Skill Enhancement through Volunteering

Are there skills you would like to develop on your resume? Think about volunteering!  In 2011, 38 percent of Minnesota residents volunteered in 2011. Minnesota ranked 4^th among all states in volunteer rates, according to a new report from the Corporation for National & Community Service. That’s 1.58 million volunteers giving nearly 172 million hours of service to religious, civic, health, and educational organizations across the state.

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Test Drive a Job

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” might be a question that is tailored toward kids, but the heart of the question is relevant to any student or job seeker. While you might know what kind of job you want, it’s difficult to know if it is the right position for you without an on-the-job experience. Just like test driving a car, you can test out a career before you commit to it. This is called work-based learning, and can include volunteering, internships, and apprenticeships.

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Explore Health Careers Through Volunteering

Volunteering in a health care setting has many benefits. Stepping into a volunteer role inside a hospital, nursing home, pharmacy, dental office, or veterinary clinic can help clarify your career choice. It also has the potential to help you develop essential skills for your future profession. It will give you your own personal stories to complement your application into a health professional program.

A health-related volunteer experience can be valuable whether you are a high school student, college student, or mid-career person seeking a career change.

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Resume Booster: Volunteering for Leadership Roles

In today’s economy, finding a job can be difficult. With many skilled people looking for work, employers can afford to be choosy. You need to provide a resume that will stand out from all the others even if the jobs you’re applying for aren’t a perfect match for your skill set. Employers want employees with experience and essential job skills, such as management, communication, or organizational skills. How do you learn these skills if you can't get hired to learn and gain experience? Try volunteering!

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A Working Retirement

The new “retirement” for many includes continuing to work. The downturn in the economy has affected retirement plans and savings. According to the Transamerica Center for Retirement Center, over half (54 percent) of workers plan to work in retirement (.pdf) largely due to financial concerns.

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