Are you looking for a new job? Maybe you want to refine your skills in a new industry outside of work, or maybe you want to strengthen your leadership abilities. Volunteering your skills can be an excellent method to boost your career in any field!
Here are 7 ways skills-based volunteering could benefit your career.
1. Strengthen your skills
Volunteering your business expertise offers the opportunity to strengthen your existing talents. Perhaps your current or previous job focused more on content marketing, but you want to keep your graphic design skills sharp. Volunteering with a nonprofit allows you to hone your skills while simultaneously supporting organizations in need.
2. Add to your experience
If you’re just starting out in your profession or have recently changed careers, volunteering your skills with a nonprofit organization broadens your knowledge in a specific field. It would be impossible to work three or four jobs at the same time, but being able to work on projects that require different types of assistance through Taproot allows you to get experience and exercise your talents in different arenas. Be sure to add this experience to your resume and LinkedIn profile!
3. Explore new paths
To that end, skills-based volunteering can be a helpful tool when exploring a new career. Volunteering with nonprofits that are doing work in your interest area fulfills the nonprofit’s need for assistance, as well as your curiosity about a particular field, fostering mutually beneficial relationships. Here’s a chance to help an organization and learn about a possible next career move.
4. Develop your “soft skills”
Including your skilled volunteering experience on your resume indicates to a potential employer your commitment to a cause area or nonprofit work in general. Skills-based volunteering allows you to hone your “soft skills,” such as jumping into unfamiliar projects, working with a limited budget, and navigating team dynamics. Highlighting these “softer” skills adds a fresh dimension to your resume, and volunteering with Taproot provides an opportunity to practice these intangible, but equally important, skills.
5. Grow your network
You never know how your dream job will come your way, but it could be through someone you know. So, expanding your contact list improves your chances of landing a great job. Volunteering introduces you to new people, all of whom have broader networks. You might even get a new reference from people who can vouch for your dedication and talents.
6. Learn about causes you care about
Are you interested in supporting women’s rights? Or maybe the environment? Volunteering gives you the opportunity to learn from experts working in the field. You can delve deeply into a social issue you care about – and learn far more than simply reading an article or donating money.
7. Become a leader
Finally, volunteering your skills allows you to step into a leadership role while gaining experience. You can also develop project management skills in a variety of contexts – and you can provide tremendous help to organizations who need your support!
Don’t have a lot of time? In just one hour, you can dip your toes into skills-based volunteering. Sign up for a Taproot Plus Session.
Ready to flex your skills – and share them with a nonprofit you care about?
