How Can Volunteering Help You Get a Job?

Volunteering can significantly boost your employment prospects, with studies showing volunteers are 27% more likely to find a job after being out of work. This benefit is even more pronounced for those without a high school diploma (51% higher likelihood) and individuals in rural areas (55% higher likelihood). Beyond the personal fulfillment, strategically leveraging volunteer work develops marketable skills, expands your professional network, and enhances your resume, making you a more competitive candidate.

How Does Volunteering Develop New Skills for Your Career?

Volunteering provides a low-risk environment to gain and practice professional skills that your current or past jobs may not offer. This is a form of experiential learning, where you acquire knowledge through direct, hands-on experience. If you need specific experience for a target role, you can seek volunteer opportunities that align with those needs. For example:

• Project Management: Organizing a charity event or a fundraising campaign from start to finish.
• Sales and Outreach: Contacting potential donors or recruiting new volunteers builds persuasion and communication skills.
• Team Leadership: Coordinating a group of volunteers for a project develops your ability to manage and motivate a team.

Listing these developed skills on your resume demonstrates initiative to potential employers and shows you haven’t been stagnant during periods of unemployment.

What Networking Opportunities Does Volunteering Provide?

You never know who you might meet while doing charity work. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), volunteers engage with their communities at a much higher rate than non-volunteers. By choosing a volunteer role related to your target industry, you dramatically increase your chances of connecting with people who share similar professional interests. These connections can lead to informational interviews, referrals, and direct job leads that are often not advertised to the public. Your fellow volunteers or the staff at the organization can become valuable parts of your professional network.

How Can You Effectively Showcase Volunteer Work on a Resume?

Treat volunteer experience as professional experience. Instead of using a generic title like "Volunteer," reframe your role to reflect your responsibilities, such as "Fundraising Project Coordinator" or "Community Workshop Instructor." On your resume, list the organization, your functional title, and the dates of service. Underneath, use bullet points to describe your key accomplishments and results, just as you would for a paid position. This approach helps fill employment gaps credibly and adds depth to your career history, showing hiring managers your proactive approach to skill-building.

Can Volunteering Increase Your Confidence During a Job Search?

Giving back provides an energizing boost to your self-worth and confidence, which is crucial during the often-disheartening job search process. Being a valued contributor to a cause you care about reinforces a positive self-identity. As Andy Bales, CEO of Union Rescue Mission, notes, volunteers are the backbone of any nonprofit and directly impact lives. This sense of accomplishment can translate into a more positive and assertive demeanor in interviews and networking situations, making you a more compelling candidate.

To maximize the career benefits of volunteering, target roles that align with your professional goals, quantify your accomplishments, and proactively integrate the experience into your job search narrative.