Benefits of volunteering | Career Centre (2024)

Volunteering is a great way to gain work experience, develop valuable connections and skills. Here are a few benefits of volunteer work:

  • Volunteer to Gain Experience: Your volunteer work can prepare you for the demands of the working world. Through practical volunteer work, you can develop appropriate knowledge, attitude, and skills concerning the working world. Your volunteer work can demonstrate to those who may be in a position to recommend you to others or hire you for a paid position what kind of person you are (e.g. how you work with others, how you approach tasks, how you take initiative, how you manage your time). A candidate who has already proven they can succeed at the job is a much stronger candidate than an unknown.
  • Volunteer to Develop Transferable Skills: Volunteering gives you the opportunity to develop transferable skills you can apply to any position you undertake. Interpersonal communication, time management, leadership, delegation, communication, leadership and problem-solving are a few transferable skills that you can develop through your volunteer work.
  • Volunteer to Build your Network: Are you looking to make connections in a specific field? Are you interested in expanding your network? Volunteering gives you the opportunity to develop meaningful connections with professionals in your field of interest. Network with others to exchange information, ideas, contact info, and to build and maintain mutually beneficial connections. Volunteering can put you in contact with important individuals and groups of professionals who have a wealth of expertise. Professionals you meet who have similar career goals can serve as mentors providing career guidance. Connections made through volunteering can also act as references. Volunteering is a great way to connect with professionals to establish a community of supporters. It’s not just what you know but who you know.
  • Volunteer to Develop Confidence: Volunteering is a great way to develop confidence. Practical work experience builds self-esteem which allows you to step out of your comfort zone. Your volunteer work allows you to develop and use different skills that lead to establishing a real sense of achievement.
  • Volunteer to Explore your Interests and Passions: Volunteering is a great way to take those first steps to explore different career opportunities. Explore your interests by engaging with professionals in a variety of fields. Try out different types of volunteer work to better understand your interests, likes and dislikes. Observing firsthand professionals in your field of interest can help you determine whether this would be a field you might want to pursue further.

Additional Information on the Benefits of Volunteering

Article on UnitedWay Blog: 5 Ways College Grads Can Use Volunteer Experience to Get a Job

Article on Charity Village: Ten Professional Development Benefits of Volunteering

Article on themuse: 5 Career-Boosting Reasons You Should Volunteer (in Addition to the Fact That it Makes You a Good Person)

Article on Volunteer Match: 5 Ways Volunteering Boosts Career Development

TEDx Talks:

What Volunteering Taught Me | Hajira Khan at TEDxKinnaird

Volunteering - the beneficial side effects | Eric Cooper | TEDxSanAntonio

How volunteerism can change your world | Joyce Bertram | TEDxVilnius

Volunteerism -- best platform for personal and professional development: Tuan Nguyen at TEDxUOttawa

Be Selfish. Volunteer! | Kevin White | TEDxColoradoSprings

Click here to go back to: Want to build skills and experience?

Benefits of volunteering | Career Centre (2024)

FAQs

What are the benefits of volunteering club? ›

11 benefits of volunteering
  • The power to change lives. ...
  • The ability to involve more people. ...
  • A physical feeling of satisfaction. ...
  • New friends and stronger friendships. ...
  • Connection and confidence. ...
  • Social and networking skills. ...
  • A readiness to take on the world. ...
  • Value to schools and employers.
Nov 14, 2023

Why is volunteering good for organizations? ›

Nonprofit Volunteers Can Increase The Impact

They can help you reach out to more beneficiaries, interact with them, and bring in fresher perspectives. Volunteer opportunities can also increase the quality of services that your nonprofit provides.

What are the 5 core values of a volunteer? ›

CCVA has identified the following core values that govern ethical volunteer leadership:
  • Citizenship. The volunteer leader acknowledges that volunteerism is a core activity in civil societies. ...
  • Respect. ...
  • Accountability. ...
  • Fairness. ...
  • Trust.
Feb 17, 2023

What are 10 benefits of volunteering? ›

10 benefits of volunteering for individuals
  • Reduces loneliness. ...
  • Improves job skills. ...
  • Connection to the community. ...
  • Feel a sense of purpose. ...
  • Meet new people. ...
  • Drive community improvements. ...
  • Improves physical and mental health. ...
  • Gets you out of your comfort zone.
May 30, 2023

What are 10 benefits of volunteering for the community? ›

See a list of reasons that will help you make up your mind.
  • 10: It's good for you. ...
  • 9: It saves resources. ...
  • 8: Volunteers gain professional experience. ...
  • 7: It brings people together. ...
  • 6: It promotes personal growth and self esteem. ...
  • 5: Volunteering strengthens your community. ...
  • 4: You learn a lot.

What skills does volunteering give you? ›

Volunteer Skills List
  • Leadership skills.
  • Problem-solving.
  • Organisation & planning.
  • Communication & interpersonal skills.
  • Relationship building.
  • Mentoring skills & training others.
  • Teamwork.
  • Time management.

What are the positive effects of voluntourism? ›

It can be an excellent way for individuals to learn about a different culture and explore a country while helping those in need. Many voluntours are in areas of the world where there's a need and the volunteers supply the means. This can come in the form of time, money or any other need for an impoverished area.

Why is volunteering important 3 reasons? ›

Volunteering can provide a healthy boost to your self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity.

Which efforts make the biggest difference in a community? ›

Small Ways To Make A Big Difference In Your Community
  • Clean Up Your City.
  • Get Food to those in Need.
  • Share Fundraiser Pages.
  • Attend Town Hall Meetings. Community meetings are a staple way to make a difference in your city. ...
  • Donate Your Stuff. ...
  • Support Local Businesses. ...
  • Watch Out for Fellow Community Members.
Mar 16, 2022

Is volunteering good for you? ›

“Compared to non-volunteers, volunteers have less depression, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, higher life satisfaction, greater happiness, and a greater sense of meaning in life.” The article discusses numerous studies that have linked volunteering to health benefits among high school students, middle-aged people, ...

What is the golden rule of volunteering? ›

Volunteerism is about neighbor helping neighbor. In essence, this is the Golden Rule—the principle of treating others as one wants to be treated.

What are the 3 Ts of volunteering? ›

But are we the most generous with the three Ts of philanthropic giving: time, talent, and treasure? We are fortunate to be able to do what we do and are rewarded accordingly.

What are the 2 main elements of volunteering? ›

Most definitions of volunteering include the following four key elements:
  • free will.
  • no financial reward.
  • helping strangers/beneficiaries.
  • conducted through an organization.

Who benefits most from volunteering? ›

Older age, reflection, religious volunteering, and altruistic motivations increased benefits most consistently.

What skills do you gain from volunteering? ›

Volunteer Skills List
  • Leadership skills.
  • Problem-solving.
  • Organisation & planning.
  • Communication & interpersonal skills.
  • Relationship building.
  • Mentoring skills & training others.
  • Teamwork.
  • Time management.

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