When you help others, you help yourself. The team here at A.R. Mazzotta definitely agrees with that statement! Volunteering our time and services to the communities where we work and live is a big part of our company culture. So if you ask us, “does volunteer work matter?” we’ll reply with a big yes.
Volunteer work matters for many reasons. If you have volunteer experience listed on your resume, it could help you land a job – especially in a non-profit or service industry.
Here are a few professional – and personal – benefits to gaining volunteer experience in your community:
Grow your network
Getting out into your community and volunteering your time or talents will open doors to new friends and professional contacts. In fact, the Corporation for National & Community Service says that volunteers have 27% higher odds of finding employment in today’s job market. One of the reasons is attributed to volunteers having more networks and personal connections than those who don’t volunteer.
The Corporation for National & Community Service says that volunteers have 27% higher odds of finding employment in today’s job market.
Learn a new skill
Volunteering is a great way to learn a new skill or explore a new career before officially jumping into a different work experience. You might even discover a hidden talent or a new passion.
Gain a better work/life balance
Life’s not all about work, work, work. Finding a work/life balance is important, and setting time aside every week or every month to volunteer can make your work/life scenario a little more balanced.
Get happy
According to a 2014 health report published by Harvard Health Publications, the London School of Economics conducted a study among Americans that looked at the relationship between volunteering and measures of happiness. The odds of being “very happy” rose 7% among those who volunteered on a monthly basis. And the happiness factor rose 12% for people who volunteered every 2-4 weeks. Some food for thought!
Strengthen your community
When you volunteer, you make your community stronger. Whether it’s volunteering at a church or hospital or donating to a food bank, your service really does make a difference!
If you have a favorite CT organization that you volunteer for, give them a shout out below in the Comments section.