Relationships Sundays

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Whether you're job hunting or currently employed, multiple opportunities to contribute selflessly to your community are available. Volunteer work impacts everyone involved and is rewarding. Knowing the benefits can help you understand why it is important to take up volunteer roles.In this article, we discuss the benefits of volunteering, places and ways to volunteer, and tips for finding volunteer opportunities.

What are the benefits of volunteering?

Volunteering offers you social, personal, and career benefits. It is a way to help others and make a positive difference in their lives. Regardless of your personal and professional background or history, you can volunteer in your local community or take part in international volunteer programs.

Personal benefits of volunteer work

While volunteer work focuses on helping other, there are several personal benefits of volunteerism. Here are ways volunteering can positively impact your well-being:

Volunteering brings fulfilment

Volunteer work can bring more opportunities to have fun and reach your personal goals. For example, you may decide to take part in volunteer work involving your hobbies or volunteer at a summer camp if you enjoy working with children. Many activities also boost self-motivation, which you can transfer into your professional life.

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose

As a volunteer, your duties are typically purposeful, and they involve adding value to people or animals and sustaining environments. It can also help you find your purpose. For example, you may discover you love caring for people while volunteering as a nurse aide.

Volunteering promotes good health

Contributing to projects and organizations that you're passionate about feels good. This excitement and good feeling that comes with volunteering can help reduce the effects of anger, anxiety, and stress. It can also help you recognize and apply strategies to remain happy. For example, working as a volunteer educational counsellor can help you identify strategies to stay happy, which you can apply in your personal life.

Career benefits of volunteer work

Here are the top ways you can advance your career as a volunteer:

Volunteering can add experience to your resume

Volunteer work can provide you with practical experience and lessons, especially if you're starting your career or changing positions. For example, if finding an attorney position you want seems challenging, consider taking up pro bono work. Pro bono refers to services offered by a professional for free or at a reduced cost.

Volunteering can help prepare you for a new career or position change

Working as a volunteer can also help you determine whether a career path interests you. For example, if you're about to choose a major, volunteering at your neighbourhood hospital can help you decide whether you're passionate about becoming a doctor. Volunteer experience can also provide valuable career information regarding your preferences and work habits.

Volunteering can help you develop and apply new skills

The training and experience you gain while working as a volunteer can help you learn new skills and improve your skill set. For example, while volunteering at a local library, you may learn how to use advanced software packages or efficient techniques for sorting data on spreadsheets. You can include new skills you learned on your resume and cover letter to enhance your application for paid positions.

Volunteering can expand your network

Seeking volunteer positions can help you meet people in your field, who may become a part of your network or go on to mentor you. The connections you make can also improve your job prospects. For example, hiring managers may see you as a good fit for paid positions if they already have a sense of your abilities and work ethic from volunteer roles. Volunteering can also help you to stay current with changes in your field. By volunteering in your professional association, you can learn about advancements in your field.Read more: Guidelines on How To Network

Social benefits of volunteerism

Here are the social benefits of becoming a volunteer:

Volunteering helps you meet new friends

Organizations typically accept multiple volunteers to work on projects, such as fundraising projects, political campaigns, or home construction projects. By volunteering, you can make new friends and strengthen relationships with your colleagues and family members you volunteer with at the establishment. Meeting different personalities enables you to learn about other perspectives and personal narratives. For example, a restaurant server you volunteer with may teach you a new technique for making your favourite dish. You can also develop your social skills by meeting new friends.

Volunteering boosts self-esteem and makes you more confident

Volunteering provides a sense of accomplishment, which can help you feel better about yourself. By taking on challenging volunteer roles, you can also be more confident about your abilities. For example, helping a student with their academic concerns as a volunteer counsellor can make you more confident in your ability to guide others.

Volunteering helps you connect with your community

Becoming a volunteer is a good way to be more socially aware. Being socially aware means understanding people, interpreting emotions accurately, and staying informed about the environment. Volunteer experience can also drive you to get involved with other community aspects.

Where to volunteer

Here are the most common places where you can volunteer in your community:

Schools

You can volunteer as a tutor, or work as a volunteer educational counsellor. You may also organize or assist with club activities, such as chess or cycling club activities. Consider trying out multiple roles before deciding on a volunteer position that aligns with your personality and interests.

Animal shelters

At animal shelters, you can volunteer to care for pets, organize fundraising events, or make social media posts. Other tasks to consider are working as a volunteer bookkeeper or providing legal advice. Consider offering to work in a technical role if you have technical skills, such as knowledge of computer systems or proficiency with graphic design software.

Libraries

Consider volunteering to sort and re-shelve library books in your local library. If paperwork needs to be in a computer system, offer to enter them for the librarian. You may also contribute to organizing library events such as book-reading programs.

Hospitals

You can work as a hospital volunteer to help escort patients. If you have medical experience, you may also offer to assist doctors during operations or help nurses provide medical care to patients. Otherwise, consider offering to read to patients or working in the waiting area. Before you can work as a hospital volunteer, you typically need to pass a health screening test.

Home construction organizations

Consider helping to build homes for families. To qualify as a volunteer at home construction organizations, you typically need to know how to use hand tools, such as wrenches, hammers, and saws. Employers typically provide on-the-job training on building homes and the safety standards of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

Other Relationships

Where is your favorite place to volunteer and why?