10 ways volunteering can help your career

Volunteering offers that feel-good factor we all love, knowing that you’ve contributed to a worthwhile cause. All sorts of people volunteer for a whole range of reasons, but those who do tend to find it extremely rewarding, sometimes challenging but very varied.

Taking on a voluntary role allows you to explore career options, meet new people and build on your experience – making you stand out from the crowd.

So take a look at 10 ways volunteering can help your career take off:

1. Expand your network

Meet new people from all walks of life, you’ll often work closely with key people within the organisation, make an impact and this could lead to opportunities further down the line.

2. Learn transferable skills

Volunteering can often provide you with key skills that companies are looking for in candidates, including leadership, communication, team-work and problem solving skills.

3. Work in an industry that excites you

Perhaps you enjoy what you do, but could you offer more if you really loved what you do? Well volunteering allows you to dip your toe in the water to see what a new industry has to offer.

4. Build your confidence

An excellent way to gain confidence, is getting stuck in. Doing something that you love, and seeing the impact you have will allow you to grow in confidence – something that employers love to see.

5. Develop your leadership skills

Often it can be difficult to think of yourself as a natural born leader, however leadership can come in many different forms, and you just might surprise yourself!

6. Fill in blanks on your CV

No employer likes to see blanks on a CV – so if you find yourself out of work, then volunteering is a great opportunity to gain new skills you can add to your CV, plus it gives you something else to talk about at interviews.

7. It shows initiative

Un-paid work can show real initiative, if you’re looking to work for a particular employer or within a certain industry, taking that step to get the experience you need can show recruiters drive and commitment.

8. Get to know yourself

Understanding what you enjoy doing will allow you to make the right decisions for your next career move. And that could be something that you have never even considered.

9. Offers good references

For many organisations, volunteers are at the heart of what they do – therefore being part of that will stand you in good stead. The best references come from those who have seen first-hand the impact you have made.

 10. Give yourself the edge

Your voluntary work provides an edge over other candidates, plus it gives you something real to talk about when describing your skills on paper and face to face.

Search for a voluntary role that will catapult your career with jobs24.com

Posted on December 1, 2017