For unemployed job seekers volunteering is an avenue that can greatly help them in their job search. Besides the satisfactions gained from volunteering and making a difference, there are benefits to be gained that can add an extra dimension to your job search which can help you. Here are some of the benefits you can gain from volunteering.
Choice
With volunteering becoming a growing trend, you can have access to greater choice of opportunities to choose from. You can choose ones that can help you update your skills, learn something new or get some experience that your CV lacks. There are websites and organisations that you can join that can help you match you to the right volunteering opportunities for you.
Skills & Experience
Companies and organisations know that some of their volunteering opportunities are used by volunteers looking to develop their skills & experience. As long as you are committed and give 100% then they don’t see this as an issue. Volunteering can help you either develop, learn or keep your skills current. You can focus on both soft skills, employability skills and ones you deemed necessary to help you. You can also gain experience of activities or certain types of systems/careers that could make a difference on your CV to employers. If you’re lacking certain types of experience, getting it through volunteering is a good method.
CVs
Volunteering has a few benefits for your CV that can help your job search. If you have been unemployed for a long period then you can gain current work experience which looks good as it shows employers you haven’t just sat on your bottom. As stated above, you gain new or develop skills/experiences which can help to not only make your CV look better but also show that you have been working on developing yourself. This can impress employers who like candidates who want to develop & improve.
Interviews
As you know in the job interview, you are asked a lot of questions which you have to back up with evidence and examples. Some candidates struggle with these questions as they either have nothing to back them up with or that their evidence is not good enough. Volunteering can help you provide that evidence you need to answer not only well but to impress. You should make sure you mention your volunteering experience to help evidence that you not only want to develop but also have initiative & commitment.
Choice
With volunteering becoming a growing trend, you can have access to greater choice of opportunities to choose from. You can choose ones that can help you update your skills, learn something new or get some experience that your CV lacks. There are websites and organisations that you can join that can help you match you to the right volunteering opportunities for you.
Skills & Experience
Companies and organisations know that some of their volunteering opportunities are used by volunteers looking to develop their skills & experience. As long as you are committed and give 100% then they don’t see this as an issue. Volunteering can help you either develop, learn or keep your skills current. You can focus on both soft skills, employability skills and ones you deemed necessary to help you. You can also gain experience of activities or certain types of systems/careers that could make a difference on your CV to employers. If you’re lacking certain types of experience, getting it through volunteering is a good method.
CVs
Volunteering has a few benefits for your CV that can help your job search. If you have been unemployed for a long period then you can gain current work experience which looks good as it shows employers you haven’t just sat on your bottom. As stated above, you gain new or develop skills/experiences which can help to not only make your CV look better but also show that you have been working on developing yourself. This can impress employers who like candidates who want to develop & improve.
Interviews
As you know in the job interview, you are asked a lot of questions which you have to back up with evidence and examples. Some candidates struggle with these questions as they either have nothing to back them up with or that their evidence is not good enough. Volunteering can help you provide that evidence you need to answer not only well but to impress. You should make sure you mention your volunteering experience to help evidence that you not only want to develop but also have initiative & commitment.