Volunteer your way to employment
We know lots of our students are passionate volunteers, and as this is the SU’s volunteering week we wanted to help showcase the ways that volunteering can benefit your career and employability.
Here’s 5 ways volunteering is good for your career:
1. Employers really value it
According to research conducted by Deloitte, 82% of employers said that volunteering adds value to a CV, and 85% said that seeing voluntary experience would help make them overlook other flaws on a CV. Volunteering shows a lot about your character as a person and a professional.
2. It demonstrates the skills employers are looking for
Employers tell us they value skills gained through activities beyond paid work. Volunteering can be a great way to add to your skills evidence bank. Through volunteering you can evidence a wealth of skills including problem-solving, creativity, project planning, persuasion, team-work, leadership and adaptability – as well as showing you can manage it alongside your degree
3. It shows your passion
Volunteering can help show prospective employers what you’re interested in and value. This is especially helpful if you’re interested in a career where you’re making a positive impact in some way. Volunteering can also help you discover what matters to you and what skills you have and enjoy using – which can feed into your career decision-making.
4. It builds your network
Volunteering will give you opportunities to get to know people you might otherwise not get to meet, and these people could be really useful in giving you careers insights and advice.
5. It supports your wellbeing
Doing something outside of your degree – particularly something where you feel you’re making a difference to others – is great for your wellbeing and confidence. Employers are talking a lot at the moment about wanting employees who can show resilience and know how to look after themselves.
So – if you haven’t given volunteering a go, check out the opportunities with the SU and have a go at something that inspires you. If you volunteer already, reflect on the skills that volunteering has given you. Remember employers will also look for concrete evidence of how you’ve developed these skills. Here’s an example of how you can showcase employability skills through volunteering:
• ACTIVITY: I am a peer mentor at University supporting first years especially when they start university
So What?
• SKILLS:
• So What? This experience has developed my listening and empathy skills
• EVIDENCE: For example, one particular student felt completed isolated and didn’t get on with any of her flatmates. I listened to her story, empathised and helped her to identify solutions, such as joining societies in order to meet other students. She eventually settled into university life and was able to continue with her course.
Respond
