11 Reasons Why Volunteering in College will Make You Successful

Volunteering isn’t just good for the soul, it is also good to help build your resume when you are in college. One of the most important things for hiring managers when they are looking at your resume is the extra things you do to establish yourself as a successful person. Plus, unlike getting an internship, volunteering allows you to gain work experience on your own time without a large commitment. Whether you are a freshman or a senior, consider volunteering to help boost your chances of finding a job after graduation.

1. Gain work experience

   There is nothing more beneficial to have on your resume than work experience. Especially if you are volunteering for an organization that is in the same industry as your chosen career path, having work experience will show hiring managers that you know what you are doing and will be a valuable member to their team.

2. Build your resume
   

   How many times have you heard that is very important to build your resume before you graduate college? Degrees are becoming more and more common in the job market, and showing potential employers that you are a hard worker and care about your community through volunteering is essential for being successful in your job search.

3. Help out your community
   A great community creates better opportunities for everybody. By helping out your community, whether it be through volunteering with the homeless shelter, hospital, or other community events, you will gain a new appreciation for your community and be able to help out those in need.

4. Learn to work as a team
   Volunteering is all about working as a team. Working well with complete strangers is valuable to hiring managers and it will help you learn from other people’s strengths. Showing that you can work with others productively and efficiently is essential for the typical work environment. Take the opportunity of volunteering to learn about working with others and becoming a leader.

5. Get scholarships
   One of the things that organizations look at when awarding scholarships is how much applicants have volunteered. Scholarship organizations love applicants that show they care about their community and want to help. While volunteering a little bit is good, doing it over an extended period is even better. If you start volunteering in your freshman year of college, or even in high school, you will be able to get scholarships for higher amounts and from private and public organizations.

6. Gain references
   Good references are key when finding a job. By volunteering you can meet people in your industry that will give you a good reference when applying for full-time positions. Don’t be afraid to ask the mentors that you work under for a reference — most of them will be more than happy to help you become successful.

7. Networking is essential
   By volunteering you won’t just gain references, it will also give you the opportunity to gain contacts and network within your industry. This will help you find job opportunities that aren’t advertised and potentially give you a foot in the door. Networking. Networking. Networking. This is essential if you want to have a successful career.

8. Prepare for graduate school
   The graduate school admissions process is tough, especially when trying to get into high-ranking schools. Volunteering is a great way to separate yourself from the competition and show that you are dedicated to succeeding. Showing that you care about your community and can work as a team will help to show hiring managers that you are a well-rounded employee.

9. Test out career opportunities
   If you are unsure as to whether or not you want to work in a specific industry or not, volunteering is a great way to test out potential companies and job titles. Consider volunteering for a company that you want to work for to help you get a sense of the overall work environment and how well you work with your fellow employees.

10. Gain perspective
    With all of the great benefits for your future career that comes with volunteering, you will also gain a better perspective of the world around you. Seeing perspectives from your mentors, workmates, and those you help will give you a sense of accomplishment in what you do. Volunteering also helps you see the bigger picture within companies, your community, and the entire world.

11. You will enjoy it
    Believe it or not, the vast majority of people who volunteer enjoy it — and you will too. Take the opportunity to volunteer to learn about yourself and those around you and you might just find a career in something that you have passion in and love to do.