If you want to increase your chances of getting employed after your volunteering experience, then it is essential to choose your volunteering experience carefully. It may prove valuable to sit and think about the type of volunteering experience that will benefit your career most.
If you are wanting to go into the marketing field, then it is advisable to seek out an organisation that deals with marketing or where you can use your marketing skills as a volunteer, according to Julie Shifman, the Executive Director of Last Mile Food Rescue, Inc.
Volunteering to write for industry related publication is an excellent way of positioning yourself as an expert. A well written article can be used to show to prospective employees, especially if it is within a related field.
Ask your friends about the non-profit organisations that they know and see if they will divulge some inside information. If you can acquire information about as many different organisations as possible, you will have many options to choose from. You can then proceed to select the best options, says Shifman.
Volunteering may be seen by many people as something only young people do, who want to travel or by older people during retirement periods. However, in today’s age jobs are becoming scarce, and gaining foundational experience whilst helping others out through volunteer work, just might be what gives you a competitive edge during the job hunt, regardless of your age.
Therefore, volunteering is an excellent way to make your CV stand out. Furthermore, not only could volunteering have a positive impact on your self-confidence but it may also help you to overcome any shyness and develop your people skills, which are essential in the workplace.
Choosing to volunteer can result in landing a permanent position. Working for a company for free will show prospective employers how passionate and dedicated you are, which will increase your chances of landing a permanent position.
It is important to treat every experience where you volunteer as a potential job opportunity. Once you have proven and shown your dedication to succeed and your ability to work hard with a passion towards others, you may be surprised to learn that you are the first person they think of when a new vacancy opens up.
