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How Will Volunteer Work Enhance Your Career

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I think there are enough stories of the web where someone starts out volunteering, and because of the experience it provided a bridge for a new career. Or it enhanced their current career by adding value or inspired them to change from a corporation to a non-profit organization. Antonio Boyd has seen everything in his 20 years in leadership positions with HOPE Worldwide.

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Antonio is the CEO and President of The Think Tank Consulting Group, LLC. It is an international management, development, and public affairs company, specializing in the non-profit, government, and entertainment sectors. Antonio spent most of his career with HOPE worldwide Ltd. His last role as Vice President of Community Outreach, he supervised and trained 10 Headquarters staff, and 125 Volunteer Directors. He was also responsible for the development and deployment of the AmeriCorps and other organizations. Direct and plan implementation and development of the programs for the 240 communities across the United States Canada, and the Caribbean utilizing of 33,031 faith-based volunteers from 157 churches.

His wife encouraged his involvement in volunteer work
People find that volunteer work energizes them and their career
Antonio shared two dynamics in his experience
Millenials desire to do something meaningful—to go change the world
200 college students every summer volunteer to direct volunteer events on campus
Executives often found after volunteering non-profit leadership is more meaningful
Boards are great for the transferable skill, small non-profit boards are likely easier to join
Volunteer work always have needs to fill, most boards need 12
Corporation usually give time to employees to volunteer
You become a “brand ambassador” when volunteering because you represent the company brand
Creates humanity, enhances your understanding of people, adds value
Volunteer work speaks to your character in your high school junior and senior year, adds to your college application
College volunteer work can substantiate and add balance when seeking internships

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About Mark Anthony Dyson

I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers!" I offer compassionate career and job search advice as I hack and re-imagine the job search process. You need to be "the prescription to an employer's job description." You must be solution-oriented and work in positions in companies where you are the remedy. Your job search must be a lifestyle, and your career must be in front of you constantly. You can no longer shed your aspirations at the change seasons. There are strengths you have that need constant use and development. Be sure you sign up to download my E-Book, "421 Modern Job Search Tips 2021!" You can find my career advice and work in media outlets such as Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, Glassdoor, and many other outlets.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

9 Ways Volunteering Can Shape Your Career

Volunteering is worth time and effort to advance in your career, or transition into a new one. The chance to choose the work environment and the time you wish to invest in your future is very popular and effective.

If you have doubt whether effort is worth it, then consider these reasons to volunteer:

1. Sharpen newly obtained skills

New certifications, diplomas, or degrees can increase benefitting the organization and costing you only time. There are times when the volume of opportunities will make a big difference in the continuing education of the user.

2. Make mistakes and learn from them

You can choose an environment that is slower and will tolerance trials and errors depending on the work. It even helps if you have a mentor who has time to monitor your progress and provide feedback.

3. Time to do something bold

Something you want to try? Volunteering can provide an opportunity to take a calculated risk. See #2.

4. Reveal weaknesses that can be strengthened

In my opinion, that is an element that many people are afraid to get past. We would like to ride out our strengths to the sunset, but the reality: We are afraid to grow and change.

5. Try new approaches to solving old problems

To some degree, everyone has to become a marketer in his or her career. When you change careers, you must market yourself in a way that shows that your old skills and attributes apply to your new career. Additionally, you must try new approaches to old problems. Volunteering provides that platform in a way that is not as costly, except for your time.

6. Build your resume

It has been proven that volunteering can great work experience, especially if you are piloting a new career path. This is a great opportunity for additional references, and to track improvement to show employers your abilities.

7. Networking

You’re not the only one who uses volunteering for the various reasons mentioned. It helps to know someone on the same journey, but not always a similar career path. For many job seekers who volunteer, the networking opportunities are worth the investment of time.

8. International experience

International work experience in any field is impressive and often it brings you new problems to solve. Mostly, it gives you a global perspective that is something that employers look for in candidates.

9. Document your journey for a blog or video

When you take others on your new journey with you, whether a blog or video, or even a training manual, it adds to your credibility. If you ask your place of service if you can video, many times they will say yes. These mdiums can bring recruiters and employers to you if you are willing to promote your blog even a little.

About Mark Anthony Dyson

by Mark Anthony Dyson

5 Volunteer Efforts That Impress Employers

Volunteering always looks great on a CV. Even if your experience isn’t directly related to the job you’re applying for, volunteer efforts show that you are an active person who is driven by motives other than financial. Having said this, there are definitely some volunteer efforts which look better than others when it comes to applying for jobs. Here are a few of the most impressive areas of volunteer experience to have when applying for a new position.

1) Relevant experience

Of course, the best voluntary experience you can have is in something relevant to your field. If you are looking to go into finance or accounting than helping a charity out with their accounts, is a fantastic experience to have. In the voluntary job market, you often have the chance to progress much faster than if you were doing the same job in the paid world. This often means that you can gain experience of leading and managing teams sooner and, therefore, make an excellent candidate for an employee.

2) Volunteering abroad

Volunteering abroad poses a few more obstacles than volunteering in your own neighborhood and employers will recognize the challenges you will have had to face. Employers are always looking for dynamic individuals with excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to overcome difficult obstacles. Candidates who have had experience volunteering abroad often possess these qualities. Furthermore, in an increasingly globalised world, employers are looking for candidates with the ability to work internationally.

3) Something you love

If your volunteering work is not completely relevant to the career path you have chosen, make sure it helps a cause about which you are extremely passionate. It is very likely that once you get to a job interview, prospective employers will ask you lots of questions about your volunteering experiences. Therefore, it is very important that you are willing and able to talk at length about your volunteering. Employers look for genuine passion, and if you can convey this whilst talking about the work you’ve done for a brilliant cause then you are much more likely to make a good impression.

4) Training Included

Many charitable organizations may not be able to pay their volunteers, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be rewarded for your efforts. Volunteers can often obtain useful qualifications through volunteering, such as first-aid certification or leadership training, which will look good as new skills on your CV and make you all the more employable in the future. If you do get yourself a volunteering placement, ask if there are any exams or tests that you can take make the most out of your experience. Volunteering always looks great on a CV. Even if your experience isn’t directly related to the job you’re applying for, it shows that you are an active person who is driven by motives other than the purely financial. Having said this, there are definitely some volunteer efforts which look better than others when it comes to applying for jobs. Here are a few of the most impressive areas of volunteer experience to have when applying for a new position.

5) Full-time Volunteering Work

We can all volunteer for a few hours a week in a local charity, cherry-picking the parts of the job which appeal to us. Employers particularly commend commitment to many hours a week. The closer to a full-time position you can get, the better it will look to prospective employers. They want to know that you can handle a full-time job, whatever the hours may be. Working 40 hours a week for free demonstrates a huge level of commitment and suggests that you will have had to do less pleasurable parts of the job, as well as the fun hands-on parts. This will further prove your motives are far from the financial and make you a very desirable job candidate.

What volunteer projects do you plan to participate in this year? Please share.

Richard McMunn, runs the leading career website, how2become.com. His aim is to help as many people as possible pass the recruitment process they are applying for to secure the job they have always wanted. The site offers a wide range of books and training courses for those who want to ensure they are fully prepared. You can also connect with How2become on YouTube.