Even if you’re looking for a paid job, volunteering is well worth considering. As
well as the obvious feel good factor from giving your time to a worthy cause, there
can be some real benefits for your career.
You may be frustrated because you know what you’re looking for but you don’t have
the experience or perhaps you just want to try something new. Whatever the reasons,
giving time to volunteer is an excellent way to learn new skills and gain useful
experience. And this can help you find your next job and launch your career.
Choice
Charities and not-for-profit organisations recruit hundreds of thousands of volunteers
every year throughout the UK and the range of opportunities on offer is endless.
From sports coaching to fundraising, eBay trading to mentoring, volunteering is
a great way to hone your career skills.
Local Volunteer Centres and online services, such as do-it.org.uk, will help match
your requirements with the opportunities on offer. And whilst you won’t get paid
(apart from expenses), you will have the opportunity to get involved in activities
you may later want to pursue as a career.
Skills & Experience
As well as helping to equip you with the ‘soft’ skills that many companies look
for in staff, volunteering as part of a structured volunteer programme can expose
you to a range of core workplace activities, including: communication, line management,
teamwork and using your initiative.
From writing newsletters to maintaining computer
networks, the best way to get a new job is often through experience and the right
volunteering opportunity is a rewarding way to achieve this. In fact, in certain
sectors, such as health and social care or charities, volunteering can almost be
a pre-requisite.
Voluntary organisations are well aware that many people volunteer
to gain experience for their careers, so as long as you can show some commitment,
don’t be afraid to let them know your motives.
CVs and interviews
Establishing what
experience you want to add to your CV will help you identify the right voluntary
opportunity. And, once your CV’s looking more complete, you’ll find it easier to
reach the interview stage for the jobs you apply for.
Employers are well aware of
the benefits of volunteering and recognise the initiative and commitment that can
be required by volunteers and an interview is the perfect opportunity to impress
recruiters with your experiences.
Whilst qualifications are still very important,
voluntary work can help you get the experience you need. And remember, the benefits
don’t end there: you’ll meet new people, try new things and almost definitely have
some fun.