Ever feel like every job requires experience, but you cannot get experience without a job? Volunteering might be the solution you need. It is a secret weapon for boosting your employability and comes with unexpected perks.
Now, you might be thinking, “Volunteering? Isn’t that something you do just to be nice?” While volunteering does help others, it can also be one of the best career moves you will ever make.
One of the most frustrating parts of job hunting is the “experience required” section. Experience does not always mean a paid position. Volunteering offers a low-pressure way to gain practical skills that look just as impressive on your CV.
Think about it: If you volunteer to manage social media for a non-profit, that is a real experience in digital marketing. If you are part of an event planning committee, you are gaining project management skills. Employers are less concerned about where you gained those skills and more interested in the fact that you have them.
Volunteering gives you real-world experience. Whether organising events, managing social media, or helping run a community program, you are gaining practical skills employers value—project management, communication, leadership, and more. These are all things you can highlight on your CV.
Volunteering introduces you to a whole new network of people who might be working in industries you are interested in. I remember a story a dear friend told me about a volunteer who met a CEO while helping at a charity event, and two months later, she was interviewing for a role at his company. Connections like that are priceless.
Networking is one of the most effective ways to get a job, and volunteering naturally puts you in a position to meet professionals who can open doors for you.
Plus, volunteering helps you discover what you are truly passionate about or develop new interests. You might stumble upon a cause or field you had not even considered as a career path. I have heard countless stories of people shifting their career goals after volunteering exposed them to new opportunities.
A friend of mine wanted to work in tech, but after volunteering at a youth centre, she realized she had a knack for working with kids. Fast forward a few years, and she is now a project manager for an ed-tech start-up that creates educational games. It was volunteering that showed her how to combine her love for tech and education.
When you volunteer, you expose yourself to different environments, causes, and challenges you might never have considered. This can help you discover unexpected career paths that you will genuinely enjoy. Employers are not just looking for technical skills. They want people who can work well in teams, communicate effectively, and solve problems. These are the so-called “soft skills” that volunteering is perfect for developing.
Let us say you have been volunteering to help organize a community event. You are going to be interacting with different people, negotiating with vendors, working under tight deadlines, and maybe even resolving conflicts. These are all invaluable soft skills that employers love and you will have real-life examples to back them up during an interview.
In a sea of job applicants, it can be tough to differentiate yourself. Everyone has a degree or some basic experience. But volunteering adds an extra dimension to your profile. It shows initiative, passion, and a sense of responsibility. Employers want to hire people who are willing to go the extra mile, and volunteering says exactly that.
I recall a conversation with a recruiter who shared that candidates who volunteer impress her more than those solely focused on paid work. Volunteering demonstrates proactive initiative and a willingness to contribute, even without financial compensation.
So, if you are looking to boost your career prospects, why not start with volunteering? It is a win-win—you give back to the community, and in return, you open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Ready to get started? Reach out to us at Proudtobeme and begin your journey today! Contact us at admin@proudtobeme.org