What makes volunteering great

Whether due to a disability, a lack of transportation, or time constraints, many people choose to volunteer their time via phone or computer. Some organizations may require you to attend an initial training session or periodical meetings while others can be conducted completely remotely.

In any volunteer situation, make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions. Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic.

Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you can raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could benefit your career. Bear in mind that the most valuable assets you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to pitch in wherever needed, and a positive attitude. Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions.

Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life. Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available.

The key is to find a position that you would enjoy and are capable of doing. Ask yourself the following:. You will have a richer and more enjoyable volunteering experience if you first take some time to identify your goals and interests. Think about why you want to volunteer. What would you enjoy doing? The opportunities that match both your goals and your interests are most likely to be fun and fulfilling.

Ask yourself if there is something specific you want to do or achieve as a volunteer. Sometimes an opportunity looks great on paper, but the reality is quite different. Try to visit different organizations and get a feel for what they are like and if you click with other staff and volunteers. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week, or about hours a year, can confer the most benefits—to both you and your chosen cause.

The important thing is to volunteer only the amount of time that feels comfortable to you. Volunteering should feel like a fun and rewarding hobby, not another chore on your to-do list. To make sure that your volunteer position is a good fit:. Ask questions. You want to make sure that the experience is right for your skills, your goals, and the time you want to spend. You should be comfortable with the organization and understand the time commitment.

Give yourself some flexibility to change your focus if needed. If volunteering overseas, choose carefully. Some volunteer programs abroad can cause more harm than good if they take much-needed paying jobs away from local workers.

Look for volunteer opportunities with reputable organizations. Enjoy yourself. The best volunteer experiences benefit both the volunteer and the organization. You could even choose to volunteer for causes or programs that make you more active, such as with youth sports programs or national parks. Volunteers live longer and are more likely to take care of themselves in general , including getting vaccinations and keeping their weight under control.

Volunteering at something that requires physical energy may be more motivating than just walking around the block. Volunteering saves lives, both the lives of the people you help and yours.

When you invest the time and energy to volunteer, you are investing in yourself just as much as in the causes you support. Improves School and College Experience. For school-aged kids, volunteering builds social skills and develops awareness. High school students volunteer to boost their college applications, and college students volunteer to improve their job search post-graduation.

Such programs benefit everyone. If you can get into a great college or accept a fantastic job offer as a result of your community service, why not?

The benefits of volunteering do not have to be limited to others. Provides Better Job Prospects. Many researchers have noticed that Millennials are some of the most civic-minded and socially-aware employees. They choose jobs that reflect their values and then continue to donate their money , time, and skills.

According to AmeriCorps, Other generations, too, are finding that civic-mindedness has become an asset in the workplace. Employers overwhelmingly look favorably on job applicants who have volunteered. Develops Corporate Communities. One of the most significant trends in the volunteer world today is corporate philanthropy.

More big-name companies than ever support local and national programs financially. They create employee volunteer programs to help their philanthropic efforts and to retain employees. Companies encourage employees to commit a certain number of hours every year to service programs. These corporate volunteer programs give employees a chance to volunteer during work hours. Doing so increases the likelihood that people will volunteer, even during their personal time. Companies that offer employee volunteer programs may attract more committed employees, as well.

Volunteering Adds Fun to Your Years. Volunteering and freely giving your time, energy, and resources to people and causes around the world can create change on a global scale. However, the best part, and often overlooked is that volunteering is just plain fun. If you are ready to make friends, improve your mental and physical health, and maybe develop new skills along the way, start volunteering.

You can change your life and the lives of others when you do. Embrace them! Bureau of Justice Statistics, U. Department of Justice. Accessed Jan. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.

Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. You also want to make sure that you are getting enough social contact, and that the organization is available to support you should you have questions. Helping others kindles happiness, as many studies have demonstrated. When researchers at the London School of Economics examined the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness in a large group of American adults, they found the more people volunteered, the happier they were, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine.

Volunteering offers you the chance to try out a new career without making a long-term commitment. It is also a great way to gain experience in a new field. Your volunteer work might also expose you to professional organizations or internships that could be of benefit to your career.

Just because volunteer work is unpaid does not mean the skills you learn are basic. Many volunteering opportunities provide extensive training. Volunteering can also help you build upon skills you already have and use them to benefit the greater community. For instance, if you hold a successful sales position, you raise awareness for your favorite cause as a volunteer advocate, while further developing and improving your public speaking, communication, and marketing skills.

Bear in mind that the most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to do whatever is needed, and a positive attitude. Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions.

Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. UC San Diego. Benefits of Community Service Benefits of volunteering 1: Volunteering connects you to others One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Volunteering helps you make new friends and contacts One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together.

Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people.