Volunteering is a perfect opportunity to give back to the community, raise awareness, and make a positive change in the world. But it is also quite beneficial for students in terms of future employment and prospective careers.
Of course, students do not have much free time. The curriculum might be overloaded with written assignments and deadlines. And the majority of students also try to work part-time or do side gigs to support their education financially. All of that is overwhelming in itself and gives little free time for any other activities. A student might think that there is no way they can do volunteer work because they have all these essays, research papers, or case studies to do.
Luckily, there is a solution to that – WritePaper offer students paper writing service help at affordable prices. It is a great option when you are not confident in your skills and need expert assistance. Whether you’ve forgotten about a deadline or just need a little free time – there are people out there ready to help. After all, the secret to a balanced life is in prioritization of what is important right now. It will allow more volunteering options as they are beneficial not only for the community but for students themselves.
Not only does it help to gain a sense of purpose and relieve stress, but it is also advantageous for your future. Here are the main reasons why.
Learn New Skills
Of course, theoretical knowledge is great. But there is no doubt that many skills can be learned only by practicing. Volunteering allows learning both hard and soft skills of all kinds, depending on the activity you choose. Hard ones depend on the work you do, maybe it is carpeting while building housing for those in need or cooking. As for the soft ones, you’ll train:
- Communication and social skills;
- Teamwork;
- Leadership;
- Time management;
- Organization;
- Prioritization;
- Proactiveness;
- Critical thinking, etc.
Not only do those things help you develop personally and grow, but they also look great on a resume. Especially when backed up by real-life experience instead of being bold claims.
Gain Specific Experience
One of the main problems many graduates deal with while looking for a job is a lack of experience. And volunteering is a perfect opportunity to gain that. Usually, any type of real-life commitment is great, but it is especially beneficial if you work in a field related to your profession.
For example, as a medical student, you can help out in hospitals. Or as a future veterinarian, you can work with animals.
The opportunities are almost endless, so you can find something related to your future career. You can see first-hand how everything works and gain insights into the industry. There is nothing better than experience when it comes to proving your skills and knowledge to a prospective employer.
Explore Opportunities
Another advantage of volunteering is that students can explore different fields and career opportunities. Maybe you’ve always dreamed about teaching, but have never actually tried it. A good idea would be to try and see for yourself – is it really something you want to devote your life to?
Or maybe you do not know yet what career you want to go for in your field. It is also great to explore what is available and how you like it. As there are many organizations and programs to join, students can try out the real-life experience and be more confident in their choices. And it is a safe way to do so. You do not risk wasting time or losing a job, as you are helping others.
Network
Shared activity and purpose are an amazing opportunity to meet new people. One can find new friends and a like-minded community to join. Even if it is not directly linked to a future career now, you might never know what connections can help.
And if you are volunteering in the field of prospective employment, it is even better. You’ll get to connect to people from the industry. Some you can learn from, others can learn from you. Maybe you’ll be working together in the future or meet at industry-related events. In any case, it won’t feel so scary and lonely to join the industry when you already know people there.
Of course, networking is hugely beneficial for almost any type of career. So there are no downsides to that.
Improve Well-Being
This one might not be as direct as previous points. Yet, it is an essential one.
Volunteering is good both for physical and mental health. It helps to live a more mindful and purposeful life, which motivates one to grow personally and professionally. There is nothing more crucial than well-being when it comes to succeeding in all aspects, including career.
- Volunteering helps to reduce stress and anxiety. Helping others has a profound effect on the human psyche in general. And some activities, like working with pets, are known for stress-reducing effects.
- It helps to combat depression. There are several ways of that – connection to others, communication, building a support group, and finding a sense of purpose. It is easier to go on when you know that there is something meaningful you can do.
- It helps to stay happy and satisfied. Being helpful to others produces happy hormones in our brain. When you give to others, you also gain something.
Volunteers might feel more confident and motivated in their activities. It is all about purpose and doing something good for the community. The natural feel of accomplishment and making a change is a great serotonin booster.
Increase Employability
It is a known fact that volunteering helps to get through college admissions. It shows the active approach, leadership, decision-making, and responsibility of a person.
The same goes for employability and future resume. For example, if you go for a summer volunteering program abroad, it is a perfect option to illustrate your flexibility and adaptability. It also proves that you learn fast and are not afraid of making decisions.
Working with kids proves that you have strong social skills and can easily communicate different concepts.
Overall, any type of volunteering makes one more employable in the future. Picture yourself as an employer. Would you hire a person that has first-hand experience and is not afraid to go out there and help others? Or would you go for a candidate that doesn’t have such experiences at all?
For an employer, volunteering implies that you’ve worked already and thus you are a less risky choice than someone who has no idea about the industry except for theoretical knowledge.
In Summary
Volunteering is great for those in need and the community. But it is as beneficial for volunteers as for those they help. Not only does it improve overall well-being. It is incredibly advantageous for future employment. It allows developing hard and soft skills that can be trained only through practice. Students can explore work opportunities by trying different things. And they can also gain real-life experience in the industry and understand it more.
And, of course, it always looks great on your resume. It is proof of skills and knowledge.
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