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.
About Mark Anthony Dyson
I am the "The Voice of Job Seekers," career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. I aim to give a safe place online to those with different needs, cultures, and ethnicities to find their voice in the job market. Thousands have read my career advice throughout the web as I write about everything from job search strategies to the mobile job search. I have published more than 400 articles on this blog and some of the largest career sites such as Recruiter.com, YouTern, and Come Recommended. I've been quoted in major online publications such as Monster, TIME/Money, Fortune, Business Insider and MSN. FlexJobs, JobMonkey, Aerotek, Career Pivot, and CareerSherpa listed my podcast as one of the top podcasts to help your job search. Love for you to sign up for the weekly newsletter. I share the latest articles I've written, new podcast episodes, and answer any questions you may have. The new job search is scary and if you need help, I am here for it!