building > Postings) 

Build a Network 

Connecting with people is one of the best ways to explore careers and build social capital. You can discover practical and inside information from someone in a specific career or industry. A network helps you find your path, open doors and will support your career development. 

• Have a Career Conversation (see OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Career Conversation > Become a Participant) 
• Attend a networking event or conference 
• Join a club 

Clubs 

Joining campus clubs is a great way to gain experience and get involved in the McMaster community. With more than 250 ratified clubs across academic, recreational, cultural, religious, and social interest areas, there are opportunities for every student. Participating in clubs can help you expand your peer network and develop transferable skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication. Students can get involved as general members by attending meetings and events or as executive members by taking on leadership responsibilities within a club.

• Many clubs have a website or social media account to gain insights and updates about them 
• The McMaster Student Union has both a Club Directory and Instagram account (@msuclubs) dedicated to university clubs   

Appointments on OSCARplus 

Book an appointment to help you find opportunities and create a plan to get involved.

OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Experiential and Employment > Book by Appointment Type.

When setting goals, using the SMART framework helps ensure they are clear and achievable.  

SMART is an acronym for: 

• Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish
• Measurable: Identify how you will track progress and know when it’s complete
• Achievable: Make sure the goal is realistic given your resources and constraints
• Relevant: Align goal with your broader learning or career objectives
• Time-bound: Set a deadline to stay focused and motivated

Sample SMART goals

By the end of my 8-week internship, I will improve my professional communication skills by preparing and delivering at least three presentations to my team and requesting feedback from my supervisor after each one. — Internship Experience (Career Development) Goal

Why is this a SMART goal?

• Specific: Improve communication through presentations.
• Measurable: Deliver 3 presentations and receive feedback.
• Achievable: Fits within the internship responsibilities.
• Relevant: Enhances a key workplace skill.
• Time-bound: Completed within 8 weeks.

Within the next month, I will organize and lead one community clean-up event, recruiting at least 10 volunteers and coordinating with the local municipality for support. — Volunteer Experience (Community Engagement) Goal

Why is this a SMART goal?

• Specific: Organize a clean-up event. 
• Measurable: Recruit 10 volunteers. 
• Achievable: One event in a month is manageable. 
• Relevant: Supports community involvement goals. 
• Time-bound: To be completed within one month.

Need support?

Book a work-integrated learning support appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

1. Skills and knowledge gained: What new skills or knowledge did you acquire? Were there any specific tools, technologies or methodologies that you learned? How might they be useful in your future career?  

2. Challenges and problem-solving: What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? Were there any areas where you wished you had more experience or training? How will you try to address this gap? 

3. Personal and professional growth: How has this experience helped you grow personally and professionally? Did the experience enhance your confidence in your abilities? How did you get outside your comfort zone? 

4. Strengths and areas for improvement: What strengths did you discover or develop? Were there any skills or areas you realized need further development? How did you receive feedback? 

5. Networking and professional relationships: How did you build relationships with your peers, colleagues, mentor or supervisors? Were there any individuals you met who could be valuable contacts for your future? How do you plan to maintain the professional connections you made? 

6. Aligning goals: Did the experience help clarify your career, academic or personal goals? If so, how? What kind of roles or responsibilities do you want to focus on as you engage in future experiences? 

7. Applying academic learning: How did the skills or knowledge from your academic studies apply to your work? Were there any gaps between what you learned in school and the demands of the experience? 

As you reflect on your experiential learning journey, you gain valuable insights and recognize areas for growth. This provides a strong foundation for identifying future goals and opportunities. The next part of the process involves translating these insights into a clear and actionable plan. By doing so, you can continue to build on your experience and move forward with purpose and direction.

Need support?

Book an experience building appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

• Were there any areas where you wished you had more experience or training? How will you try to address this gap?
• How did your supervisor or colleagues provide feedback, and how will you apply it moving forward?
• How do you plan to maintain the professional connections you made?
• How can you better align your academic work with the skills needed for the industry?
• What do you need to do to apply what you’ve learned to future roles?

Your action plan checklist

Career counselling appointment: Book a one-on-one career counselling appointment to review, update or refine your resume and LinkedIn profile based on new experience. Discuss how the experience informed your career goals. Book on OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Career Counselling and Job Search Coaching.

Connect with an academic advisor: Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss how the experience informs or shifts academic interests. Plan any course adjustments or electives aligned with your future goals.

Find ways to learn about careers:

Use OSCARplus to guide your exploration. There are many valuable services under the Student Success Centre section:

• Events, such as career panels, networking and group mentorship.
• Professional connection opportunities, such as career conversations and job shadowing.

MacConnect: Connect with McMaster alumni to expand your professional network and discover career options.

Find your next experience: Search for your next internship, research experience, part-time job, volunteer position, experiential course, short-term project and more using helpful resources.

• OSCARplus — under Student Success Centre > Employment > Postings
• Experiential Learning — section with more information and resources on our website
• Mosaic — browse campus jobs and apply
• EXPLORE — a helpful Experiential Learning Opportunities Resource tool
• Course Calendar

Need support?

Book an experience building appointment with our certified experiential learning team to get the support that you need. Visit OSCARplus, under Student Success Centre > Appointments > Employment and Experiential Learning.

Go to OSCARplus. Then, on the sidebar, follow Student Success Centre > Career Conversations.

Tips and resources

Before your conversation:

• Write down your goals. Having a clear understanding of your goals will help you make the most of your conversation. It will allow you to prepare thoughtful questions and guide the discussion in a meaningful direction.
• Prepare questions ahead of time. Research the professional you are connecting with. This will ensure that you ask questions relevant to their experience and your goals.
  • Prepare open-ended questions to provide space for new ideas and concepts you may not have considered.
  • Examples: How did you get started in your career? What skills are most valuable in your industry? What advice would you give someone interested in this field?
• Know your story. Prepare and practice a short summary of your background, interests and career aspirations. This can help provide context to the career professional you are meeting with.
  • Example: “I’m a third-year commerce student interested in marketing and data analytics. I’m exploring different career paths and would love to learn more about your career path in digital marketing.”

During your conversation:

• Be professional and respectful. Most career professionals volunteer their time for career conversations.
  • Make sure to be respectful and keep the conversation within the agreed timeframe. If the conversation is flowing well and they seem open to continuing, you can ask.
  • Example: “I want to be mindful of your time — would you be open to continuing for a few more minutes?”
• Build a genuine connection and be open-minded. Share a little about yourself when appropriate, but keep the focus on learning from them.
  • Make sure that you pay attention and are open to the new information being shared.
  • Ask thoughtful questions to keep the conversation going and build a genuine connection.

After your conversation:

• Reflect on the key takeaways. Did you learn anything new? Did you learn anything that surprised you? Does this conversation impact your career direction?
  • What actions can you take based on their advice?
• Express your gratitude. Most career conversations are from individuals who volunteer their time for free. Make sure to express your gratitude for their time and include specific pieces of advice they have shared. This will show that you paid attention to what they had to say and that they left a positive impact.
  • Example: “Hi [Name], I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with me today. I learned a lot about [specific topic] and found your insights on [specific point] particularly valuable. Thank you for your advice!”

More resources:

• Career Counselling and Job Search Support
• Informational Interview Guide

By taking the initiative to have career conversations, you’re gaining valuable industry insights, building your network and taking action on your future career goals.

We encourage you to keep learning, stay curious and make the most of these opportunities.

The Experiential Learning Opportunities Resource (EXPLORE) is a highly customizable tool that allows you to filter options based on your learning goals and features opportunities open to undergraduate students in any level or Faculty.  

There are options for both curricular and co-curricular learning. By engaging in experiential learning, you develop core competencies and in-demand skills like social responsibility, leadership, communication, collaboration, time management — and more. 

Visit EXPLORE today to browse more than 50 opportunities. Continue to check each term for more updates. 

What do “curricular” and “co-curricular” mean? 

• Curricular: You receive course credit by completing these courses and opportunities, which often include built-in support from instructors, teaching assistants, etc. 
• Co-curricular: Instead of course credit, you get to learn and engage outside the classroom and across campus. McMaster staff, mentors and others are available for direction and support. 

What do “experiential” and “interdisciplinary” mean, and how do they benefit me?  

Experiential learning provides a structured learning opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a hands-on environment. You get to develop skills and knowledge, reflect on your experiences, pursue self-development and prepare to make a difference in the world. 

Benefits include: 

• Build skills such as leadership, intercultural competency, teamwork, communication and more 
• Create a professional network 
• Develop peer and campus connections 
• Explore career options 
• Enhance academic learning 
• Strengthen your resume or further education application 

With interdisciplinary learning, you get to gain experience with opportunities offered outside of your Faculty, Program or academic background. These opportunities provide a meaningful learning space that encourages you to explore and experience different ways of knowing and learning. 

How do I use the tool? 

EXPLORE gathers experiential learning opportunities all in one place with an easy-to-use filtering feature that you can customize based on your interests. Each opportunity has information on eligibility and prerequisites, time commitments and links for more information. You can also use the favourites feature to save opportunities and revisit them later. 

What can I filter by?  

• Community engagement: Learn how to understand and consider issues impacting local and global communities. 
• Sustainability and climate action: Learn what makes communities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable.  
• Innovation: Explore ways to scale your creative ideas to make an impact on a local and global scale.  
• Global studies: Gain an interdisciplinary, in-depth understanding of societies, cultures, communities and issues around the world.   
• Social justice: Develop a thorough understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility.  

Who can apply?  

EXPLORE opportunities are open to McMaster University undergraduate students seeking experiential learning.    

How can EXPLORE help with choosing my major?

Just like the name, the EXPLORE tool is an opportunity to do just that–explore. Interdisciplinary opportunities allow you to expand your learning beyond your field of study and can open up opportunities. These opportunities provide a meaningful learning space that encourages you to develop and experience different ways of knowing and learning. Experiential opportunities apply academic knowledge in a “hands-on” environment with a focus on developing critical skills, encouraging reflection of self and the world around you

What is the difference between EXPLORE opportunities and volunteering or joining a McMaster club?

Opportunities included on EXPLORE usually involve working on specific projects or activities that help you grow personally and professionally. They often include mentorship, guided reflections and planning activities to provide a well-rounded experience. On the other hand, joining a club at McMaster is more about participating in group activities centred on shared interests or hobbies. Additionally, volunteering is an independent experience where you get to be involved and make an impact in the community.  

How will I know if EXPLORE opportunities fit with my academic plan?  

We recommend that you consult directly with your academic advisor to get accurate and clear information that’s specific to your academic situation.     

How do I learn more about EXPLORE?  

1. Book an appointment with the Student Success Centre on OSCARplus. In these appointments, you can connect with an experiential learning-certified staff member on EXPLORE, learn about opportunities and find out how to get involved. 
    
   How to book: OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Experiential and Employment > EXPLORE 

2. Follow @MacSSC on Instagram and check out the EXPLORE highlight.