Everyone sees volunteering differently – some people see it as a way to give back, others just want to support the communities towards which they feel a sense of belonging, while others just want to get some hands-on experience in the field of work and make new friends.
But, regardless of how you see it, volunteering is a great way to practice empathy and get out of your comfort zone. This is even more important today when social media platforms and websites give us an easy way to escape reality into our own personal bubbles.
Besides grounding us in reality, volunteering also brings a sense of community and purpose. But it’s not just that; when you look at the big picture, it’s easy to see why so many Americans (at least one in four) are so invested. And, if you have trouble seeing the big picture, here are a few reasons to keep you moving forward:
1. You Meet New People and Make Connections
You probably know by now that networking is important for your professional growth, but LinkedIn is not the only place where you can do this. Sure, the various online platforms are great for connecting with people, but face-to-face interactions are stronger and more fulfilling.
Plus, people who volunteer for the same organization have common ground and interests, so it’s easier to find topics of conversation. Also, the overall atmosphere is often relaxed and friendly, so it’s easier to engage in dialogue than it would be at an event or conference.
You also have a wonderful chance to develop your personal network. When you work together towards a common goal, it’s easier to find friends and acquaintances with similar values and ideas.
Tip: Create and maintain a list of the contacts you meet through volunteering. It doesn’t matter what these people do for a living as long as you feel a genuine connection with them. As you grow older, these people will become your support network.
2. You Can Work as a Volunteer from Home
The main complaint you hear from people when it comes to volunteering is the lack of time. But you don’t have to go to the local soup kitchen three times a week if you can’t find the time; there are other ways to help.
For instance, if you have a good sense of design, you can take over marketing tasks, such as creating promotional materials. When you have the right tools, it’s easy to put together a flyer with photos from previous activities to show new recruits and supporters what your organization is doing. And all of this can be done from home whenever you have a few minutes to spare.
3. You Have the Freedom to Explore
If you’re passionate about what you do, you won’t work a day in your life, right? But you need the time and space to explore different possibilities before you can say you’ve found your passion (or at least one of your passions).
Volunteering is a great way to find your passion and purpose in life because it gives you the freedom to explore different activities and situations. For instance, if you’ve always worked in the corporate environment, you may want to know how a startup feels without taking the pay cut. Plus, it gives you a great chance to improve by figuring yourself out.
4. It Can Boost Your Career
Volunteering is a great way to add that “something extra” employers want to your resume. If you’re applying for a job at a company that’s involved with the local community, you’ll stand out (in a good way) if you have a history of volunteering.
On the other hand, you may get in contact with the representatives of such companies while volunteering. If you already have an employee (especially if it’s someone in management) recommending your resume for a position within the company, it’s a lot easier to get in.
And let’s not forget about networking. A contact you’ve made through volunteering may help your career in the future – you never know how the tides will turn.
5. Find Your Mentor/Mentee
A good mentor can help guide your professional decisions and identify the areas where you can improve. They can also open doors that otherwise would’ve been inaccessible.
However, mentors are not easy to find since not everyone will do. You need to be able to open up to such a person, and this requires a certain level of trust. That’s why volunteering is a great way to look for a mentor – you can take the time to observe and understand the people who may look good for the position.
On the flip side, if you’re already in a position to give advice and guidance, volunteering is a great way to find mentees. So it works both ways.
6. Get a Confidence Boost
Maybe you’re in high school or college, and you don’t feel prepared for the next phase of your life. Or maybe you’re already working but still don’t feel like you have a grasp on things.
The only way to improve is to try new things and interact with more people. And this is where volunteering comes in handy. It provides you with a friendly environment without any high expectations. Plus, you are free to leave whenever you like.
A cause you can get behind, and a team that makes you feel valuable will make your confidence pique. Add to this all the other great things that come with volunteering, such as a broad network, new friends and mentors, increased experience working with people, and new skills, and you have a fail-safe recipe for confidence.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you won’t have to face failure in the future, but you’ll have the self-confidence to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and move on.
Read: 7 Things You Should Do When You Doubt Yourself
Wrap Up
Volunteering isn’t just great for the local communities and the less fortunate. It’s also amazing for the people actively involved in giving back because they feel like they have a purpose. Plus, it shows you are an ambitious, curious person, and these are highly sought-after traits by some of the most reputable employers.