Finding a good job right out of college, or soon after graduation, relies heavily on having the right job experience to back up why you’re qualified for the position. While entry-level jobs can be hard to come by in your given field, volunteer opportunities can serve as a wonderful alternative. They don’t come with a paycheck, but have the potential to open doors and lay the groundwork for a well-paying job later on.
Volunteering is something that can be done while you’re in school, looking for work, or even working a full-time job while you’re waiting for a career change. The number of hours you commit are entirely up to you and there exist various kinds of organizations looking for volunteers as well as employees. By volunteering, you can boost your resume and set yourself apart from other applicants with the same background.
Works Well With Others
As a volunteer, you’re almost always going to have to work as part of a team. In doing so, you’re showing your future employers you can make a contribution in a group effort and cooperate with others to get a job done. During an interview, you can discuss any challenges that arose from differing opinions or any successes in terms of reaching or surpassing a goal. All from your volunteer experience.
Leadership Abilities
If you’ve been volunteering with the same organization, or have a particular skill set, you may find yourself in a position where you’re put in charge of others. You may be charged with organizing other volunteers, handling cash, interacting with vendors for events, or being the go-to person for questions and concerns. Even if it’s a small leadership role, be sure to mention it on your resume. It shows someone else put her faith in you to lead and you can share what you learned in the process.
Acquire New Skills
Sometimes we may want to change careers, but have no previous work experience in our new chosen field. Through volunteering you can get your feet wet and see if this new track is something you’d really like to pursue. Volunteering can help teach you new skills, procedures, and techniques that can be applied to your new career. It also shows your future employer that you’ve taken the time to get some training in so you can bring a particular skill set to the table. It increases your likelihood of being hired.
Demonstration of Skills on a Budget
For the skills you’ve already acquired, volunteering is a great way to show off what you can do with what you already know and a limited budget. In some cases, volunteer organizations only have so much funding and resources to work with. They rely heavily on the creativity and determination of their volunteers to get the task done. If you’re volunteering at a shelter, for example, there may be drives to collect food or supplies with little to no budget to advertise the event. Get creative and show you can solve problems using the tools at your disposal. Employers appreciate those who can find a solution that is budget-friendly.
Community Involvement
Depending on what field you’re looking to get into, community involvement can be a big boost to your employment chances. Some companies are finding great benefits in partnering with community organization to both give back to the area and to help promote themselves. Having a background in volunteering means you already have experience interacting with volunteers and may be someone the company can rely on in the future to head additional events.
Networking
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages that comes out of volunteering is the chances you have to network and get your foot in the door for the industry you’d like to pursue. In a few cases, these volunteer opportunities can lead to job opportunities. In this way, they’re similar to internships. Websites like Idealist.org show organizations that are looking for volunteers and employees as well. If you don’t have the experience to qualify for the job, try volunteering with the company first and using your connections and successes to help you land the job.
Yes, volunteering doesn’t pay, but neither do a number of internships. If you’re willing to put in the time and choose a volunteer opportunity related to your career path, it can make you a better qualified candidate and give you a head start in the job hunt.
