Volunteering expands your network
Your network is all the people you know and all the people they know. Volunteering gives you the chance to meet new people and expand your network. Keep a list of the contacts you make while volunteering. These include staff, board members, clients, other volunteers, and suppliers.
Even if you're not planning on changing careers, volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice important skills used in the workplace, such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, project planning, task management, and organization.
Volunteering Helps You Build Your Network
Acquaintances and friends can connect you to people in your industry, introduce you to new opportunities, give you job leads, speak to your talents, and more. “The idea is to develop a network of friendly people who share information to help each other,” advises Career Key.
VOLUNTEERING ACTIVITIES
When potential employers see a gap in your resume, they're going to bring it up. By volunteering, you bridge that gap and increase your chances of finding a new job. People who volunteer are 27 percent more likely to find a job after being out of work than those who don't.
Here are some examples of skills volunteers need to have:
Here are 20 skills you learn when volunteering with Youth Volunteer Corps that will help you get your first job and be successful in that position:
Benefits of volunteering
Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills
While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests.
Start conversations with volunteers and prospects with the goal of getting to know them. Provide volunteers with a mentor. Create volunteer teams to promote social experiences. Encourage volunteers to engage by providing multiple ways to do so.
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