Volunteer work is often something people turn their nose up at, not willing to lift a finger unless they’re getting paid.
There comes a time when working without pay does become unethical, most companies have anti-slavery policies for a reason, but volunteering to acquire certain skills or to help others less fortunate can be a worthwhile experience.
Here are 6 reasons why employers value those who have voluntary experience:
1. It demonstrates character
We all need to earn a living and there’s nothing wrong with ambition, so there isn’t anything wrong with being motivated by money on some level.
However, having volunteer work on a CV shows an employer that money isn’t the only thing that motivates us.
It shows we understand that developing skills is important and that we’re willing to go that extra mile to do so. It takes a certain type of person to volunteer and that person is valued by employers for their willingness to do more than others.
2. It’s a way to break into your chosen profession
The job market is a tough place to break into. We may have our heart set on a certain career, have studied for it and applied for numerous positions but are still unable to get employment.
Perhaps it’s a competitive career path and we’re up against a lot of others who are also going after the same roles.
Volunteering, especially while we study, can be the thing that makes all the difference. Not everyone will do it and those who do have an advantage over the rest.
3. Volunteering builds your skillset
Those who volunteer may already have developed some of the required skills for that position from their experience volunteering. This makes them more employable when the time comes to apply for jobs.
Employers are always prepared to train new starters, but over time they won’t want to handhold their staff.
Those who’ve already put the time into learning and practising the required skills will be less of a drain on that company’s resources and time. And therefore, much more likely to get the position.
For those doing their first job they will already understand what’s expected of them and not treat work like school or university.
4. Contacts
Volunteering is a great way to meet those who may be of future value to your career. They may take a shine to us and one day seek to employ us. Or they may recommend us to others and provide a reference.
We can also make friends in that profession who can help us in other ways, like sharing their own tips and introducing us to other valuable contacts that one day, may offer us a job instead of them needing to go down the traditional route.
5. Leads to full time
Volunteering, especially while studying, has the potential to lead to full time employment once our studies are over. Especially if we make a good impression.
Employers are always on the hunt for promising new employees, volunteering for them puts our foot in the door. It allows us to demonstrate we’re a good fit through action instead of simply telling them we are in an interview. There may be a job waiting for us once our studies end, only by volunteering does this become possible.
6. Find out you don’t like it
We may feel like we know what our dream career is, but until we’ve lived it it’s impossible to know for sure. Volunteering provides us with a window into the daily life of these jobs.
We may love what we see and that could motivate us even more. Or we could decide that after seeing it, the job isn’t for us after all.
Deciding what we don’t want gets us closer to finding what we do want, and volunteering makes this possible.