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Last Updated on April 26, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Use Volunteering Strategically: Choose roles that develop new
skills or strengthen existing ones to boostyour resume and career prospects. - Be Honest About Your Goals: Let supervisors know early if you’re interested in a permanent position to position yourself for future openings.
- Demonstrate Passion and Professionalism: Approach your volunteer work with energy, commitment, and respect to make a strong, lasting impression.
- Build Strong Relationships: Expand your internal network by connecting with colleagues and supervisors to open doors to new opportunities.
- Embrace Organizational Culture: Learning and adapting to the organization’s culture can make you a natural choice when full-time roles become available.
Volunteering is an excellent avenue to securing a permanent job. Although volunteering is purposeful for giving back to the community or serving a cause you are passionate about, nothing stops you from using it to improve your
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Benefits of Volunteering
- Builds Experience: Volunteering provides hands-on experience in various fields, allowing you to gain practical
skills and knowledge that are invaluable for your career development. - Enhances
Your Resume : Including volunteer work on your resume shows employers that you are proactive, community-minded, and capable of managing multiple responsibilities. - Expands
Your Network : Volunteering connects you with professionals and peers in your industry, providing opportunities for networking and potential job referrals. - Develops New
Skills : Engaging in volunteer activities allows you to learn and develop new skills that may be outside your usual job scope, making you more versatile.
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- Improves Soft
Skills : Volunteering helps improve essential soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which employers highly value. - Boosts Confidence: Successfully contributing to volunteer projects can boost your self-confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment and purpose.
- Shows Commitment: Consistent volunteer work demonstrates your commitment and dedication to causes you care about, which can positively influence potential employers.
- Offers Career Exploration: Volunteering in different roles allows you to explore various career paths and industries, helping you make more informed career decisions.
- Provides References: Supervisors and colleagues from your volunteer work can serve as professional references, offering credible endorsements for your
skills and character. - Gives Back to the Community: Volunteering not only benefits your career but also allows you to make a positive impact in your community, which enhances your overall fulfillment.
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Why you should consider volunteering
Volunteering can help you advance your
But before you decide to volunteer, first consider the organization or what causes you support. Choosing an organization you like will make your experience enjoyable and push you to do your best. For example, if you enjoy being around and helping older people, you might want to volunteer at an assisted living facility.
Here are some feasible tips to help you turn your volunteering into a permanent job.
Be straightforward
From the start, be honest and straightforward about your desire to become a permanent salaried employee of the organization. Letting the volunteer manager know your intentions from the first day allows them to start assessing your capabilities. Once they start keeping tabs on you, you will be considered if such a position becomes available in the future.
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Offer your time
Patience is vital to turning your volunteer work into a job, and there are several key considerations to keep in mind. If you work for a non-profit, these considerations may be even more important due to potential
Show your passion
Let your passion drive you to do the job. You may have to wait a while before getting a formal employment offer. So, in the meantime, your passion will be your ace in the hole. You will undoubtedly catch the attention of the right people in the organization when your passion shines through your work.
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Exhibit professionalism
Even though you are volunteering, it’s still a valued job, and you should treat it with respect. Respect the working conditions and follow all rules and regulations. Take your position seriously and execute all tasks assigned to you with absolute professionalism.
Build bridges
Build relationships and interact with a wide range of people within the organization. This will help you expand
Learn the culture
Often,
Next Steps
- Target Strategic Volunteer Roles: Choose opportunities that align with your career goals and offer skill-building or industry exposure relevant to your path.
- Communicate Your Career Intentions: Let supervisors know early that you are interested in future full-time roles to position yourself for potential openings.
- Consistently Demonstrate Professionalism: Treat your volunteer work with the same dedication and standards you would in a paid position to build credibility.
- Network Within the Organization: Build strong relationships with colleagues and
leadership to expand your influence and increase visibility for new opportunities. - Study and Adapt to the Company Culture: Embrace the organization’s values and practices to seamlessly fit into the
team and become a natural choice forhiring .
What do you want to be when you grow up? That question nags at us long after childhood. Why is it so hard to figure out? Because finding your true calling takes courage. It means conquering fears, shedding misguided ideas, and mustering the strength to let go of a safe job and stage your next act.
Final Words
Turning a volunteer position into a full-time opportunity requires strategy, dedication, and patience. By proactively building your
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Mark Fiebert is a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
