Volunteering – can it help your career? The truth is that volunteering can significantly help you grow in a new profession that you want to pursue. It can also allow you to network and get exposure to people you might normally not get a chance to connect with. I have always volunteered in my career with organizations that had values and attributes that were within the scope of where I wanted to move my career.
From volunteering on the frontline to joining a board of directors, you can move your career in different directions that you might not have thought possible because of the power of volunteering and networking. Not to mention it is a great resume builder and an effective way to give back to the community.
A little bit about me…
When I started to move my career toward human resources and career advising I began to look for ways that I could help others grow in their careers. First, I began with career mentoring individuals who were new in Canada to help them navigate the workforce and learn how a job in Canada works. Then I moved on to creating job search programs for detention centers and joining a board of directors in a human resources capacity. I also worked at a non-profit helping people to write resumes. These are just a few things I did among many others.
The basic point is that with these experiences I was able to meet new people, network, and learn along the way. These experiences were great resume builders and allowed me to successfully apply to jobs where I could apply the skills I learned through volunteering. I even accepted an unpaid internship which immediately allowed me to land my first official recruiter role with a large telecommunications company.
So how do you make volunteering work for you?
When determining a volunteer opportunity that will work for you it is important to do your research. Start with researching organizations that you are interested in joining. Reach out to them and see if volunteer opportunities exist within their organization, if so, ask for a description of the opening and the commitment required.
When you receive the information about the volunteer opportunity ensure that you can meet the commitment requirements and then think about how the opportunity can help you grow in your career. Is it a case of doing something you simply enjoy (which is always a good thing) or is it a matter of putting skills you have to beneficial use?
When considering if the opportunity will work for you think about your long-term goals for your career and where you would like to be in a year or two in your career. Some questions to consider are:
- Does the opportunity allow you to grow or maintain skills in the direction you are looking to go?
- Does the organization give references for volunteers?
- Are you able to network?
- Can you keep up the commitment they require for the role?
Putting your volunteering experience to effective use
Volunteering can help you get your foot in the door and it is still something you should consider doing even after you land a job just to keep networking and giving back to the community. When putting it on your resume when you have a few months’ experience you should format the experience the same way you would format a job you have held on to your resume. Discuss your responsibilities and achievements in the job description to make it stand out among your other experiences. If you do not have any paid experience in your perspective area of work, then look to highlight your volunteering in a well-crafted cover letter. Treat your volunteering as seriously as you treat any paid employment, this will not only look good to an employer during the interview process, but it will help you to build strong relationships in the long term.
Volunteering is a fantastic way to connect with others and is a chance to gain experience and insight into what working in a specific field is really like. It is important to ensure that when you take on a volunteering position it is treated seriously and that you get the chance to exercise skills you want to expand or that you learn new skills.
So go out there learn new skills and meet new people!
Want to learn more about my experience with volunteering and how it grew my career? Connect with me on Instagram @BlissPlusYou or via the contact page.
Bliss + You 