8 Benefits of Volunteering
By Kunal Chan Mehta | Article Date: 23 February 2016
Volunteering is a great way to improve interpersonal and transferable skills, giving you the opportunity to gain knowledge and techniques that can be used across all job areas. While the aim of volunteering is to give a bit of your time to those who are in need, the variety of roles mean you can pick up skills that will connect to the industry you want to get into.
Here are 8 reasons why volunteering can give your CV, and career, a boost.
- Volunteering is a great way to get experience, particularly for our Level 6 and 7 students. The modules taught on this level require experience in your respective area of study, which a flexible volunteering role will allow you to gain.
- Working with an additional set of people will enhance your team working skills. You will benefit from learning how to work with different types of people in different environments, encouraging workplace equality.
- You will learn how to prioritise your time effectively, as you balance your volunteer work alongside your studies and everyday responsibilities. Time management and prioritising your workload are notable attributes valued by employers.
- Finding work related to your area of study is a bonus. You will get first hand experience of your industry and develop practical knowledge that cannot be learnt in a lecture room.
- Securing volunteer work in the field you wish to progress in will also present the opportunity to connect with people in your industry; creating contacts when looking for full time work. Although this will differ from an internship, you will still get a headstart in your area of interest.
- When you lack direct work experience, volunteering enables you to develop key transferable skills such as organisation, problem solving, working to a deadline and communication. If you’re selected for a job interview, you can draw on your volunteering experiences for examples of skills and responsibilities.
- Many businesses all over seek volunteers – whether as a volunteer receptionist, volunteer journalist or volunteer accountant – so it is likely that you will find a cause that you are passionate about. This will encourage you to work harder in your role and develop your skills without you even realising it.
- Although your commitments may hamper your availability, many organisations are happy for someone to volunteer as little as one hour of their time one day a week. So you can obtain new skills in very little time.