The JobSync Blog
'V' is for 'Volunteering' and 'Victory'
September 9, 2011
Recently, Fastcompyany.com discussed a new feature on LinkedIn that allows users to list volunteer experience alongside their traditional work history. To highlight the value of volunteering, LinkedIn also conducted a random survey of 1,942 people and found that 89% had volunteer experience. Interestingly, while only 45% of respondents list such deeds in their career profile, 41% felt that volunteer work was as valuable as paid work.
What’s the big deal, you might ask? Plenty.
First, hiring managers like people with volunteer experience. Having such a background distinguishes a candidate from those who do not volunteer, as working for a philanthropic cause with no compensation enhances perceptions of a candidate’s character.
Second, volunteer work can be a stepping stone for someone seeking to change careers. Not only can volunteering in a different job area give one badly needed experience, but it can also help an individual build a network in that area. Such connections could very well prove pivotal in helping someone find a job in the different sector.
Third, given the difficult labor market, many unemployed workers are watching helplessly as a major gap grows in their resumes. With the average job search lasting at least nine months, jobseekers can use volunteering to plug such a gap and dampen the discrimination they may face for being unemployed.
Finally, volunteering helps shore up one’s self-worth during an extended period of demoralizing job hunting. A candidate who conveys any feelings of worthlessness to a recruiter or hiring manager will likely be perceived as worthless to a company. By giving of yourself, you may feel so good about yourself that someone would want to give to you.
And hopefully that giving will involve the perfect fitting job you’ve been looking for, making volunteering a victory for everyone involved.
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