Use LinkedIn to widen circle, fill post officer positions

Some of you may wonder why there is a NALPA article about LinkedIn. Many who have heard of this online talent community think that its purpose is to help people showcase their skillsets and to help recruiters find them for a potential career opportunity. Did you know that it could also be used to help your post locate potential new members who are looking for volunteer opportunities? This article will show you how to use LinkedIn for that purpose.

 

There are more than 4 million professionals on LinkedIn who have one thing in common - they have expressed an interest in joining a nonprofit board or doing skills-based volunteering - or both. Think about the different leadership opportunities that your post has to offer on your Executive Committee (EXCOM). What types of skillsets would you like for those post volunteers to have to be successful in some of those positions?

 

Take away the knowledge side of the Legion and think outside the box. You have different military occupations that dovetail nicely with EXCOM positions. For example, your post adjutant would be a great fit for someone with a background in Human Resources and someone with a supply and logistics background could work as your post finance officer. There are public affairs officers or journalists who would make great historians.

 

Approximately 72 percent of younger veterans are looking for ways to give back, according to a recent article that I read. Of that percentage, veterans who are from Generation X and the mid-career veterans represent approximately 21 percent. This generation is our next generation of leaders within The American Legion. The top skills these would-be volunteers (and potential Legion Family members) have include management, customer service, leadership, project management and strategic planning.

 

How do you find those who are searching for volunteering opportunities?

 

Create a profile on LinkedIn, if you haven’t done so already, and as a professional, you can signal you want to use your skills for good on your LinkedIn profile by checking the boxes for "Joining a nonprofit board" and/or "Skills-based volunteering" in the Volunteer Experience and Causes section. From there, you can search for volunteer opportunities in your area and begin identifying and connecting with veterans for opportunities at your post home.

 

The possibilities are endless and the potential rewards can last a lifetime!