A
few months back a group of us (over 20) volunteered to help with the Women’s
Build for Habitat for Humanity. We got
pink hard hats which we blinged out, got to work in the VERY hot sun and with
the help of a lot of power tools, we helped build a house for someone in need. It was sweaty hard work and we even had to
use a Portapotty! Yuck! It was one of the best experiences in my
life!
We were just part of a larger group and as we
worked and talked with the other volunteers I realized that there were a lot of
people there who were all connected in the community. I was sweating (and grunting) next to bank
managers, retail sales people, executive directors, business owners and a wide
variety of other positions. As we
continued to build we started talking about what we did and why we were here
volunteering.
I made a lot of contacts that day with a
face-to-face shared experience. I have
called on a few of them since then when I needed some help for other things and
some have contacted me as well. What an
opportunity!
You can get the same results!
Cathy was looking for a job as a Business
Analyst. She had applied for a job at a
company but needed a certification.
While working on her certification, she started volunteering at the
company.
She was able to do job leads and help increase the
income of the business! She also helped
them respond to several proposals. The
intent was to show them what she could do.
“The idea was that they could see the skill sets I was bringing to the table.
It assisted me in getting hired,” said Cathy.
Cathy says the experience helped her in multiple ways. (See
below)
According to a recent study, skills and
dedicated volunteer work makes a job candidate more appealing to human
resources executives. According to a
summary of this report in the Huffington Post, Redefining Success Beyond Money
& Power, “about 81% of hiring managers felt that volunteer work makes
graduates more attractive job candidates. However, only 46% of the surveyed college
students felt that volunteering would help them secure future jobs.”
In a press release, Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community
Service (CNCS), a federal agency promoting service and volunteering stated
“Many of us in the volunteer sector have long felt volunteering gives a boost
to those looking for work, but we’ve never had solid research to back it
up.” She also stated, “These reports
provide strong evidence that volunteering is beneficial for jobseekers. Volunteering can provide the skills, contacts
and leadership qualities that make you stand out in a competitive market.”
And that’s not the only study around! According to a study “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does
Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?” Someone who
volunteers is 27% more likely to land a job through volunteering than a
non-volunteer.
According to a press release in June,
2013 by CNCS, “the report’s finding of a 27 percent increase in odds of
employment was statistically significant. The association between volunteering
and employment remained consistent across each year of the study period and
varying unemployment rates, suggesting that volunteering may provide an
advantage regardless of economic conditions. Importantly, the relationship was
strongest among individuals without a high school diploma (51 percent increase
in odds) and individuals who live in rural areas (55 percent increase in odds).
“This research suggests that people
with limited skills or social connections – particularly those without a high
school education – may see an extra benefit to volunteering as a way to open
doors and level the playing field,” said Dr. Christopher Spera, director of
evaluation and research at CNCS.
Here are the 10 Top
Reasons to Volunteer When You Are Looking for a Job!
Volunteering makes you feel better and boosts your spirits! We all know that job searching
can be very tough. It’s almost like a
constant rejection. This is bound to
affect our self-esteem and everyone should know that this will eventually
reflect on how we present ourselves to others and most especially to potential
employers. Volunteering can take your
mind off your own troubles. It will also
give you confidence that you ARE capable and worth hiring. By volunteering you will stay upbeat and
positive because you are getting out there and doing something! The networking opportunities are an added
bonus.
You can add volunteer work on your résumé as a job. Do you have a gap in your résumé
because it has been more than 6 months since your last job? By volunteering, you get to list it as a job
and it will show an employer that you are still using your skills and staying
honed for work!
You can learn new skills that could be valuable to an employer. Not only are you keeping your
skills up to date by volunteering, but you are also learning new skills that
you can now list on your résumé and bring to the table when you interview! Did you take a lead on a project? Supervise a team of volunteers? Coordinate efforts? What a great opportunity to not only learn
but show off your leadership skills!
Employers want to see that you are doing something while you are job
searching. They appreciate the fact that you are out there and giving back to the
community. Volunteering also shows that
you’re still engaged in the workforce while learning new skills.
You increase your networking capabilities. When you volunteer, you meet
many people in a lot of different positions.
You now have new contacts, who have their own contacts, who have their
own contacts… Well, you get the jist of
it. You have increased your networking
ability exponentially!
You improve your LinkedIn profile. By putting your volunteer work on your
LinkedIn profile, it shows you are well rounded and have more appeal. It also allows you to “link” with anyone
affiliated with the place where you volunteered and any affiliates! Think of the networking capacity there! You can contact potential employers. Besides, think of how many employers
volunteer themselves? You get to meet
them on neutral turf and get to know them.
They might not be hiring but I would bet they will know someone who is!
Volunteering is a great way to gain experience. When talking with people who
recently completed school for a new career they usually lament that no one will
hire them because they have no experience.
Volunteering is a great way to get experience and show a potential
employer that not only do you talk the talk you can walk the walk.
You’re the first to know if a position opens up! There might not be any openings
when you start volunteering, but we all know that the only thing constant is
change. If and when a position becomes
available, you will have the inside track of knowing before any “outsiders”.
Get your foot in the door! If you volunteer at a place where you want a
job, you will be a known quantity. Let’s
face it- when you go to an interview, they really only want to know 3 things.
1. Are you qualified to do the job?
2. Will you stay if we hire you?
3. Will I like working with you?
If you perform your volunteer job like it was a
paying job you will demonstrate what it would be like to work with you. You would be demonstrating your outstanding
abilities such as leadership, work ethic
and professionalism. By
volunteering, you have already answered those 3 crucial questions! You’ve already passed the test!
Well? What do you think? Have you volunteered and gotten a job or
connection that was helpful?