The value of volunteering

Whether you are on a career break or looking for new challenges there is nothing quite like volunteer work. You might be looking to build new skills in an industry you’re eager to join, or simply doing work for a cause close to your heart, either full time or alongside your career. We’ve decided to round up some key elements of a volunteering opportunity, and how to be prepared!

Why volunteer?

So, it could be a career break or the first step into a new career. Whatever the reason, here are some benefits of volunteer work:

• You make the choices – There are countless volunteering programmes to research, and tailor to your life. You can choose one you know will open doors to a great career, or choose a cause you think will be both fun and fulfilling to volunteer with in your free time. You can choose what amount of time works for you, but the experience will be there no matter how much time you dedicate to it.  
• Personal enrichment – You can choose a cause or venture that makes you proud to be a part of. Charity work or helping others is a great feeling! If it’s volunteering with a company to build new skills, it will feel great to know you’re working towards a career you really want!
• New skills – Volunteering in a specific industry you want to start a career in is a great way to get first-hand experience of how everything works. If you are not starting a new career, there are still great skills to take away and apply to your everyday work life.
• CV credentials – Having volunteer roles to discuss, allows an employer to get more than just a professional image of you. They get to see what matters to you and, more importantly, that you are proactive about your passions. If you are having a career break, and building new skills, it means your CV won’t have any gaps. Demonstrating that you are so serious about an industry that you volunteered full time without a steady income, will be a great thing to talk about in an interview.

How to prepare

In order to make the most of an opportunity to volunteer, always consider the following:

• “I want to take a career break, and learn new skills elsewhere. Can I afford it?” Financial sacrifices are likely if you are volunteering with a company to get your foot in the door of a new industry. Make sure you will be 100% comfortable, or else the opportunity won’t be as fulfilling with other worries on your mind.
• “How much time should I dedicate to volunteering?” We pointed out a great benefit of volunteering is that you are in control in regards to time. Make sure it’s an amount you can enjoy, without affecting your work life too much. Also, it’s always good to have free time for yourself too!
• “What should I look for in a volunteering opportunity?” Have a thorough research of all the options. What will enrich you the most? What will benefit your CV for your future prospects? What skills are you looking for most from this? Answer all the relevant questions, and your search will slowly narrow down. Before you know it, you’ll have found the PERFECT volunteering opportunity.

If you are considering a volunteering opportunity, be it full time or part time, we hope our tips will help! 

Get your paws on more career advice and tips over on the Panda Express.