[This article was written for Skills For Good, a local volunteer-matching organisation that seeks to empower volunteers through convenient and meaningful skills-based volunteering opportunities that help social organisations to achieve their mission.]
It’s hard to seek a decent-paying job amid difficult economic conditions and a tight labour market. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on social organisations as well as vulnerable groups in society. In this article, we break down how skills-based volunteering could boost our job prospects and better society at the same time!
Strengthen your employability
Good news: skills-based volunteering could help you improve your chances in the hiring process! Looking out for job candidates’ volunteering experience is steadily becoming the new normal for human resource professionals. According to a 2016 Deloitte Impact Study, a whopping 82% of recruiters have indicated their preference for candidates with volunteer experience listed on their resumés. That said, not all volunteering experiences are created equal. Interesting to note was the recruiters’ inclination towards individuals who have performed skills-based volunteering: the latter is generally viewed as an excellent way to develop competencies deemed by employers as “must-haves”. Indeed, your experience in volunteering relevant skill-sets for a social cause or organisation could visibly demonstrate to your employer your leadership abilities, character, sense of purpose and other valuable personality traits. In other words, skills-based volunteering would set you apart from other resumés and confer you a competitive advantage in the screening process.
Avoid unattractive work gaps
Worried that an unemployment gap during the COVID-19 pandemic might engender serious damage to your future career opportunities (and starting salary)? Well, your fears are not exactly unfounded. Eunice Tan, a managing consultant at Singapore-based recruitment firm JadeClover, posited that the “reasonable threshold” for employers is typically six months and cautioned that a hiatus longer than that may be perceived by the company in a negative light. Nevertheless, do not sound the death knell just yet! A gap in your work history may not be that much of a bad thing if you have used the latter well to culminate some volunteer experience. Not only would this give your resumé a well-needed boost, but your volunteer stint also signals to employers that you have been making the best out of your time and putting your skills to good use. Moreover, it confers you a fantastic opportunity to wax lyrical about your passions, interests and relevant competencies to your hiring managers during the interview session. This way, you are all set to leave a lasting impression and become a more likeable job candidate to your employers.
Keep your skills sharp — or pick up a new one!
Skills-based volunteers found that their experiences were a way to build or refine professional competencies of use to them in their paid work. This finding is also well-supported by volunteers who have managed to keep their skills sharp through Skills for Good. Take for instance Howard, a final-year Sociology undergraduate at Nanyang Technological University — his facilitation skills were greatly honed when he helped coordinate a breakout room for a webinar organised by Filo, a not-for-profit social service organisation. Volunteer projects or positions that enable you to polish your skill-sets would definitely put you in good stead to value-add to the job which you are applying for. You no longer have to worry about your skills becoming rusty or out-of-date while in the midst of your career search!
Moreover, you could learn a new skill — or two — during your skills-based volunteer journey. Such competencies include empathy, people or project management, problem-solving as well as adaptability to different management styles. In contrast to the traditional office or paid work settings, many volunteer roles allow for more autonomy and bandwidth to exercise your creative freedom. This is where you can get experimental, try new tools and build your confidence in the skills you have picked up.
Widen your business network
It is no secret that networking is a great way to land your dream job! A global survey by LinkedIn revealed that approximately 70% of people in 2016 were hired at a firm where they had a connection. However, the employment-oriented and networking service also found that 38% of them found it hard to stay in touch with their network. In this regard, skills-based volunteering can be the perfect platform for you to make new friends — and keep this network in the long run! Volunteer work is performed by individuals who come from all walks of life; some perhaps may be working for sectors and industries related to your career path. As opposed to business networking sessions or recruitment fairs, long term volunteer programmes may allow for more meaningful conversations, as well as lasting and organic connections. Who knows? Your next job could come from your newly expanded network!
Acquire a letter of recommendation
Letters of recommendation would help you stand out from the pack if you are applying for your first or a new job. Therein lies the best-case scenario for a skills-based volunteer: you get to generate a tangible impact with your skills, and obtain a written recommendation from your voluntary organisation while you are at it! If you have volunteered for a leadership position or proven your mettle in a skills-based volunteer project, do not be afraid to (nicely) request for a recommendation letter from your non-profit organisation. Having someone who is familiar with your professional characteristics to testify to your character and demonstrate your competencies through concrete examples will add weight to your job application.
Do good, feel good
Think that being a good Samaritan is all give and no take? Well, doing your part to assist social organisations can be hugely rewarding for your soul, and has been said to do wonders for your mental well-being. Extant research has long supported the positive relationship between altruistic volunteering and psychological well-being, self-esteem and social connectedness. In a similar vein, a survey by Community Service Volunteers (CSV), a UK charity and not for profit organisation, discovered lowered rates of depression amongst half of those who have engaged in long-term volunteering. Finding a job can be a highly stressful process, and application rejections may make you feel inadequate at times (we feel you!). As such, it is important to never give up and put your best foot forward. Volunteering your expertise for the common good, then, is the perfect solution to boost your mental health and help you remain optimistic in tough times.
Where and how do I begin?
TLDR: Skills-based volunteering allows you to do some good for social organisations and ultimately, society. In the meantime, it could boost your marketability and widen your job opportunities! Wish to commit to a volunteer programme and role but have no idea where to start? Skills for Good is here to provide a seamless volunteer finding journey. Find out more about us below!
About Skills for Good
Skills for Good, a local volunteer-matching organisation, with a base of eclectic volunteers with skills ranging from marketing and communications to information technology to fundraising. We seek to empower volunteers through convenient and meaningful skills-based volunteering opportunities that help social organisations to achieve their mission. Volunteer with us today and wake up tomorrow with the warm and fuzzy sensation of ‘volunesia’.
Author: Lim Jia Ying
References
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