As we move closer
to the holidays many of us will consider volunteering for various
organizations. If you have never
volunteered before, you should. Not only
does volunteering make everyone involved feel good, but while you help a good
cause, you also have an opportunity to add to your resume or enhance your
current position.
When
volunteering you can choose to donate your time in an area related to your
current position, where your skills and expertise can be useful, or you may
choose an entirely different area where you can develop new skills, abilities,
knowledge, and work experience.
Volunteering is an opportunity not just to serve the greater good, but
to explore other interests. It can also
be a way to learn and develop leadership skills.
You also
have an opportunity to expand your network.
Volunteering exposes you to other organizations, businesses and employment
fields. You never know who you may meet
while volunteering. The people you meet
during your volunteer experiences will come from all walks of life. Networking with these people can be an added
bonus to your service. Building
professional contacts as well as social relationships with other volunteers can
lead to employment leads and opportunities.
In the
Forbes article, “Proof
That Volunteering Pays Off For Job Hunters”, Nancy Collamer stated, “...when you volunteer, you gain access to
people you might not otherwise meet, creating opportunities to develop positive
relationships outside a traditional work environment.”
In a study published last year by the Corporation for
National and Community Service, it was reported that volunteering was
associated with a 27%
greater odds of employment.
Volunteerism can be used as a strategy to obtain new job opportunities,
especially for recent graduates and others who are re-entering the workforce.
The reason is suggested by another study conducted by the
Center for Economic and Policy Research, “Does
It Pay to Volunteer? The Relationship Between Volunteer Work and Paid Work”
which concluded that “The volunteer experience conveys information to
potential employers about the job applicant’s abilities, such as motivation,
initiative, creativity, and reliability. This makes volunteering particularly relevant
for job applicants with limited prior employment experiences, such as recent
graduates entering the job market, and individuals who are re-entering the
labor market after a longer break.”
So as the holidays near, look for the opportunity not only to
help in your community, but to help in your career. It is a win-win.
Find volunteer opportunities here:
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