FIREPROOF BLOG
BENEFITS OF
VOLUNTEERING
I wrote this blog on my Linkedin in 2017! Volunteering has its obvious benefits for whatever cause you decide to volunteer for, but what about the benefit YOU get?
I wrote this blog on my Linkedin in 2017! Volunteering has its obvious benefits for whatever cause you decide to volunteer for, but what about the benefit YOU get? There is a sense of fulfillment for helping others and the fact that you are doing something good. But what benefits does volunteering have that can translate into your career? I am not talking about having a section on your resume that includes Volunteer Activities because as a former recruiter and talking to current recruiters, we do not even notice that section of your resume.
“Networking and skill growth are just two areas of many that volunteering can help boost your career.”
I have to admit that when I first started to volunteer it was because I was unhappy in my career and wanted a change. Being in the Talent Acquisition world, I knew that networking was a good way to land a job. If you volunteer, chances are you will be interacting with other people that like you, do something else to pay the bills. No matter what organization or event I volunteer at, one of the first few questions is “what do you do for a living?” From that simple question, I have ended up being a referral for a position at that person’s organization. I have also referred numerous people that I have volunteered with.
As I continued to volunteer, I found myself building on my skillset and developing new ones. As a HR professional I am constantly training new people that I have never met, both in small and large settings. Volunteering with people from all types of backgrounds whom I have never met allows me to flex my approach and be comfortable in different situations. As I started to take on leadership roles within the organizations I have volunteered for, I started to build on…you guessed it my leadership skills. Being able to build skills in a low stress environment outside of the scrutiny of managers, employees, and co-workers has been invaluable for me.
Whether your are in sales, customer service, HR, or operations, find a organization that you would be interested in volunteering for and then find out how you can use those opportunities to enhance your skill set and network.