Palatine Park District Volunteer Program Addresses the National Association of Colleges and Employers Core Competencies
Established in 1956, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) connects more than 8,100 college career services professionals at nearly 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide, more than 3,100 university relations and recruiting professionals, and the business affiliates that serve this community.
NACE is the leading source of information on the employment of the college educated, and forecasts hiring and trends in the job market; tracks starting salaries, recruiting and hiring practices, and student attitudes and outcomes; and identifies best practices and benchmarks.
NACE’s mission is to empower the community of professionals focused on the development and employment of college-educated talent with relevant data, resources, training, insights, and relationships, while serving as the collective voice for the profession.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers developed a definition for career readiness and identified core competencies associated with career readiness. Palatine Park District Volunteer Program activities successfully contribute to NACE core competencies. Let’s look at how:
Critical Thinking
Community service has an impact on critical thinking ability. Sometimes it seems like there’s no way to accomplish a project from start to finish. Then, you’ll think it over, talk with your team and collaborate to tackle the project.
Oral and Written Communications
Palatine Park District volunteers communicate with children, teens, adults and seniors alike. They assist with public image and relations, as well as customer service.
Teamwork and Collaboration
Every project involves working with others in one way or another (collaboration, taking direction, training our peers) enhancing one’s ability to collaborate and work well with others.
Information Technology Application
Our volunteer onboarding process (application, screenings, training) as well as some volunteer assignments are completely online.
Leadership
As our volunteers rise above to help lead a group during a project or show other volunteers how to do a certain part of a task we see their leadership skills at work!
Professionalism and Work Ethic
Those who serve us, represent the Palatine Park District to the community, which requires individuals to be both professional and courteous while seeing their assignments through from start to finish solidifies a stable work ethic.
Career Management
Timeliness, time management, professionalism, confidence, organization, following instructions, problem solving, and planning are needed to successfully manage one’s career and are traits developed through service.
Global/Intercultural Fluency
Our volunteer events provide opportunities to meet people from other parts of the town or the world who have different cultures and /or interests than one’s own. Acknowledging and understanding others is a valuable life skill and one needed to navigate cultural fluency.
Palatine Park District’s Volunteer Program leadership is proud to offer student volunteers assignments that develop the skills needed to make them bankable in today’s competitive college and career markets.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Palatine Park District, please visit volunteer.palatineparks.org or contact Alissa DePue at adepue@palatineparks.org or 847.496.6212.
About the Author • Alissa DePue, CPRP
With 15 years of Volunteer Management experience, Alissa DePue was hired in 2016 to develop a comprehensive volunteer program for the District. With the overall goal of enhancing the feeling of community through dedicated projects that demonstrate a greater social purpose, Alissa’s focus has been on volunteer recruitment, retention, recognition, and expanding volunteer programming.