5 Ways Volunteering Can Help You Get a Job

If your job hunt has hit a slow point, that doesn’t mean it’s to take a break. There’s one kind of job that you can start immediately: volunteering. Okay, so it’s not a paying gig, but it can help you find a job that actually does pay the bills. By volunteering to help with legal aid, you might make the connections you need to get a killer paralegal job.

Volunteers keep many organizations going, so there are plenty of opportunities. Here are five ways volunteering can help you get a job:

1. Boost Your Confidence: Sometimes another opportunity going nowhere feels like one more than you can take. But a charitable organization will welcome you with open arms. Going to your volunteer job every day will make you feel you’ve made a valuable contribution. 
2. Gain New Skills: Look for groups that need tasks similar to those you’re dream job would involve. If you would like to get into project management, offer to manage an event. If you are going for sales jobs, offer to do public relations. Tailor your volunteering to fill holes in your resume.
3. Meet Networking Contacts: Professionals often give back to their communities. Offer to volunteer for projects that might attract people in your field. Rubbing shoulders with them at the fundraising drive gives you a chance to get acquainted and find out about opportunities at their firms.
4. Fill in an Employment Gap: If it’s been a while since you worked, volunteering adds something to that empty time on your resume. Everyone knows the economy is slow. If you can show you spent the time volunteering, your resume will look better.
5. Attract Civic-Minded Employers: Many employers include social responsibility as a corporate value. Many also encourage their staff to take time to help the less fortunate. Do so and you are one step ahead of other applicants with similar skills.