When you’re looking for a new job, it can be hard to think about doing much else. Job searches are time-consuming and mentally exhausting, so the idea of spending your free time volunteering probably doesn’t sound very appealing.

But did you know that volunteering could actually help you find a new job? According to one study reported in Fortune, over 80% of hiring managers state that they “prefer applicants with volunteer experience, and 92% say volunteer activities build leadership skills.”

Volunteer work is not only good for the community and the public at large, but it also provides job seekers with the chance to develop and hone valuable skills. Not to mention, you can list volunteer experience on resumes, meaning it could help you fill in employment gaps or provide more references.

Why is Volunteering Important?

The answer to this question may be obvious to some, but there are actually a lot of benefits to volunteer work that many are not aware of. In addition to strengthening communities and providing aid to the less fortunate, volunteer work has been shown to improve physical and mental health, while also relieving stress. Research even suggests that people who volunteer over 100 hours a year (which is only 2 hours a week) are some of the healthiest people in the US.

Volunteering is also important when it comes to career opportunities and job prospects. The experience gained and connections made through volunteering could be advantageous next time you go looking for new work. Let’s say you’re in need of another recommendation, a volunteer coordinator could be just the person to ask. Perhaps you want to practice your leadership skills or public speaking, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities that would serve those purposes as well.

Volunteering Experience Examples

Depending on where you decide to devote your time, you may find volunteer opportunities that improve any combination of the following skills:

-        Public Speaking

-        Social Media

-        Public Relations

-        Technology Skills

-        Presentation Skills

-        Project Management

-        Time Management

-        Ability to Work in a Group

-        Leadership Skills

And many more!

Does Volunteering Count as Work Experience?

This is important to understand when thinking about how to put volunteer experience on a resume, and the answer to the question ‘does volunteering count as work experience’ is yes. And no.

While you should definitely list volunteer experience on resumes, you don’t necessarily want to list your efforts under the banner of ‘work experience’. That said, you should try to include this information somewhere. You can list it under its own section if you have enough volunteer experience to fill it out. Otherwise, this is a wonderful thing to mention in a cover letter or find a way to organically mention it during an interview.

How to Know Where to Volunteer

There are countless volunteer opportunities out there, which can make it hard to choose what type of organization to devote your time to. First and foremost, we suggest taking on volunteer work that you actually care about, in order to make the hours you give worthwhile and fulfilling.

You can also narrow your scope by looking at volunteering opportunities based specifically on the skills you hope to improve. For instance, if you want to get better at public speaking, you might volunteer to speak at a public hearing, visit schools, or run a booth at community events.

Another thing you might want to consider is choosing to volunteer for an organization you would actually like to work at. 77% of nonprofits report that skilled volunteers can improve the organization’s business practices. In other words, you could find yourself in a position where you are helping to grow the organization, and therefore making yourself known as a valuable business asset. Perhaps then, you could inquire about potential paid opportunities within the nonprofit, and that could end up being your new career path.

The Time Commitment…

We understand that searching for a job is going to eat up a lot of your time, and if you’re still currently working in your old position, it can seem nearly impossible to find even an hour left in your day to volunteer.

Thankfully, you have options. At CyberCoders, we offer unrivaled recruiting technology to help you find a true match in a fraction of the time. Our recruitment experts are so good, that most qualified candidates land an interview in just 5 days! That would leave you with plenty of time to hit your local food bank or walk the dogs at the nearest animal shelter.