How volunteering can boost your career
We volunteer to help others and it gives us that nice feeling inside knowing we did something good. Plus, there are so many ways volunteering can help boost your career!
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
-Winston Churchill
It Looks Good on Your Resume
Volunteers are 27% more likely to land a job than non-volunteers. Include a ‘Volunteer Experience’ section on your resume if it’s relevant to the job or if you lack formal work experience. By doing this, it shows you are a responsible, charitable, and caring person involved in your community. When you are up against stiff competition, volunteer work will make you stand out against other candidates. Volunteering conveys things hiring managers love:
- teamwork
- leadership
- interpersonal skills
- self-motivation
- commitment
It Builds Confidence
Volunteering can give prospective employers a glimpse of who you are, but it can also help you to get to know yourself. Knowing your skills, accomplishments, interests, and values is a foundation of career success and a confidence builder. Volunteering is a way to discover your potential and a chance to find out how other people view you and your strengths. It also helps you feel useful and productive.
It Expands Your Network
Volunteering is the perfect way to meet new people. Keep a list of contacts you make. These can include staff, board members, clients or suppliers. They are leaders in your community and can be an excellent resource for landing a new job or a better job. If you are looking for a mentor, this could be a way to find one. They can help you succeed in your volunteer position or long-term career goals.
It Can Provide You with References
Being a dedicated and hard-working volunteer can potentially lead to a reference when job searching or applying for a post-secondary program. Some volunteer organizations provide a work experience certificate that can be mentioned on a resume’ or provided during an interview. These certificates can show what skill you learned or the number of hours served. If you are not sure if the organization provides this don’t be afraid to ask.
You Can Check Out an Occupation or Industry
Also, if you are thinking about a specific career or changing careers, volunteering lets you explore different occupations and industries sometimes within the same organization. For example, volunteer for your town’s Parks and Recreation Department, and you are exposed to a wide range of occupations including but not limited to: Program Specialist, Department Director, Park Superintendent, and Event Coordinator. You can talk to employees and get to know the insides of a specific job along with its challenges and rewards.
At www.activategood.org/opportunity, you can search by skill or cause to find the right volunteer opportunity for you!
Conclusion
You can see the many ways volunteering can help boost your career. Why not sign up today? Check out Activate Good’s volunteer opportunities on their website.
