Below are some frequently asked questions that may assist you in navigating the Volunteer Opportunities Database.
WHAT IS THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES LIST AND WHAT WILL IT SHOW?
The Volunteer Opportunities List on SOA Engage is viewable by the public. The opportunities can be sorted if you are looking for something specific or you can view the entire list. Simply click on the title of the opportunity to see the full description of the volunteer role. If an opportunity interests you, you can apply within that description.
HOW CAN I FILTER THE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?
Click on the Show Filters button to display the filter options. You can sort the Volunteer Opportunities by the following areas:
- Time Commitment – This is the number of hours of work the activity will require for completion
- Types of Opportunities – All Volunteer Opportunities are categorized based on the primary function of the opportunity and are assigned to an Opportunity Type.
- Qualifications – If you are looking for opportunities that apply to a particular Primary Area of Practice or Specialization, you can select from this list to find out if any current opportunities require those specific qualifications.
- Opportunity Name – You can search for a specific Volunteer Opportunity using this option.
- Opportunity Status – The default for this option is to show all currently open Volunteer Opportunities.
- Communities – This filter is not active since Volunteer Opportunities are open to all interested parties, not just members of a specific community
- Location – This filter is not active. Details about the location of the Volunteer Opportunity are contained within the opportunity description. Click on the Opportunity Name to see details about the Volunteer Opportunity.
WHY DO I NEED TO LOG-IN?
Anyone can view the Volunteer Opportunities on SOA Engage. However, if you wish to apply for a specific Volunteer Opportunity you must be signed in to your SOA Account. Enter the same user name and password you would use to access your SOA Account on SOA.org.
This Log-In establishes a connection with the SOA database and enables the volunteer application form to be linked to you.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
All current volunteer opportunities are viewable by anyone at any time in the Volunteer Database. However, in order to apply for a volunteer opportunity, you must be signed in to your SOA Account using your SOA Username and Password. By signing into your SOA Account, you connect the Volunteer Opportunity Database with your SOA contact information. Once you are signed in, the Apply Today! Button will appear on the opportunity description pages.
The program has been designed this way so that when you click on the Apply Today! button, your name and contact information will already be associated with that application. You’ll see that you do not need to enter your name or contact information on the application – you will only need to complete the required application fields for that volunteer opportunity.
Once you have completed the application fields, click on the Submit button. A notification will appear to let you know your application was submitted successfully. In addition, you will receive an email acknowledging that you have completed the application.
WHY IS THE APPLICATION ALREADY FILLED IN?
As mentioned in the section on Filtering, all volunteer opportunities are placed into one of several Opportunity Types. Each Opportunity Type has a specific application form associated it with. This means that many positions can fall within one Opportunity Type but they will all utilize the same application form.
When you apply for positions from different Opportunity Types, you will see different application forms. However, if you apply for another position at a later date that falls within an Opportunity Type you have applied for in the past, your past information for that application type will re-populate the fields. In other words, the system remembers the last time you applied for a position in this Opportunity Type. The intent of the system is to save you time. Instead of filling out the form all over again, you can submit it as is or just tweak it to apply to the new position. Or, you can delete it all and enter all new information in the fields. The system will retain the application information from the most recent application.
HOW WILL I KNOW IF I’VE BEEN SELECTED AS A VOLUNTEER?
Recruiting for volunteers can take some time. Many members apply and recruiters must select the best fit for the work that needs to be done. So don’t be disappointed if you don’t hear anything right away. The volunteer staff will follow-up with you 2-3 weeks after you apply to give you the status of your application. When the recruiting has been completed, you will be notified about whether you have been selected as a volunteer or not. If yes, the recruiter will continue communication with you directly.
WHAT IS THE RECOMMEND VOLUNTEERS BUTTON?
Within each Volunteer Opportunity description you will see a green box with the title Recommend Volunteers. If you would like to share this Volunteer Opportunity with someone you think might be interested in learning more about it, click on the blue Recommend button. A screen will appear asking you to enter the name or email of the individual you would like to recommend the opportunity to. The database will then be able to search for and identify the accurate email address of the individual you are seeking. Please note that only individuals who have opted-in to the Actuarial Directory or have an SOA account will appear in the search results.
Once you have identified the correct individual, click on the light blue Recommend button. Clicking on the button will send an email to the individual stating that you are recommending this opportunity to them. The email will include your name, the opportunity name and a direct link to the opportunity description where they can learn more about the opportunity.