Besides helping others, being a volunteer will improve your skills, help you to make new friends and gives you invaluable experience. The value of volunteer work is unmatched when you are a student, and it is the perfect way to get yourself a leg up when you start to enter the workforce.
Volunteering gives you the chance to:
- Gain invaluable experience and put your skills to work in a field related to your studies
- Develop your employability skills
- Develop contacts and networks in a field relevant to your career goals
- Give your resume a boost
How to Choose a Volunteering Role
There are many ways to find volunteering roles, and they are more common than you might think! You can search within a cause, sector or organisation, or use your networks to find opportunities.
When you are on your volunteer search, you should try and find a cause or industry that you feel passionate about, and where you can learn and gain valuable skills. You should do your research thoroughly and consider the following:
- What does the organisation stand for and what do they do? Learn more about their mission and values, previous work and current projects.
- What types of opportunities are available? Will you be able to do something that matches your interests and will build your skillset? Are there future career opportunities?
- How much time can you commit to volunteering? Between paid work, study and volunteering, your life can get very busy, very quickly! Consider whether you are looking for long term or short term work. Will it be a one-off or will it be an on-going obligation? Prioritise balancing your studies, volunteering, work and social commitments.
If you are looking for a way to get industry experience while studying, then volunteering is a fantastic opportunity. The right placement can elevate your career opportunities and help to make you more employable in a competitive graduate pool. Not only will it help you with your personal development, but volunteering can be an amazing way to make friends and build your social circles.