Volunteering is all about getting involved and making
a valuable contribution to your broader community or
society. It covers any unpaid work which is undertaken
by choice for the benefit of others. Volunteers come
from all walks of life and are active in almost all aspects
of society. Volunteers can do everything from visiting
elderly people to coaching a junior soccer team to
raising awareness for a political cause.
Many volunteers are motivated by a desire to make a
positive difference or give something back to society.
There is also much to be gained on a personal level by
volunteering. As well as the natural satisfaction derived
from knowing you are needed and valued, volunteering
enables you to:

c
Pgain new skills

c
Pexpress your talents and qualities

c
Penhance your employability

c
Pmeet people and broaden your perspective

c
Pboost your confidence and self worth

c
Pfeel engaged with a cause or group.
Volunteering assignments can range from ongoing
casual or part-time work to intensive, short-term
projects. In some cases volunteering can lead to paid
work, but it is best not to go into it with this as the goal.
Employability
Potential employers know that volunteering requires
commitment, motivation and energy, so they look
favourably on applicants who have volunteer work on
their résumés. Volunteering often involves working for
Can’t decide? …
small organisations with limited resources – the kind of
environments where initiative, leadership and a can-do
Want to gain volunteering
attitude are needed and valued. Volunteering of any
experience but don’t
kind will develop your capacity to:
know who for and doing

c
Pcommunicate with people what? Think about:

c
Pidentify problems and find solutions

c
Phandle pressure
o

c
Pwork independently and as part of a team o
Activities you enjoy

Skills you have and skills
Undergraduate Opportunities 2009

c
Pprioritise.
o
you would like to develop

Types of organisations that
you would like to work for
Volun
get involved
teer!
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q u o t e U - G O w h e n a p p l y i n g f o r y o u r u n d e r g r a d u a t e p o s i t i o n
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