Free Labor = Paid Labor: Why Job Volunteering is Important

CA Extreme
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Are you eager to get your dream job? Most of us job seekers and/or students are. But what if your dream job doesn't have any openings or when they do have an opening someone already within the company gets hired?

You should simply ask yourself,

"How do I get my name off that list of unwanted applicants and in the door?"
Answer: job volunteering!

Yes, it is as simple as that. A lot of companies may not have regular position open at the moment, but they may have a volunteer program that can help you in multiple ways of getting that dream job.

So what is it about job volunteering that puts your foot in the door? 

Well, let me tell you. There are 5 key things that you will receive from job volunteering.

• 1.     Creating Network and Company Contacts

When you begin volunteering at a company you will meet several of the employees. This gives you the opportunity to create contacts that can later give you a reference, whether it is within the same company or a similar job situation. Another important part of creating contacts and establishing this network is this may open up several doors you never even knew were possible. Just remember if you know 5 contacts and those contacts each know 5 more contacts, etc. you have more than quadrupled your network.

• 2.   Show Your Skill Set to Your Future Employers

As you perform tasks while volunteering, your supervisor will be able to view your skills. This will also open the opportunity for them to analyze your ambition, work-ethic, motivation, personality, and consistency. This can put your name at the top of the list because where many applicants they will see in interview they will only get to hear about their skills, while the supervisor will know firsthand about yours.

•       3.   Establish More Hands-On Experience

Many things you learn in a classroom cannot compare to on-the-job experience. By volunteering you have the opportunity to really be active in the position you are interested in. This will be a great incentive for your supervisor to higher you. Not only will already know how to do something, but how this particular company likes things done. This is desirable by employers because it reduces the amount of time and money spent on job training for new employees.

•            4.   Create Additional Skills

As you volunteer you will find that you will receive tasks that might be outside the regular scope of duties for the position you are interested in. This is a great opportunity to advance your knowledge and set yourself beyond a competitor. If later you realize you want to work with another company or possibly a different position, this knowledge gives you the opportunity to be more flexible in what an employer needs and is looking for.

•      5.   Lasting Impression

The most important thing is creating that lasting impression. If you are a student and won’t be pursuing a position until you get the certification or education needed before applying, the job volunteering gives you the opportunity to be more than just a name on a resume.

While job volunteering can be a great opportunity for you, just remember it can hinder you as well. Making sure you put your best foot forward is what will make volunteering worth your time. If you don’t put in 100%, the employer may doubt your work ethic. Make the employer realize the hard work you can do while being a volunteer, so they know what to expect when they do hire you.