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www.graduateopportunities.com >> career advice
why you need to volunteer
Volunteering is about getting involved and making a valuable contribution to your broader community. It covers any unpaid work to benefit others. Volunteers are active in almost all aspects of society, and can do everything from visiting elderly people to coaching a junior sports team or working on a community aid project in a developing country.
In addition to making a positive difference or giving something back to society, there’s also much to be gained on a personal level.
Volunteering enables you to: gain new skills express your talents and qualities enhance your employability meet people and broaden your perspective boost your confidence and self worth feel engaged with a cause or group.
Volunteering assignments can range from casual or part- time work to intensive, short-term projects. In some cases it can lead to paid work, but it’s best not to enter with this as the goal.
Employability Potential employers know that volunteering requires commitment, motivation and energy, so they look favourably on applicants with volunteer work on their résumés. Volunteering often involves working for small organisations with limited resources – the kind of environments where initiative, leadership and a can-do attitude are critical.
Volunteering of any kind develops: your capacity to communicate with people your ability to identify problems and find solutions your ability to handle pressure your ability to work independently/as part of a team your capacity to prioritise.
As with any experience, try to get a strong reference letter or a referee who can be called upon for future job applications.
Want volunteering experience but don’t know where to start? Ask yourself what: • activities you enjoy? • skills you have/would like to develop? • types of organisations you’d like to work for?
For a list of volunteer organisations visit the ‘Career Advice’ section of the GO website.
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