The Corporation for National and Community Service has released new research,“Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment,” which provides the most compelling empirical research to date establishing an association between volunteering and employment in the United States. The results of this study suggest a statistically significant and highly stable association between volunteering and employment. Volunteers have a 22% higher odds of finding employment after being out of work than non-volunteers.
What are the benefits of Volunteering?
– Learning and doing things that you wouldn’t have an opportunity without higher level authority
– Getting experience and po0lishing up your skills – technical and people skills
– Seeing new ways of getting things done
– Getting to know people you wouldn’t otherwise meet.
– People get to know you and your contributions and can serve as a reference for you
– Helps your own morale and energy to be doing something for others
– Shows you have initiative and self-motivation
When choosing a volunteer opportunity, look for a a cause that you really care about. Think about and then seek opportunities to develop the skills or expertise that are relevant to your next career step. Not all volunteerism belongs on your resume.