Volunteering isn’t just about helping others, it’s a powerful way to build skills, networks, and career opportunities. Employers don’t just look at your degree, they want to see initiative, leadership, and real-world experience. Volunteering shows all three.
Work experience is critical to moving forward in your career. But did you know that you can also gain many valuable job skills through volunteering? Volunteering enables you to learn more about what activities and fields you enjoy, identify your strengths, build connections, and gain important skills and experiences.
Volunteering prepares you to excel in your career. Leadership, public speaking, presentation, project management, technology, and communications skills help you become a better employee in any profession. Volunteering fosters confidence, and connections that open doors to new opportunities.
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering means giving your time, skills, or effort to support others or a cause without expecting payment. It’s about contributing, making an impact, and at the same time learning and growing yourself.
Volunteering is a unique form of work experience, much like internships or part-time jobs, but far easier to scale. It provides individuals with firsthand exposure to real-world workplaces, offering opportunities to build professional skills and networks that can be invaluable in their career prospects.
Many individuals participate in volunteering because they want to make a difference in their communities. What they may not realise is that their volunteer work is also a gateway to career success.
Why Volunteering Can Boost Your Career Prospects
Volunteering isn’t just about giving back, it’s an investment in your future. It can be a helpful step towards reaching your career goals.
Here’s why it can boost your career prospects:
- Boosting Your CV
Employers often seek well-rounded candidates with more than just technical skills. Including volunteering on your CV shows that you’re motivated, community-focused, and willing to go the extra mile. Demonstrate leadership and collaboration skills, these experiences can set you apart from others in a competitive job market. Volunteering adds depth to your applications, helping you stand out by demonstrating your commitment to personal growth and social responsibility.
- Networking Opportunities
Volunteering connects you with influential mentors, industry leaders, and fellow professionals. Volunteering helps you meet people from different backgrounds, building a valuable network of contacts. These connections can lead to job opportunities. Building these relationships can give you a foot in the door, especially in competitive job markets where a personal recommendation or introduction can make a big difference.
- Gaining Relevant Experience
Volunteering allows you to build experience in an area you’re interested in, at no risk to you or the company you’re volunteering at. If you’re new to your career or looking to change fields, it can be hard to get a job without experience. Volunteering gives you a way to gain real-world experience, which you can add to your CV. Many organisations value voluntary work as much as paid jobs, especially when it shows your dedication, initiative, and ability to work in a professional setting.
- Skill Development
Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills that can help in your career. It helps you gain hands-on experience that complements your career prospects. Whether it’s public speaking, or project management, volunteering offers opportunities to develop valuable, real-world skills. Through volunteering you can learn and develop important, transferable work skills. For example; leadership, teamwork, communication skills, problem-solving, and task management. You’ll learn to work as a team, in different environments, and with different types of individuals. These experiences show employers that you are proactive about your personal and professional development.
- Exploring Career Paths
Volunteering can open doors to new opportunities. Volunteering is a low-risk way to explore various career paths and industries. If you’re uncertain about your career direction, volunteering lets you try out different roles before committing fully. Whether you’re in a charity’s marketing department or helping with outreach programmes, you can learn what works for you and where your strengths are, helping you make informed choices about your career.
- Fuel Your Purpose
The right volunteering opportunity can give you a renewed passion, inspiration, and motivation, and it gives you a sense of purpose. Contributing to a cause you care about boosts your motivation and engagement, making you more driven in your career and other aspects of life.
As a volunteer, you may get the chance to attend training courses. These could be project-specific or more general. This additional training may prove useful when applying for jobs and it could help you to stand out from the crowd.
What’s more, if you impress as a volunteer, you may be able to name your supervisor as a reference on future job applications.
Volunteering is a win-win. It is much more than just an act of kindness, it’s a valuable way to grow personally and professionally. By volunteering, you not only support, but you also gain experience, skills, and connections that can improve your career prospects. Whether you’re unemployed, seeking a change, or looking to enhance your CV, the benefits of volunteering are clear.
So, if you’re an undergraduate, a Job seeker, or a fresh graduate, take action today. Embrace volunteering; you can spare a few hours a month or commit regularly. There’s always a volunteering opportunity that can help build your future while making a positive impact.