IN today’s more difficult economic climate, competition for jobs and college or university places can be tougher than ever, but volunteering your time to a good cause can give you a competitive edge. Anne Richardson, from the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service explains.
Have you ever felt the desire to help your community, but wondered how you would find the time? There can many real professional and personal advantages to giving your time for non-profit work. It can also be an excellent way to gain work experience and broaden your social network.
Volunteer work will help flesh out your CV and set you apart from the crowd. Past charity work says a lot about your character and highlights your good nature. Even more importantly, volunteer positions show future employers your drive and dedication.
A non-profit job also opens the door to meeting many interesting and diverse people that can have an impact on your life, in one way or another. Keep in mind that social contacts are also a potential career investment: an acquaintance could very well be the key to a new career opportunity. Networking is a valuable tool to increasing your business prospects.
There’s another perhaps forgotten benefit. Feeling under the weather? Try volunteering! Research shows there may be health benefits to volunteering.
Perhaps the most important of all reasons to volunteer is to experience the sense of achievement and personal fulfilment that volunteering can bring.
To find a volunteer job that is right for you, first consider your interests and determine which causes you are most passionate about. Do you enjoy working directly with people? Is caring for animals or wildlife more your style? Once you have determined the general type of work that inspires you, you can contact local organisations to find out if they are in need of volunteers. For a broad view of some of the positions that are available, check www.volunteernow.co.uk
Also good to remember is that in recent times with the competition for places in colleges/universities, relevant experience may be required to secure a place on a particular course.
This is especially the case for health related industries.
So what are you waiting for? Log onto www.volunteernow.co.uk where the jobs and skill search lets you search online for volunteering opportunities throughout the United Kingdom. To search for voluntary work simply type in the search box what you are looking for and where.
For further information on how volunteering can help your career planning, log onto the web at www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers or call 0300 200 7820 to find your local careers adviser.