Stuck in a role you hate? Want to get out but are scared to make the leap into something else? Volunteering could be the answer.

This month plays host to Volunteer Week, running from 1-12 June it aims to highlight the positive impact that volunteering can bring. Volunteering not only benefits you on a personal level it can also have a huge positive impact on your career. We look at the reasons why you should consider volunteering:

It gives you the opportunity to explore new areas of work 

If you are interested in working in a different sector or industry, but are not sure if it will suit you, then volunteering can give you a great insight into what it will be like working there. Okay, you might only be doing a couple of hours a month but it is better than entering into a new area totally blind. For example:

“Liz, had worked as a IT Consultant in the Financial Sector for over 15 years. For the last 5 years she had wanted to move into the non-profit sector, but the security of her current position was holding her back. The company she was working for had partnered with a local cancer charity and they were looking for volunteers to help out for a few hours a month. After six months of volunteering with the charity, Liz made the decision to leave her job at the bank and took up a position as IT Manager at a charity supporting disadvantaged children. According to Liz, this was the best decision she ever made.”

It increases your professional network

Is your professional network made up of a diverse range of people? Probably not! We do tend to connect with people with whom we have things in common with. By volunteering you are in a position to build up your professional network that consists of people from varying industries and whom have diverse skills and experiences.

Volunteering could also bring you into contact with industry and regulatory leaders, all of which goes towards building up your profile image.

Volunteering is a great marketing tool

There is no doubt that volunteering looks great on your CV and professional profile. It shows employers that you are willing to put in the extra effort and put yourself forward for tasks that are outside of your comfort zone. Having somebody with a ‘can do’ attitude in a team is a valuable working skill and motivation for others.

If you are going for a role in which you have little work experience but have some volunteering experience the employer will feel more comfortable that: you have some knowledge about the role, and experience working in this particular field.

A survey by Timebank found that 80% of employers value volunteering experience on a candidates CV . Plus, over 70% of employers believe that those who have volunteer experience have a greater chance of earning a higher salary. Who can argue against these benefits.

It teaches you new interpersonal skills

Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people, including people you might never normally interact with. This diversity could mean that you have to change the way you interact and communicate with others. This includes all communication mediums: verbal, listening and written.

For example in your paid job you might be a manager; telling people what to do and making tough decisions, but in your volunteering role you might be on the end of a phone listening to people talk about their worries and issues and then offering support and guidance based on your assessment of the situation.

Volunteering is also great for developing empathy and understanding, something that can often be lacking in the workplace.

Click here for more information on Volunteers Week.