Volunteering is working for a company or business as an unpaid staff member. Many people choose not to volunteer because they would rather earn money by doing something but if you have the opportunity to volunteer (for example you are a graduate living at home or young person still in school) then it can be absolutely worth the time investment to improve your C.V and make you look more impressive to potential employers. Here are 5 reasons volunteering could be right for you;
- Volunteering is easy to get and gives you free experience
If you are struggling to find a job, working as a volunteer is a great way to get experience while you continue your job search. As a volunteer, you largely get to decide when you work (after all, you aren’t being paid) so you can still make time to look for a job and there is no reason that a volunteering role should take up as much time as a full time job. This means that your role as a volunteer does not need to impede on your ability to look for a job and therefore can only improve your C.V by giving you experience.
- It will help you gain confidence and get into a routine
If you have been out of work for a while, working as a volunteer can greatly boost your confidence because you will have a job to be proud of. Having something to do with your days as a jobseeker can make the days waiting for responses to job applications go faster and will give you an overall feeling of pride in yourself for doing something. Going to your volunteer job will also help you get into the routine of work as you will have to get into the habit of going to work and having responsibility. This can greatly help you when you do start a new job, as you will be used to the routine and transition into your new job much easier.
- There are many options for volunteering jobs
As a volunteer, the ball is in your court for what kind of work you want to do. There are many different options for volunteering jobs. Of course, there are volunteering jobs in charity shops and with the local council. However, there are also some offices who will let you volunteer in various different positions, as well as many interesting volunteering jobs in industries like caring or animal care. Try looking online for volunteering jobs in your area and ask around local companies to see if they would allow you to come in as a volunteer. After all, who is going to turn down a free employee?
- You can gain new skills and learn new things as a volunteer
Volunteering isn’t just about doing something you are already good at. It offers you the opportunity to build new skills and learn about industries you haven’t worked in before. This can not only expand your horizons with regards to your own journey to finding out what kind of career you want to go into, it can also improve your C.V and make it easier for you to find a job within differing industries. Remember that the larger your skillset is, the more employable you are, so working as a volunteer could help more than just having a few months of experience.
- Volunteering can be really fun and responsibilities are minimal
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to meet new people and have fun doing a job that you enjoy. There aren’t many responsibilities in terms of staying if you really don’t like it, so it really is something that you can tailor to what you want. It’s important to find a volunteering job that you enjoy as you aren’t being paid, so have a look around and don’t settle for the first opportunity you find. As mentioned previously, you get a lot of input into what hours you can do so it is really up to you how much you want to work. So have fun with it! Gain your experience while having a good time and you are in a win-win situation.
So there you have it, 5 reasons volunteering can be a great alternative while you look for work. So many people pass up on the opportunity to volunteer because they don’t want to work for free but the benefits from it can be huge if it is something you have the time and resources to do. It will definitely help improve your C.V and contribute to finding a job in the future, so why not try it?
