What do you do if you want to gain hands-on experience and learn new skills in social impact careers?

Ofrecerte como voluntario por una causa te permite adquirir experiencia práctica y nuevas habilidades en carreras de impacto social. Personalmente, me uní a un programa de alfabetización donde aprendí sobre educación comunitaria y trabajo en equipo.

Volunteering can open your eyes to what you are passionate about. It also has a positive impact on you as a volunteer and the people you are helping. In my experience leading corporate volunteer activities, it builds on teamwork, employee engagement and helps people expand their network by working collaboratively with people outside their immediate teams.

Volunteering is a foundational step in launching a social impact career. It's about joining forces with a community that's dedicated to making a difference. By offering your time and skills to impactful projects, you not only contribute to society's betterment but also become a beacon for future change-makers. As the youth of today, stepping up as volunteers allows us to lend our voices to tomorrow's vision and set a precedent for a more compassionate society.

By volunteering for a cause that motivates you and aligns with your values, while in direct contact with different realities and life stories, you broaden your worldview. This enriching experience contributes to the enhancement of various skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication. Working together with other volunteers and experienced professionals, you learn to collaborate efficiently, deal with challenges, and find creative solutions to the problems that arise.

This is precisely how I gained the experiences I needed to better serve in the impact space... My advice before you dive in: set healthy boundaries. ?? Be transparent with the organization that you are there for a win-win agreement- also anticipate many non-profits see volunteers come and go. They will likely appreciate you being upfront with them from the get-go. ?? Set a timeline & a goal - for how long will you serve and what specific skill will you be strengthening in the process? If you decide to extend beyond your timeline, be sure to add on to your goal. ?? Document your learning - make sure you have a new skill set to show for your time and evidence to support your abilities.

Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Veduca offer courses in the field of social impact. In Brazil, ENAP (National School of Public Administration) is an option for courses for those working with social impact in the public sector.

Tomar cursos en línea es una excelente manera de adquirir habilidades en carreras de impacto social. Por ejemplo, realicé un curso sobre desarrollo sostenible donde aprendí sobre políticas públicas y gestión de proyectos, complementando mi experiencia previa en voluntariado.

Joining a social impact project can be a transformative experience. It allows you to contribute to a cause that's close to your heart while gaining invaluable insights into the community's needs. Starting small, with local initiatives, can lead to significant contributions that inspire others. Your involvement not only fosters personal growth but also cultivates leadership qualities, encouraging a new generation to step forward. In essence, by doing good, you're leading by example and planting the seeds for a better tomorrow.

Combining theory and practice is crucial for building a solid career in social impact. By participating in projects, you can see firsthand how concepts apply and adapt to reality. For beginners, less complex roles may facilitate understanding of the project as a whole, its impacts, and lessons learned.

LinkedIn can be used as a tool to discover mentors and coaches in the area of social impact of interest. By connecting with other relevant professionals in the field of social impact, it is possible to build a network that can connect you to new opportunities in the field.

Participating in events and workshops contributes to acquiring new knowledge, finding new opportunities for engagement, expanding your network of contacts, and staying close to trends in the field of operation. LinkedIn organizes events on the topic, one example being the Impact Summit taking place in May 2024.

Hoje existem muitos eventos da área de Impacto Social, tanto presenciais quanto virtuais. Estar nesses lugares te ajuda a se conectar e a se inspirar em personalidades que est?o envolvidas neste contexto e frequentemente compartilham suas experiências. Sugiro procurar por movimentos que promovam encontros para falar sobre temáticas de impacto, pro exemplo o Pacto Global, o Impact Hub, a Alian?a pelo Impacto e o Social Good Brasil.

To truly excel in a social impact career, it's essential to dive into experiences that challenge and grow your skills. Engage directly with the communities you wish to serve, understand their needs firsthand, and contribute in ways that leverage your unique abilities. By immersing yourself in the cause, you become not just a participant, but a catalyst for meaningful change, setting a powerful example for others to follow. It's about walking in the shoes of those you're helping, to create a ripple effect of positive impact in society.

Learning is never ending. Should develop an attitude to learn from the team, community, line manager and senior management. Every individual team member is unique as they possess specific skills which we may not have.