|
Voluntary
Work Benefits Young People Julie
Farthing, Career and Employment Consultant
Working in a paid job is a big
part of our lives. Most of us need to work, even if
it is just to eat, and have a roof over our heads. Even
if you are currently living at home, you’ll still want
some extra income for other things: a car, going on
holidays, going out with friends or buying nice clothes.
And, one day, you’ll probably need to think about going
out and getting a place of you own.
So, if money is so important,
why would we do work that is unpaid?
There are many reasons for people
deciding to do unpaid, voluntary work at particular
stages in their lives. And young people who are just
starting out can benefit as much as older people.
Apart from the money, there are
other benefits of working, such as feeling good about
what we do, developing skills, talking and being with
other people, and just being appreciated.
Because you do need to eat, or
you have other things to do that involve money, getting
a job is going to be your main priority, so you can’t
expect to replace paid work with full-time, long-term
voluntary work. However, as a part of a strategic career
plan (which is a fancy way of saying you want to make
sure you have a better life in the future), volunteering
can have an important place.
Firstly, voluntary work can certainly
make you feel good about what you do, especially if
you work for a charity or another worthy cause. It can
also help you develop skills which will be useful when
you are applying for jobs in the paid workforce. Working
as a volunteer offers the chance to work with and for
other people, and it should always be appreciated. Even
more importantly, you can try something out to see if
you like it.
On the money side of things,
while voluntary work obviously won’t provide you with
an income, you will find you are much more employable
with the new skills, letters of appreciation, and greater
self-esteem that you have acquired.
For example, you might think
you’d like to work in an office, but you’re not sure.
You decide to volunteer your services to a local charity
for two days a week, which will still allow plenty of
time to look for work. You will get to know what it
is like working in an office, how to work with other
people, and you’ll develop your skills (or even learn
some new ones). You’ll be able to ask the manager to
talk about your abilities and personal characteristics
to employers when you go for job interviews – having
a current referee is vital – and they won’t be upset
that you are looking for another job, they’ll be grateful
for the time you have given them. Who knows, your voluntary
organisation might even recommend you for a position
they have heard about, or offer you one themselves,
which is a great way to find work, saving you a lot
of foot-slogging and application-writing.
If you do decide to take on voluntary
work, try to do something you think you’ll enjoy, or
at least something that will help you in your future
job seeking endeavours. You should also make sure you
set limits as to how many hours per week you are prepared
to work, and over what period of time. This way the
voluntary work you do will increase your chances of
getting a good job!
Become
a Volunteer
Top
of the page |
