Volunteering, an act of helping, assisting, or serving another person or persons without pay, is a mutually beneficial opportunity. It is a chance to help others while gaining many opportunities and self-reward. What you might not know is that volunteering is well worth your time and effort in order to advance in your career. You can consider the reason why, and then volunteer. Volunteering is a career building tactic.
While volunteering, you can develop new skills, network and gain a new perspective on your life. So, how about if we learn some of the benefits of volunteering in your career building phase?
Here, let us show you how simple tasks like volunteering will help in advancing your career development.
Skill Development
No matter what stage of your career, early or maturity, there is always a room available, to grow. Volunteering opportunity will help you develop your current skills in new ways. For example, as a volunteer you might be able to try out a new computer program, develop customer service skills, practice speaking in public or even be able to organize a small event. As you learn more new skills, you get a chance to advance in your career as well.
While participating in volunteering activities, your supervisors will be willing to teach you some new skills and you can use it to improve your specific skills such as interpersonal skills. You can also participate in programs to learn new things and develop new skills as well. It’s a matter of fact that volunteering can make a big difference in your skill development.
Networking
Your network is all the people you know and all the people they know. You will never know who you’ll meet in your volunteer days. Every new person you meet becomes a part of your network and may likely connect you with other contacts and career opportunities. You may even meet someone who might offer you your destined job because they recognize you as the right person.
Volunteering is a perfect chance where you can move ahead in your right career path. It creates a way for you to connect with people personally; one with whom you’re serving and others with whom you work with. Everyone who volunteers uses this platform to enhance their networks, so why don’t you start as well?
Personal Growth
Knowing yourself; your skills, accomplishments, interests and values; is the foundation of your career success. Volunteering experience can be a good way to learn more about yourself and your capability to grow and develop further. This opportunity provides you many chances and mediums for personal development. Volunteering helps you to learn and grow as a person.
You become more aware of important issues and needs around you. Because of volunteering, we stay mentally engaged as we age and if we choose to volunteer in a physical way, then it will help us to keep our bodies fit and healthy.
Leadership Skills Enhancement
There are many charities, parent organizations and civic groups that would welcome candidates to act as committee chairpersons, managers or board members. If you are looking to build your leadership for managerial roles in your career, leading into a volunteering program is a great strategy.
Volunteering will expose you to such outline that tests your ability to lead under tough circumstances with limited resources. Working as a volunteer is a great opportunity to test your management and leadership skills.
Professional Work Experience
Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long term commitment. Also, it is a great way to gain experience in a new field. When you volunteer, you meet and work with people with different attitudes and point of views which can help you to be more flexible and adaptable. For example, if you’re interested in nursing, you could volunteer at a hospital or a nursing home.
Your volunteer work might also expose you to the professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career. Volunteering is a win-win situation. There are so many good reasons to volunteer. By helping others, you have the opportunity to boost not only your career but your own well-being.
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