Want to know the benefits of student volunteering that every student should know? These are the best benefits you need to know about that are NOT considered a waste of time.
As a student, it can be difficult to get that crucial work/life balance.
There seems to be a never-ending stream of tasks to complete from assignments to exams, and often a job to help make your student loan go that little bit further.
So it’s not surprising that most students don’t think they can cram in any other commitments, least of all volunteering!
As an ex-student myself I understand completely! So join me in this helpful article to find 10 benefits of volunteering and why you should do it.
After learning about these advantageous student volunteering opportunities, you are going to want to jump on Google and search ‘student volunteering near me’ or head over to your student union to see what students volunteering programs they have to offer.
This post is all about the 10 Benefits Of Student Volunteering That Will Help You Stand Out.
Let’s start with the mini takeaway first before we head into more details.
- Kickstart your CV
- Helps you learn new skills
- Gives crucial job experience
- Helps to develop leadership skills
- Boost your career prospects
- Meet new people
- Get experience in your chosen career
- Helps you explore your career options
- Discover your passions
- Make a difference
So with the mini brief in place, let’s get straight in and find out the 10 best reasons why you should find a pocket of time in your busy student schedule to help others.
1. Kickstart your CV
When you’re a student, volunteer work can be a great way to beef up your CV and stand out from the crowd when you’re applying for jobs.
When you add student volunteering to your CV, it shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile and that you’re passionate about making a difference.
By offering up some free time you can demonstrate that you’re reliable and motivated, two qualities that employers highly prize.
As a student leaving university and entering the workforce, you’ll be competing against many other graduates who might not have any relevant work experience, so volunteering can be a great way to make yourself more attractive to potential employers.
“By offering up some free time you can demonstrate that you’re reliable and motivated”
2. Helps you learn new skills
Student volunteers often have the opportunity to learn new skills that can be beneficial in their future careers.
For example, if you’re interested in a career in marketing, volunteering for a local charity could give you the chance to create and implement marketing campaigns, or if you’re interested in event planning, you could volunteer to help plan and run community events.
The skills you will learn from volunteering will not only be invaluable in your future adult life but also impressive to future employers and can help you stand out from the competition.
Some of the skills you can learn from volunteering are:
- Communication: When you volunteer, you will often be working with people from all walks of life, including those who may not speak the same language as you. This can be a great opportunity to practice your communication skills and learn how to better communicate with people from different backgrounds.
- Teamwork: Volunteering is a great way to learn how to work effectively with others as part of a team. You will learn how to compromise, how to manage conflict and how to delegate tasks to achieve a common goal.
- Leadership: If you take on a leadership role within your volunteer organization, you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills. This can be an especially valuable experience if you are considering a career in management or another leadership-related field.
- Time management: When you’re volunteering, you’ll need to juggle your time effectively to complete your tasks. This experience can be very helpful in learning how to manage your time wisely, something that is essential in both your personal and professional life.
3. Provides job experience
Even if you’re not sure what kind of job you want after graduation, volunteering can still give you some valuable experience in the meantime.
If you’re thinking about going into the healthcare field, for example, spending some time volunteering in a hospital will give you a better idea of what the job entails and whether it’s something you would enjoy.
Volunteering as a student can help with your work experience by:
- Providing leadership experience
- Showcasing teamwork skills
- Highlighting your ability to adapt to new environments
- Demonstrating your commitment to making a difference in your community.
4. Develop leadership skills
Volunteering is a great way to develop your leadership skills.
By taking on a leadership role in a volunteer organization, you’ll learn how to manage people and projects, as well as how to communicate effectively.
Another reason this has made my 10 top benefits of student volunteering is that by taking on a leadership role in a volunteer organization, you’ll learn how to motivate and inspire others to achieve common goals.
5. Boost your career prospects
In today’s competitive job market, employers are looking for more than just a degree.
They want to see that you have experience working in a team, as well as leadership and communication skills.
By volunteering, you can gain the experience and skills that will help you stand out from others and land your dream job.
Even if you have a paid job as a student, volunteering can help you progress in your chosen career.
Standing above the competition is important in any career, and volunteering can give you the advantage you need.
6. Meet new people
When you volunteer, you’ll meet new people with similar interests to you.
This is a great way to make friends and build your professional network. You never know, you might even meet your future boss!
When you first become a student volunteer, you’ll be teamed up with a more experienced volunteer who can show you the ropes.
This means you’ll have someone to ask questions and learn from.
The connections you make when volunteering can be very valuable in your future career.
This networking can also lead to potential job opportunities after you graduate.
7. Get experience in your chosen career
When you volunteer, you can get experience in the career you hope to pursue after graduation.
For example, if you’re studying to be a teacher, you could volunteer in a classroom.
Or if you want to work in marketing, you could help out with promotional activities for a charity.
This type of experience can be just as valuable as an internship or entry-level job, and it can help you stand out when you’re applying for jobs after graduation.
8. Helps you explore your career options
Trying to figure out what you want to do with your life?
Volunteering can help narrow down your choices and point you in the right direction.
By working with different organizations, you can learn about career paths you may not have thought about and also get a feel for the type of work you might be interested in pursuing.
9. Discover your passions
Student volunteering can be a great way to explore different causes and issues that you care about. It’s a chance to learn more about the world and what you want to do with your life.
When volunteering, you might find that you’re passionate about something that you never even knew existed!
Volunteering is a great way to learn more about yourself and what you’re interested in.
10. Make a difference
Volunteering is a great way to make a positive impact on your community, and the world.
Every volunteering opportunity is an opportunity to make a difference in somebody’s life.
When taking some time out of your busy schedule to volunteer, you are making the world a better place.
Offering to help someone in need is a selfless act that can have a profound impact on both the person you help and yourself.
So, if you’re looking for a way to make a difference in the world, volunteering is a great place to start.
Final thoughts on student volunteering…
So there you have it – 10 benefits of student volunteering. Why not give it a try? You might just surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it!
Although you may have other commitments, such as studying and of course exam season, there are plenty of opportunities out there that will fit into your schedule.
And remember, even a small amount of time can make a big difference! There are many different types of volunteering opportunities available, so there’s sure to be something that interests you.
If you’re not sure where to start, why not contact your local volunteer centre? They’ll be able to provide you with information about opportunities in your area.
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