According to leading recruiting firms, volunteering is quite possibly the best career-development strategy for college students. A volunteer experience is an opportunity for students to make a difference in society and the world by contributing their talents, while at the same time learning how to relate with others, enhance personal interests and abilities, and develop skills that are useful in the workplace. Volunteers serve others with their time, resources, or skills, without expectation of financial compensation.
The goals of a Volunteer Experience are to:
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Help others through the donation of time, resources, or skills
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Develop knowledge, skills, and personal attributes that are necessary for future employment
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Make valuable contacts who will write letters of recommendation for employment and who will recommend employment opportunities
How can a student benefit from volunteering?
Students who volunteer will:
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Meet and learn to work with a wide variety of people (fellow students, faculty, administrators, alumni, local business people, community leaders)
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Learn appropriate work etiquette
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Develop poise and self-confidence
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Learn how to contribute in the workplace
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Gain new skills or enhance existing skills in areas such as leadership, organization and time management, supervision, interpersonal communication, and other communication skills
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Document knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to a career for placement on the Clarion University co-curricular transcript
Why do employers value potential employees’ volunteer experiences?
Students who engage in meaningful volunteer experiences show employers that they are committed to helping others and that they are ambitious and enthusiastic about working. Additionally, employers know that students who volunteer have skills, knowledge and personal attributes that are useful in all workplaces. For example, employers know that a student who volunteers is more likely to be punctual, dependable, able to work on a team, able to handle pressure, and adept at decision making, problem solving, and leadership.
