Benefits of Volunteering

Tap to Read ➤ Gaynor Borade

If selfless service comes easily to you, then volunteering would naturally appeal to your line of work. The 'service before self' attitude has a number of benefits attached to it, most of which relate to personal satisfaction.

Volunteering gives you a chance to selflessly repay the community and establish self-worth. By reaching out through a worthy cause, you also stand to benefit by the enriching experience, the challenge involved, and the opportunity to astutely select a commitment that drives you the most.

Volunteering helps you not only indulge in your basic interests, but also lets you explore the associated concerns and industries. As a volunteer, there is always a scope of inquiry prior to commitment.

The Benefits

• The opportunity to learn and gain more information about a particular cause or vocation. For example, as a teacher, you are able to tap the potential pros and cons associated with the job profile with due exposure. You can also simultaneously explore other related fields and work environment through applied leadership development.

• The chance to develop ability, skill, and personal strengths. As part of a group, you get first-hand exposure to capitalize on and learn communication and teamwork dynamics.

You also get to try out effective time management skills, while developing a positive attitude towards the common initiative. All this is usually a hands-on experience.

• A chance to enhance and add value to your resume. Although most volunteering jobs don't pay, the work experience gained adds value to your present and lays down a stronger foundation for your future plans.

For example, if you volunteer as an assistant at an organ-donation camp, the experience would highlight your initiative and drive on completion of the nursing course and improve your intercultural communication skills.

• The benefit of not only meeting new people, but also extending your social network. Volunteers benefit through a number of valuable contacts made at each session. These people or company representatives are very resourceful as potential providers for job rostrums and contacts within companies.

As a volunteer, you get a great chance to nurture your leadership role through private social networking. Networking at volunteer avenues involves research more than opportunistic behavior.

You get a chance to tap the potential of market intelligence and identify opportunities that could enhance your current job profile or open up new vistas you may have never known even existed!

• Volunteering undoubtedly helps you build your confidence level and self-worth. The mere participation and the cause being supported are empowering and boost your morale. This in turn, ripples on in the form of firm resolve and commitment, giving you an edge over your competitors.

• You get to enjoy the work while satisfying your need to make a difference. By volunteering, you bring life to your intention of serving the community and doing your bit to make it better. The task taken up not only adds quality to your personal life, but also helps you professionally, by helping you sort and identify potential references.

There are a number of organizations dedicated to providing services within a community. The beauty about volunteering is that it hardly matters whether or not you are monetarily aiding the cause. What matters and makes a huge difference is your commitment, dedication, devotion, and your personal strengths.

There is no denying that altruism motivates; nevertheless, the time spent in non-profit work is fulfilling and enriching. Volunteer work speaks volumes of your character and personality. It highlights your dedication towards the community and in a way creates a niche for your abilities.

You get an opportunity to hone your leadership and interpersonal communication skills. The involvement is known to empower self-esteem and even lower health risks such as depression and social anxiety.