Perhaps the most obvious way that volunteering can give your career a boost is by allowing you to add many new skills to your resume. Volunteering can allow you to build on soft and hard skills that you already have, but it can also allow you to develop new skills. Maybe you have always worked in trades, and you know that you’re already great at physical labour and time management; but since volunteering at multiple fundraising events, you’ve also developed cash handling and customer service skills that you didn’t have before. Be sure to always include your volunteering experience on your resume and shine a light on how those experiences have helped you to develop the skillset needed in your next job opportunity.

Volunteering can also often lead to new professional connections and opportunities. Those whom you are volunteering with might know of a position that you would be perfect for within the business they work for. Those whom you are volunteering for might notice that you’re a hard worker and offer you an opportunity within their company. In turn, those who are benefiting from your volunteering might also notice that you’re a hard worker and approach you about a job vacancy within their professional realm. Volunteering puts your passion and skills on display for many new people to see, which can always lead to new endeavors. 

Especially if you consistently volunteer with a specific group or project, having volunteer experience on your resume can show that you are a committed and passionate person. Just as it would for any job on your resume, longevity in a volunteering position is likely to impress your potential employers. It demonstrates that even unpaid, you are committed when you are passionate about something, and that you can be counted on to always show up. Having that tenure in both paid and unpaid roles will definitely make your resume stand out and even provide additional talking points for you during a job interview.