Have you ever considered volunteering? It gives you a chance to make contributions. You'll feel a sense of pride that you are volunteering your time, and a local organization will benefit, too. But how to volunteer?Follow the three steps before you enjoy it.

Pick an organization. 【小题1】 You're likely to be happier and volunteer longer at an organization that supports a cause you care about. For example, if you're interested in animal welfare, maybe you want to volunteer at an animal shelter. Much like job search sites, you can also use volunteer websites like VolunteerMatch to help you find volunteer opportunities in your area. If you still can't narrow down where you want to volunteer, start asking people you know where they volunteer. 【小题2】

Be clear what you can offer. First identify your skills. For example, maybe you could write brochures（小册子）for local nonprofits if writing is your style. 【小题3】 You need to be sure how much time you can give to an organization based on your other commitments. If you try to do too much, you're more likely to give up.

 【小题4】 Treat the application like a job. Spend some time preparing for the interview, much as you would for a job interview. 【小题5】 Ask what's expected of volunteers. For instance, volunteers at a museum may be expected to learn parts of the galleries（展览馆）to give tours. Start volunteering slowly. That is, it's better to commit to just a little bit of time at first to see if you like volunteering at the organization.