Tired of the Job Search? This Is Why You Need To Consider Volunteering

“I am currently looking for a job. I have noticed that most jobs require you to have some experience. I have already done an internship and recently, a friend invited me to attend a volunteer event with him. Is it advisable to volunteer? Does it add value to my career” asks Timothy Muasya via Email.

This question is not a unique one. For most job seekers, only internships matter in the quest to add some invaluable skills to their CVs. However, what most of them do not know is that volunteering is a good way to gain some much-needed skills.

According to Melody Mwendwa, a Professional CV reusable Career Advisor at Corporate Staffing Services, apart from gaining skills, volunteering gives you an opportunity to give back to society, which makes it more worth it.

Ways Volunteering Can Build Your Career

1. It gives you a platform to gain more skills

Just like an internship; volunteering gives you a unique opportunity to learn new skills that will help you on your career journey.

However, the difference between volunteering and an internship is that while an internship gives you only the set of skills required in your career line, a volunteering gives you an all-rounded experience.

Read Also >>> Reasons You Need A Mentor in Your Job Search

 2. It makes networking easier

Volunteering helps you to meet many different people. Some of these could be in your career line, while others may be from different ones. You will get to network and learn from different people.

In the course of your volunteer work, you may meet a potential employer! Who knows what vast experience volunteering exposes you to?

3. It is a good opportunity for career exploration

Are you still unsure about what profession you want to go into? You may want to consider volunteering. This is because it will give you an insight to different career paths, on account of the people you meet.

Read Also >>> How Volunteering Landed Me A Job at Nation Media Group

When your volunteering is done, you may find yourself with a more focused career choice and who knows, you may even venture into something that you once thought impossible.

If you have never thought of volunteering, now is the time to start giving it a second thought. It might give you the big break you have been waiting for.

Below is an inspiring story of a Volunteer Teacher Who Became a CEO, Meet Barclay Paul Okari

Like most graduates looking for work experience, Barclay Paul Okari took up a volunteer teaching job at a school in Narok to give back to the community and boost his CV for career opportunities in future. Little did he know that this would pave way for his success.

It was here that he realized there was a gap in the market for affordable, re-usable sanitary pads. “Every month, girls would skip classes for days because they couldn’t afford pads. I started my company with the ultimate goal of fixing this,” he tells the Daily Nation.

Today, he is the CEO and Founder of Impact Africa Industries, an organization that manufactures affordable sanitary pads for local communities.

“So far, I can say that I am succeeding in my quest. My ultimate goal is to build an African conglomerate invested in different sectors of the economy, creating thousands of jobs and playing a key role in pushing Africa to the next level economically,” he says.

Read more of his amazing story here…

Got questions or comments? Leave them below. Susan is a Communications Officer at career Point Kenya. Email: susan@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke