8 Ways How Virtual Volunteering Can Pave The Way For Your Dream Job

Chezuba
May 9, 2022

When we think of Volunteering, we tend to focus on how these activities help the community and the benefits they receive courtesy of one’s volunteering efforts. The fact of the matter is that volunteering not only allows you to help your community but also allows you to enhance your professional abilities and advance your career. Volunteer work, especially when you're just beginning your profession, can help you highlight your skills and expertise on your CV. Virtual volunteering can be an effective approach to demonstrating your work ethic, competence, and passion to future employers, regardless of your current skills and knowledge or background.

In this article, we’ll walk you through eight reasons why volunteering can help you secure your dream job and impress your employers. 

  1. Volunteering can help you gain valuable work experience

Virtual Volunteering adds essential experience to your CV, notably when you're just starting in your career and you need to build up your experience. If you're a recent graduate or looking to change careers, it might be tough to gain work experience without being hired for a specific position. Volunteer work, can help you obtain the necessary job experience in the industry or position you wish to work in while also demonstrating to future employers that, despite a lack of professional experience, you have volunteer experience that can be applied.

  1. Volunteering looks good on your resume

A study conducted & published by the Corporation for National and Community Service - “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?” stated that, individuals who are unemployed but have volunteered have an edge of 27% over those who didn't volunteer when applying for the jobs of their choice. Volunteering as part of a comprehensive volunteer program can help you refine several critical workplace traits, such as communication, line management, teamwork, and using your initiative, in addition to providing you with the abilities that many organizations look for in employees.

  1. You can explore new career opportunities

Virtual volunteering, despite not being a new concept, has come into existence specially catering to the average corporate enthusiast. Virtual volunteering requires volunteers to aid a nonprofit by using their skills. As new job descriptions and opportunities emerge on a rapid basis, avenues to test drive your skills in order to find a job you are good at can be a challenge. By volunteering to draft a fundraising strategy or setting up a social media account for a nonprofit, you will be able to judge the kind of work it entails and the skills you would need to move forward in that position. 

  1. Volunteering can help build your confidence

If you've never worked previously or have been unemployed for a long time, the job search process can be taxing. Applying for volunteering projects will also give you a taste of what employers are seeking, for the position you wish to apply for. Virtual volunteering is a fantastic method to boost your self-esteem and can make you feel valuable, active, and productive.

  1. Expresses your willingness to commit

Volunteering can be arduous work; in fact, a volunteer work for the same position can be just as difficult as a full-time paid position. This is a terrific method to demonstrate to a potential employer how you respond to a challenge. Volunteering demands people who are dedicated, honest, and considerate of others. These characteristics might make volunteers appealing to businesses looking for dedicated employees who can fit into their company's culture.

  1. Volunteering helps add-on to existing skills

Volunteering can help you develop new skills or improve on those you already have by training you and giving you hands-on experience. If you advocate for a subject that interests you and raise awareness or funds for it, you will develop valuable communication, public speaking, marketing, and other hard and soft skills. These talents can then be listed on your CV to demonstrate to employers how you develop relationships outside of work, as well as any personal interests that may help you stand out from other candidates.

  1. Volunteering helps cover gaps on your resume

For those seeking jobs but have gaps on their resumes, an employer might be inclined to choose candidates with either no gaps or a shorter gap period. Volunteering when you are at a career transition stage can help you fill in the gaps your resume might have and help you build experience. Even women who might have taken a break from their corporate jobs can volunteer to brush up on their skills before they enter the workforce again. 

  1. Helps form connections and expand your network

Another advantage of volunteering is that you may uncover possibilities to network with other individuals in order to build new professional relationships, learn about new job openings, and get knowledge about various community organisations that can lead to employment creation. No matter where you volunteer, you can grow your network of experts who could be able to help you with your job search in the future.

To sum up

Virtual Volunteering is one of the best ways to boost your self-esteem and allows you to venture outside of your comfort zone. Volunteering allows you to acquire and apply a variety of abilities, resulting in memorable and meaningful experiences you will be able to harness while applying for a job.

We at Chezuba understand this and have developed a platform for you to be able to choose the skills you want to hone and to volunteer them. We have partnered with nonprofits from around the world who are in need of your expertise. Join us as a volunteer to sharpen your skills and polish your resume to land the job you dream of.

Don't miss these stories: