Give Your Career a Boost Through Volunteering

We live in a competitive world. According to recent data, UK employers receive an average of 260 applications per role. So, if you’re looking for work, or a change of career, you need a way of making yourself stand out from the crowd.

Professional development is often associated with training courses, qualifications, and years of workplace experience. But what if I told you that one of the most effective ways to build professional skills, skills that employers will find valuable, is volunteering?

One of the biggest advantages of volunteering is the opportunity to develop transferable skills. Sometimes this can be a way of filling gaps in your own skillset, perhaps because your current job or course of study doesn’t include them. Organising, managing, coordinating, communication, leadership, project management, problem-solving – there are volunteer roles that can help with all these things. These are the kinds of skills that employers consistently look for.

Volunteering also allows you to step outside of your comfort zone in a safe and supported way. In paid employment, roles and responsibilities can become familiar and routine, but volunteer positions often provide the chance to try something new without the pressure of a formal job description. If you work in administration, for example, you may discover a talent for public speaking through community events. By thinking of volunteering in a different kind of way, you could find all manner of opportunities that will be helpful to your own career future.

Most importantly, volunteering demonstrates initiative. Employers value people who are willing to invest their time and energy beyond their paid responsibilities. It signals commitment, reliability, and a desire to contribute to something bigger.

And don’t discount the importance of qualities such as empathy, resilience, and emotional intelligence, all of which are essential in modern workplaces. Technical skills can be taught, but understanding people, building trust, and working collaboratively must be lived to work really well.

If you are in work and looking to develop your skills, if you’re out of work and want to build a CV that will appeal to employers, or if you’re looking to change careers and need wider experiences to help you on your way, volunteering could be just the professional development tool that you need.

Our district is filled with organisations and projects that would welcome your support – and they’ll be just as happy to support you too.

Visit our Volunteer Centre for more.