Changing Lives
At Merge, a volunteer can sit down with a young adult and help them:
That creates a very tangible connection between your time and someone’s next opportunity.
Your experience could be the missing connection between a young adult and a career. At Merge Opportunities, volunteers don’t just donate their time. They share knowledge, provide mentorship, build confidence, review resumes, practice interviews, help navigate the job search and support young adults as they take the next step toward a sustainable career.
Merge’s approach recognizes that employment barriers can extend beyond simply finding a job. This gives volunteers an opportunity to understand the whole person, rather than simply helping someone submit a job application.
There is more than one way to help
Volunteering with Merge can take many forms.
The right opportunity depends on your experience, interests, availability, and how you would like to contribute.
Volunteering does not have to look the same for everyone
Some people want to mentor over time. Others may have an hour to participate in a mock interview, lead a workshop, host a workplace tour, or help with a single event. We want to help you find an opportunity that works for you.
One-time opportunities
Participate in a workshop, mock interview, event, panel, or other single volunteer activity.
Short-term projects
Share your skills or expertise on a defined project with a clear beginning and end.
Ongoing mentoring
Build a longer-term relationship and provide continued guidance over time.
Individual volunteering
Get involved on your own and contribute your experience directly.
Corporate volunteers
Bring your team into the work
Companies can give their employees meaningful ways to share professional experience while helping young adults prepare for the workforce.
Corporate volunteer opportunities may include:
We can also work with your company to create a customized volunteer experience based on your goals, whether that means giving employees leadership opportunities, sharing professional expertise, building team engagement, or developing another way to support young adults.
Your time can create real momentum
Volunteer impact is not just measured in hours.
It can be seen in a young adult walking into an interview more prepared, understanding an industry for the first time, improving a résumé, expanding a professional network, meeting a mentor, or seeing a workplace and career path they had never considered before.
candidates completed mock interviews
resumes improved
mentors matched
career workshops delivered
volunteers engaged
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The difference one conversation can make
The best way to understand the value of volunteering is to hear from the people involved
Marcus, construction apprentice, Long Beach, CA
TEMPORARY UNTIL GIVEN THE SPECIFIC STORY AND IMAGE/VIDEO
The Opportunity: How the candidate connected with Merge, what training, preparation, paid experience, or other support they received, and what helped them become ready for the next step.
The Career: Employer, role, placement, starting wage or wage growth where appropriate, and where they are today.
Still Moving Forward: How Merge remained involved after the hire and how the candidate continues to build skills, stability, earning potential, and career growth.
Candidate Perspective: Short candidate quote about the opportunity, career, or what Merge made possible
Employer Perspective: Short employer quote about the candidate, the experience working with Merge, and why the partnership works.
Merge didn’t just help me find a job. They helped me figure out who I wanted to be in my career, and they were still checking in six months later to make sure I was okay.
Marcus, construction apprentice, Long Beach, CA
Before Merge: Brief description of where the candidate was in their career journey before connecting with Merge, without defining them by hardship or failure.
The Opportunity: How the candidate connected with Merge, what training, preparation, paid experience, or other support they received, and what helped them become ready for the next step.
The Career: Employer, role, placement, starting wage or wage growth where appropriate, and where they are today.
Still Moving Forward: How Merge remained involved after the hire and how the candidate continues to build skills, stability, earning potential, and career growth.
Candidate Perspective: Short candidate quote about the opportunity, career, or what Merge made possible
Employer Perspective: Short employer quote about the candidate, the experience working with Merge, and why the partnership works.
Merge didn’t just help me find a job. They helped me figure out who I wanted to be in my career, and they were still checking in six months later to make sure I was okay.
Getting involved is simple
Tell us how you’d like to help
Let us know about your interests, experience, availability, and the kind of volunteer opportunity that appeals to you.
We match you with an opportunity
Our team will help identify an opportunity that fits your interests and what is currently needed.
Get the details and preparation
We will make sure you understand the activity, audience, expectations, timing, and anything you need to know before participating.
Volunteer
Share your time, experience, perspective, and skills.
Stay connected
If you would like to continue volunteering, we can help you find additional ways to remain involved.
Volunteer questions answered
No prior mentoring experience is required for many opportunities. What matters most is that you are willing to share your time, experience, and perspective. Merge will provide information about the specific opportunity before you participate.
It depends on the opportunity. Some volunteer activities may be one-time commitments, while mentoring or other roles may involve ongoing participation.
Yes. Merge offers both one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Yes. We welcome companies and teams interested in mock interviews, career workshops, workplace tours, panels, mentoring, and other group opportunities.
Some opportunities may be available virtually or in a hybrid format, depending on the activity and current program needs.
We welcome people from a wide range of industries and professional backgrounds. Certain opportunities may benefit from specific expertise, while others simply require people willing to share professional experience and guidance.
To confirm based on Merge volunteer policy
Volunteers will receive the information and preparation needed for the specific opportunity. Additional orientation may be required for certain roles.
Not necessarily. Volunteer opportunities vary, and some may take place during business hours while others may be scheduled at different times. Let us know your availability and we will discuss what opportunities may fit.
[TO CONFIRM BASED ON THE MENTORING MODEL.]
[TO CONFIRM. THIS MAY VARY BY PROGRAM.]
Your experience can help a young adult prepare for an interview, understand a career, grow their network, build confidence, or see an opportunity they may not have known was possible. Whether you have one hour to give or want to stay involved over time, there is a way to make your experience matter.