How can volunteering help you develop new skills?

When it comes to technical skills, most employers are skeptical about hiring someone with little to no experience because it could be dangerous in some industries. My advice to job seekers is to look for volunteer opportunities while still hunting for paid employment. Volunteering opens doors to prove your competence in a technical skill. If you do well in proving your competence, even after the volunteer period ends and they’re not able to find a position for you, oftentimes, because of your hard work and the connection built, they would try to connect you with opportunities elsewhere.

Volunteering doesn't always require technical skills, but it can be a great way to develop new ones. For instance, if you choose to volunteer at a local library, you might discover skills related to organizing and categorizing books, assisting people in finding information, or even using basic computer programs. Volunteering serves as a learning platform where you can acquire various abilities, whether interacting with diverse individuals, coordinating activities, or gaining practical experience that contributes to personal and professional growth.

As a Pastoral Associate for many years one of my responsibilities was to recruit volunteers for varies ministries within the church and beyond. Helping others recognize and/or discover their giftedness and where God is calling them to serve made all the difference. Along, with workshops on how to 'care for the givers' and recognize and avoid burn-out is essential to maintaining a strong, vibrant and joy filled volunteer team that is growing not only in service, but their love for God and his Church.

Volunteering serves as a powerful catalyst for honing interpersonal skills crucial for any career. Through interactions with a diverse range of individuals, including staff, clients, donors, and fellow volunteers, one can enhance communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict resolution abilities. Beyond skill acquisition, volunteering offers opportunities to expand networks, forge friendships, and connect with potential mentors or references. The experience also fosters cultural awareness, empathy, and respect for diverse perspectives, vital attributes for establishing rapport, effective collaboration, and adept handling of challenges in the workplace.

Volunteering exposes you to new challenges that build priceless abilities. By offering your time to organizations based on causes you care about, you can try out different roles, work with a diversity of people, and learn valuable capabilities not taught in school. Skills stretch through real-world doing rather than reading alone. From mastering new technologies to managing teams or projects, volunteering challenges you with responsibilities that boost confidence confronting novel situations. This off-the-beaten-path experience can even spark ideas on pivoting your career to fill newly discovered passions. Opening your mind, empathy, and skillset - that's what volunteering is all about.

If you do not already have good interpersonal skills before officially starting a job that requires that kind of skills, you may face a lot of challenges in the beginning. There may be a lot of anxiety and frustration. One of the best places to learn interpersonal skills is through volunteer opportunities. Since these opportunities are often unpaid and do not pose direct threats like losing your job, you could gradually learn interpersonal skills without panic.

If you work for a large corporation, you may not have the opportunity to exercise or develop your leadership skills for a long time, especially as an entry-level employee. Many small nonprofit organizations provide opportunities for many team members to take on leadership roles. This helps build and grow your leadership skills. Showcasing these newly developed skills, including adding them to your LinkedIn profile and sharing them with influential individuals, could increase awareness of your strengths and put you on the course for promotion.

As a Career Strategist, I volunteer at @The Barrington Career Center by helping executives in their job search. Coaching clients certainly helps me continue to hone my leadership and interpersonal skills but it also gives me the opportunity to see different trends in the workforce as they are happening. I do this by asking my clients questions like “what do you consider your biggest struggle in your job search?” or “what is the reason you are job searching?” The answers to these questions certainly helps me identify trends that can help me properly respond to the needs of other clients. Let’s just say that being inquisitive will certainly help you enhance your coaching skills.

In addition to skill and network development, volunteering is an opportunity to assess career fit. When I work with physician clients who want to change careers, but they don’t know what they’ll enjoy doing, I encourage them to find opportunities to volunteer in an industry they’re curious about. For example, volunteer to sit on an Institutional Review Board to see if they enjoy reviewing clinical studies, or volunteer to help write a scientific manuscript to see if they enjoy the process of scientific medical writing.

Volunteering serves as an invaluable avenue for skill development by offering hands-on experiences in diverse environments. Engaging in volunteer activities allows individuals to cultivate both soft and technical skills, fostering adaptability, teamwork, and problem-solving. Additionally, volunteering provides a platform to explore new interests, expand networks, and enhance communication and leadership abilities. It's a dynamic way to acquire practical skills, contribute to meaningful causes, and ultimately, enrich personal and professional growth.

Volunteering provides a unique opportunity to develop new skills by offering hands-on experiences in diverse environments. Engaging in volunteer work exposes individuals to different tasks, challenges, and responsibilities, fostering adaptability and problem-solving skills. It allows for collaboration with people from varied backgrounds, enhancing communication and interpersonal abilities. Additionally, volunteering often involves taking on leadership roles, honing organizational and project management skills. The diverse nature of volunteer activities can expose individuals to areas outside their expertise, encouraging continuous learning and skill acquisition.