Gaining new skills and valuable experiences in variety of different settings are just some of the 8 ways volunteering can boost your professional network.
Whether you offer up some of your time to look after elderly people at a care home, dedicate one weekend a month to keeping your local park clean, or are busy raising funds for your city’s animal shelter, one thing is for sure: doing good feels good.
Even – if not especially – when you’re not getting paid for it. But while you are probably aware of the many benefits of volunteering, there might be one thing you haven’t considered yet: your career.
Volunteering can help your professional endeavors in more ways than one – in this article, we’ll reveal 8 ways volunteering can boost your professional network.
1. It builds up your network
One of the most significant volunteer work benefits is its ability to break down professional barriers and make connections at all levels of an organization. Finding the right volunteer role, in fact, can help you establish a deeper and more genuine bond with professionals who share your passion for a common cause.
This common interest can help you overcome challenges and connect with influential people on a more meaningful level. Volunteering is a great way to make new contacts and expand your professional network, whether you are a junior employee looking to advance or a new graduate who wants to gain experience in a specific field.
2. It boosts your confidence
Volunteering and helping others can improve your self-esteem, confidence, and life satisfaction, offering you a strong sense of accomplishment. Take advantage of this during job interviews, as these are highly coveted qualities by employers.
Skills like teamwork and time management are just two of the many ways that volunteering can boost your confidence. Volunteering can teach you to communicate with others and support your peers, which many people find difficult. Depending on your role, it can also teach you how to build strong client relationships.
3. It shows employers your passions and values
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It can be challenging to convey your motivations and interests during an interview if you lack relevant work experience. To better define who you are, consider doing some volunteer work in a field that relates to your interests. It will allow you to learn new skills and gain valuable experience. You can bring both of these into workplace, and showcase the habits that will help your grow professionally.
4. It improves your existing skills
Helping others lets you improve your skills and learn new ones. Your public speaking or language skills, for instance, may come in handy during your volunteer work.
Volunteer work is a great way to keep up with skills you might not be using in your day job. For instance, if your regular job doesn’t involve much human interaction, volunteering at a festival can improve your social skills.
Your volunteer experience can also add valuable skills and attributes to your resume. Employers appreciate these traits. For instance, taking on volunteer work at the public defender’s office might introduce you to virtual law office software. This could be a valuable skill that you may not have gained in your regular job or during your academic career.
5. It broadens your perspective
If you have been working in the same field for a while, switching to a different market by way of volunteer work can be a breath of fresh air. Similarly, volunteering is a great way to learn about various fields and professions when you are trying to decide on a career path as a new graduate.
For instance, if you’re in the tech industry, you can teach a class at the local learning annex. Help others dissect complex tech topics or simpler ones like data governance definition. You can also check out volunteer opportunities at your local hospital or pet shop. Even if your tasks have little to do with your ultimate career goals, you will benefit from the experience.
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6. It helps you grow
Understanding your own strengths, interests, values, and accomplishments is crucial to building a successful career. One of the best volunteer work benefits is the insight it can provide into your character and abilities.
As a result, you’ll feel eager than ever to expand on those abilities and keep growing both from a personal and professional perspective.
7. It enhances your resume
To potential employers, volunteering on a resume demonstrates not only your dedication to the community but also highlights your skills, connections, sense of initiative, and experience. From an employer’s perspective, you’re a candidate who is willing to use their skills for a good cause.
Dedicate a section of your resume or online job profile to volunteer work.
Make sure to include the following:
- Volunteer position and a detailed description of your role
- Any relevance of your volunteer work to the position you are applying for
- Specific details about your experience and qualifications gained through volunteer work. What tools, resources, or technologies did you use? It doesn’t matter if it’s something simple or complex, like using a MarkUp.io and Zapier integration to automate tasks. Include it!
8. It provides references
Volunteering is a great way to get references from colleagues and mentors, which you can use when searching for a job or enrolling in college. Know the person’s opinion of you and your work before you ask them to be a reference.
It’s also worth checking if the non-profit you’re volunteering with issues any work experience certificates, as you could present them in an interview or include them in your resume. These certifications can serve as proof of your volunteer hours and the knowledge you gained.
Supercharge your professional network
You can find other people with similar interests and values if you volunteer. the 8 ways volunteering can boost your professional network offer many positives, but the overall experience offers many additional benefits.
Being a volunteer has positive effects on your well-being, health, and sense of worth. It’s also a great way to learn new things, meet like-minded professionals, and add to your resume.
Expanding your professional network while also contributing to a worthy cause is just one of the many volunteer work benefits that it’s worth exploring.