Like everyone else, students lead busy lives; so the idea of fitting volunteering into your jam-packed schedule can be tricky. But evidence shows time spent volunteering has many benefits – not just for the people being helped, but the volunteer themselves too. So what are some of the main benefits of volunteering for students? Let’s take a look.
Learn about a career you’re considering
Work experience can sometimes be hard to find, and can also feel like it lacks a sense of real responsibility or experience. Conversely, volunteering opportunities can be easier to find and allow you to test-drive potential careers without the commitment of a proper job.
For example, if you choose to volunteer in an aged care facility, it might be because you’re considering a job in health or social work. If you volunteer for Landcare, you might be interested in careers where you can work outside, such as landscaping, agriculture, or even environmental science.
Time spent volunteering provides real-world first-hand experience of the industry, and could help spark your interest (or rule out unsuitable careers). Unlike work experience, you can volunteer over many weeks, months, or even years and build up a solid bank of experience – this can give you more certainty when choosing a career down the track.
Find something you’re passionate about
Regardless of the benefits, volunteering is still a big commitment and requires you to willingly give up your precious time. So it’s important that you feel strongly enough about the cause to really want to make a difference, rather than just doing it because it looks good on your resume.
Being truly passionate about something helps you gain more from the experience. And connecting your passion to your career can also help you feel more fulfilled and happy in your day-to-day work.
If you aren’t sure how to find volunteering opportunities that align with your interests, ask yourself some questions like these to kick-start the process:
- What do you enjoy doing?
- What causes are important to you?
- Do you want work with children or animals?
- Do you mind getting your hands dirty?
- Would you like to be part of a team or do you prefer to work alone?
- What skills do you have to bring to a volunteer role?
- What skills are you interested in developing?
Develop important workplace skills
Unlike school, sport, or other extra-curricular activities, volunteering placements are usually run more like traditional workplaces. You’re expected to turn up on time, take instructions from people who are not educators, and achieve set goals.
Volunteering gives you the opportunity to build communication and teamwork skills in a work-like environment. You’ll need to listen to instructions, potentially deal with clients or customers, and work alongside other volunteers. This level of accountability is difficult to replicate within the more sheltered school environment.
Volunteering placements that take place on a regular basis could also lead to you advancing in your role, and you could even become responsible for training new volunteers.
All of the skills you develop while volunteering will be useful in the workplace. Additionally, you can confidently add them to your resume knowing you have real evidence to back up your claims. This makes it a win-win for you and your potential new boss – employers usually regard volunteering experience very highly.
Build an understanding of the world (and yourself) outside of school
Volunteering often allows you to come face-to-face with existing problems and needs within the community. It can also help you develop an appreciation for your own opportunities and circumstances. Spending time in the community, gaining first-hand experience of the issues that affect people around you, can be truly character-building.
Unlike school, many volunteering roles often allow you to test-drive multiple different tasks and types of work. This way you can find which ones resonate with you the most.
For example, if you volunteer with a homeless charity, you may find you prefer to spend time talking to clients and providing that much-needed human interaction. Alternatively, you may find your strengths lie in sourcing food and goods to supply to clients, or in caring for their animals, or in handling the social media for the volunteer group.
Learning that multiple solutions and roles are required within a single workplace could expand your understanding of the world of work and yourself.
Access networking opportunities
It’s no accident that the most exclusive university scholarships offer integrated networking opportunities as part of the package. We often find ourselves relying on our networks, particularly in the professional world.
Understanding the importance of networking and knowing how to develop connections early on means you can use your networks for everything, from securing part-time work to finding internships, sourcing referrals, and even finding new clients down the track.
Your time spent volunteering will also allow you to meet people who could one day be the key to finding your next position or opportunity.
The benefits aren’t limited to your career
Volunteering also comes with several benefits for students outside of job finding and skill building. It could help you:
- Feel more confident
- Raise your self-esteem
- Find purpose and meaning
- Know you are a part of something important
- Improve your physical and mental health
It’s important to remember that you get the most benefits from volunteering when you’re doing it for the right reasons. You’ll find it much more fulfilling and rewarding if you’re truly doing it for others, not just for yourself.
Find out more
There are heaps of benefits to volunteering for students – it can help you gain valuable skills and experience, and learn more about yourself as a person and your place in the world. If you want to read more, we have lots of other ideas and tips to spark your interest on our website here.