September 23, 2021
When you volunteer, you aren’t just helping yourself, you are also helping others. And as a young professional, the benefits go beyond that. When you are figuring out your next steps in school, entering into the workforce, or progressing in your career, volunteering can offer great insight and experiences to help you in these situations and the future.
If you are looking to volunteer, start with places in the same industry your dream job is in. This allows you to gain experience in the industry to see if it is an ideal match, learn from people in the same field you desire, and maybe even create some connections that can help you land your dream job.
One of the most important benefits of volunteering as a young professional is finding out what you like and dislike while in a low-pressure environment. Most volunteer opportunities are fluid and do not have a time commitment, so you can stop and find something else if you dislike a task or industry. Doing this allows you to gain experience and understand what you would not mind spending your days doing. Even more so, you can find out what you don’t like. This can help you decide to pursue a different area of focus in your future work/education, which ultimately could save you time and money.
While you’re volunteering, start building your network. The people you meet could help you find other people in your career field or offer insights into your target industry. Whatever it may be, their connection could be critical to your success. (Click here to learn about developing a professional network.)
As a young professional, managing money is very important. With volunteering, you can learn a new skill or try something out you have always wanted to do without paying for it. If you end up loving it, you can feel confident investing more time and money to continue moving forward in the industry.
Volunteering is always a great way to support your community. Especially now, when there are so many openings for jobs, volunteering can help your community remain successful and on an upward path.
Written by Megan Lasley
