5 Reasons Why You Should Volunteer More

Volunteering isn't just about the warm and fuzzies of giving back. And while that's an awesome reason to volunteer your time, talent and treasure--(to give back)--it's not the only reason. There are several hidden benefits to YOU and YOUR CAREER by volunteering as well. Here are just 5 reasons why volunteering more will be good for YOU:

1. You can overtly and covertly develop your skills - If you hate your day job, or parts of it, or want to explore an entirely different realm without losing your paycheck, volunteer. Step up and ask to be a part of a non profit association or organization that actually does the work you're curious about. You can learn so much by jumping in and sharing your talents AND learning along the way. You can also learn your own styles of learning and leading. Ever try to motivate volunteers to do something without any incentives like pay or vacation time and achieve positive results? Congratulations - you've polished your leadership skills!
2. You can learn low cost and safely - It's also a safe way to learn about a different facet of your industry or another industry entirely, without having to quit your day job and then join a new job only to find it wasn't a good fit for you, or without dumping thousands of dollars into an expensive graduate school program. There is nothing worse than dumping thousands of dollars in a graduate school program only to learn half way in that you hate it! Oops. Avoid the oops by volunteering! Volunteerism usually has an expiration date associated with it too - so you can get in, learn, study and serve, then get out if you want to, or if if you find something isn't your jam. It's not permanent!
3. You can network naturally - There is always value in finding out what other people do, and how they do it. Find out what's going on across your industry in a professional association, or, even better, find out how general skills are developed by being a part of a "leadership" organization that cuts across industries. Some of my best ideas come from outside of pharmacy and law - my first two professions which tend to be a little more 'traditional.'
4. You can be what you can see - Just like good and bad managers at the day job, there are good and bad non profit and association leaders out there. You can be what you can see. What other skills/leadership traits/ideas can you gather from the leadership of the organization you're volunteering with? Volunteering also gets you access to leadership within organizations--sometimes even more so than employees of the association or organization. What can you learn from the leaders?
5. You can expand your map - You will learn from others when volunteering about 'off the grid' opportunities - job postings, cool leadership programs, books, local meetings, podcasts, etc. that you'd NEVER run into otherwise. Why not expand your own life and career map by extra exposure to ideas and all these 'secret' portals of awesomeness that you'd never otherwise find?

Yes, volunteerism is good for your community. It makes all of us better and hopefully creates a better world. It's good for you psychologically to give back as well. However, don't forget that volunteering can also be a win-win in that it can help Y-O-U with your own career and life development. It's okay for you to reap benefits from volunteering too!

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Erin L. Albert is senior director of education at ASCP, a pharmacist, lawyer, speaker, writer and entrepreneur. She also volunteers on a regular basis to help make the universe a better place, and improve her own universe. Opinions are her own on this post, and all posts.