Volunteering to gain skills and experience
Volunteering can be a great way to develop your skills and experience to help you get back into paid employment.
There are all sorts of opportunities to volunteer including: working in the community doing practical things for people needing help; protecting the environment; campaigning for a charity; taking up a voluntary role such as being a member of your local Parent Teacher Association (PTA) or school governor.
Reasons to volunteer
A period spent volunteering not only allows you to contribute to your community or to a cause, it can also give you an opportunity to:
- try a different area of work to see whether it suits you
- learn new skills and gain experience – this might be essential for certain jobs or careers you’re considering
- boost your chances of finding paid work – you’ll have recent experience to put on your CV and to talk about in interviews
- ask someone to be a referee for you when you apply for jobs
- meet new people and perhaps build a network of contacts who may help you find paid work
- develop your self-confidence
- demonstrate to employers that you are proactive and productive
Getting started with volunteering
- Think about what you want to get out of the experience.
- What do you have to offer? You may have specialist knowledge and skills that are in demand but often all you need is plenty of enthusiasm and motivation.
- Work out roughly how much time you have to give and how regularly.
- The Do-It website allows you to search for an opportunity based on factors such as your location, areas of interest and time you have available. Alternatively, enquire at your local volunteer centre.
- Enquire about opportunities to volunteer in your local community
- Don't be afraid to ask plenty of questions before you apply for an opportunity.
- If you’re concerned about taking the first step, remember that you’re likely to be made very welcome and the organisation you volunteer with will be very grateful for your time!