Four ways to use volunteering to kickstart your career

Having volunteer experience on your resume can give you an edge in the job market. Hiring experts share the benefits – besides the warm fuzzy feeling of giving back.

VOLUNTEERING is not just good for the soul, but it can provide very real benefits for jobseekers – particularly those at the beginning of their career.

Two in three hirers say they look more favourably on candidates that have volunteer experience on their resume, new research from employment marketplace SEEK reveals.

They are perceived to have better interpersonal skills (43 per cent of hirers believe this), be more proactive about developing their career (42 per cent) and be unafraid of challenges (40 per cent).

Online portal SEEK Volunteer currently lists more than 8800 volunteering opportunities that span one-off events through to six-month commitments.

Some require specific skills – such as photography, web development or a foreign language – or a specific ticket – such as a driver’s license or Working with Children Check – but many do not have any prerequisites.

So how can jobseekers use volunteer experience to their advantage?

LEARN OR REFINE SKILLS

Recruitment agency Adecco Australia’s managing director Kelly Van Nelson says volunteering provides the opportunity to learn both technical and human skills.

“While (some) skills may not be a direct reflection of what you need for your career, they can certainly be transferable,” she says.

“Think of skills like problem solving, teamwork and collaboration, resilience and client/customer-facing skills.”

Adecco’s Kelly Van Nelson says volunteers can learn skills such as teamwork and problem solving. Picture: Supplied

Computer science graduate Alexa Nguyen, 26, landed her role as an associate developer with SEEK after volunteering with Code Like A Girl, a social enterprise providing girls and women with the confidence and knowledge to thrive in the male-dominated world of computer coding.

“(I started) because I wanted to contribute to a worthwhile cause and help create a safe space for women in tech in Adelaide, but I quickly discovered that it provided me with the tools to develop important professional skills like communication, interpersonal and team work skills, time management through balancing volunteering and study, problem solving and adaptability,” she says.

Alexa Nguyen landed an associate developer role after volunteering. Picture: Supplied

Nguyen, who studied in Adelaide but is now based in Perth, also worked as a workshop volunteer with Robogals Adelaide, a media lab volunteer with Adelaide City Library, and volunteer photographer for events such as Big Day In, the Japanese Film Festival and AVCon.

“I left the interview (with SEEK) feeling quite good because I was able to answer questions using specific examples from my volunteer experience,” she says.

PROVE YOUR PASSION

Van Nelson says volunteering in a field they are professionally interested in or doing tasks that might be required in their desired role highlights a jobseeker’s ambition and enthusiasm for the area.

The Star Entertainment Group chief people and performance officer Kim Lee agrees.

“Volunteering can help bridge the experience gap and demonstrate to future employers an applicant’s ambition to pursue a career in their sector,” she says.

The Star’s Kim Lee says volunteering shows ambition and commitment to a sector. Picture: Glenn Hampson

BUILD NETWORKS

As well as gaining referees that can be added to a CV, volunteers can make new contacts that may be helpful down the line.

Van Nelson says building networks is “one of the most effective ways to catapult your career forward”.

The Star Entertainment Group head of internal communications Anita Finlayson got her break into the communications industry 20 years ago via a volunteer role.

“I was working as a rep for a pharmaceutical company, studying for my Bachelor of Business in Public Relations and did volunteer work at RSPCA Queensland on the weekends,” she says.

“I got to know some of the office team including the head of media, communications and fundraising, so when a role came up in their team she encouraged me to apply.”

Anita Finlayson, pictured with Dougal, got her break into the communications industry after volunteering with the RSPCA. Picture: John Appleyard

Finlayson advises volunteers spend time getting to know the organisation and its people well.

“From leaders to team members, you never know who you’ll run into and leave an impression on,” she says.

“Always treat everyone with respect.”

INCREASE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

EQ – or emotional intelligence – has become increasingly important as employers realise the value of having a team that is self aware and can get along.

Van Nelson says volunteering allows people to expand their EQ and develop it as a trait they can use in their career.

“Those with high EQ are well positioned to both manage and lead others, and it’s a trait that hiring managers are always looking out for,” she says.

VOLUNTEER POSITIONS AVAILABLE NOW

SOURCE: volunteer.com.au

3440 Community services roles

1370 Seniors and aged care roles

700 Young people roles

530 Education and training roles

340 Health roles

320 Disability services role

280 Human rights roles

250 Environment and conservation roles

220 Animal welfare roles

170 Museum and heritage roles

150 Family services roles

150 Arts and culture roles

150 Sports roles

110 Homelessness roles

100 Emergency response roles

90 Recreation roles

80 Migrant services roles

70 Mentoring and advocacy roles

40 Mental health roles

20 Drug and Alcohol Services roles

Originally published as Four ways to use volunteering to kickstart your career