How Volunteering Can Help Your Career

Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, but it also provides valuable experience that can enhance your career or guide you towards a new one. Jason Willett, director of communications at VolunteerMatch states, "In a marketplace that offers an ever-increasing number of accomplished and qualified employees, many employers are looking beyond applicants' work-related skills to better assess the character and personality of a potential employee. An active volunteer history can point to selflessness, compassion for others, consideration for shared community concerns, and an eagerness to expand one's personal network, all of which can be attractive characteristics for many hiring managers."

There are many ways you can use volunteer work to help your career, however, don't be surprised when the benefits reach far beyond your resume. Here are just a few of the ways volunteer work can help your career.

In Between Jobs

Volunteering is a great way to stay busy while looking for a job. Choose to volunteer for a non-profit that relates to your chosen career path, or explore a new interest to expand your skills. While you will definitely keep your current skills polished and updated, you will also most likely acquire new skills. However, volunteering biggest benefit will probably be an emotional one.

Besides reducing the boredom that comes from being out of work, helping others will boost your self-confidence. This self confidence will come across in interview situations and help you to be more relaxed. Potential employers will admire a person who is interested in growing as a person and giving back to their community.

Along Side a First or Entry Level Job

Many people who are just starting out in their careers may feel their upward climb is going more slowly than they'd like. Volunteering in your spare is a good way to gain responsibility. There will be opportunities through volunteering that may not be available in big corporations.

Adults learn best through "on the job experience" and volunteering provides just that kind of learning. Volunteers can take on challenging projects that will give them the skills they need to be successful in their chosen careers. Additionally, volunteering is a great way to build a professional network.

Recent college grads or others with limited work experience should add volunteer work to their resumes. It's even possible to make volunteer work the central part of the resume by treating it as you would a paying job. Just make sure to specify the work was "non-paid". Leaving the right impression will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively.

As a Resume Builder

Including volunteer work on your resume will demonstrate a willingness to take initiative and make things happen. Make sure your volunteer work enhances your professional accomplishments, rather than detracts from them. Rather than list every volunteer experience, focus on the most recent and most relevant experiences.

Include volunteer experiences in a separate section of the resume unless, as mentioned earlier, you have little prior work experience and want to include it in the regular "experience" section of your resume.

Volunteering has so many far-reaching benefits. Along with the help it gives to your community and the good feeling you will get, it also provides lots of opportunities to enhance your career.