How to become a volunteer to gain experience

Volunteering is a great way to not only help others but it can be a great way to improve your career prospects. Many people use a volunteer job to gain experience and a reference to lend better-paid jobs.

Benefit of volunteering

One of the major benefits of volunteering is that businesses and organizations look on volunteering as positive attribute, as it shows that people are keen to gain necessary experience even without pay. So, if the right volunteering opportunity comes a long and there is no viable paid alternative then you should grab the opportunity with both hands.

Volunteering in the right sector

Since many people do volunteering work to gain experience, it is highly advisable that you seek a volunteer job that is actually in the sector you will eventually like to work in, or at least related in some way. This way the reference that you will obtain will be more meaningful and influence potential employers.

Who should volunteer

• Volunteering can be great for those seeking to gain experience.

• Those wishing to get a foothold in a particular sector.

• A paid job is not an option due to lack of experience.

Volunteering abroad

There are lots of opportunities available to volunteer abroad. Many people who volunteer abroad do so for humanitarian reasons. However, even these positions can be invaluable to organisations looking for a different type of work experience.

Students

• Great for students. Sometimes firms do not want to take students on as they lack experience. A volunteer job in an appropriate position can be wonderful way to attain experience.

• People changing careers. Again firms are sometimes reluctant to take people on to paid jobs after they have changed their career directions altogether. They would prefer people to have some experience in the line of work, so gaining experience through volunteering even for a short period of time might be the way to go.

Finding volunteer job

• If it's a volunteer job in the public sector you are looking for, ask local government organisations if they have volunteer jobs.

• There are many ways someone can find a volunteer job. Most local and national classifieds job section usually carries a segment on volunteering.

• Ask friends any other contacts. Many jobs or volunteering positions are found through networking.

• Students would find their careers service at college/university as an invaluable source.