When you are in college, you may find yourself volunteering for a non-profit or a charity group. In some cases, signing up may be something you do on your own, or it may be something that you do as a sorority or fraternity. Whatever the case is, there are a number of reasons why volunteering is so beneficial. Not only will it look good on a resume, it will also feel good to give back. Moreover, volunteering will help you gain real world experience with building or leading a team, which will be invaluable when you are landing a job after college. Here are five reasons why college students should volunteer.
One of the biggest reasons why you want to volunteer is because it will look good on your resume. Human resource departments and employers – from small to big businesses – are looking for new hires that are resourceful and don’t only think about themselves. Moreover, they are also looking for self starters, which is something you need if you are going to volunteer.
Again, when it comes to getting a job later, having volunteered in college may prove that you have the power and charisma to lead. Many charity organizations require team leaders. If you are a team leader, it will be your job to hire the team, to make sure the team is motivated and to dole out tasks. Learning leadership skills is hugely invaluable when you are in college and it will stay a worthwhile skill long after you leave. The truth of the matter is that colleges are looking for leaders, which naturally, isn’t a common characteristic.
If you are working at a charity or a non-profit, you will have to come up with some impossible solutions. Problems will arise in the form of lack of funds, not enough sign ups and more. It will be your job to present out-of-the-box ideas as to how to solve these problems. These skills will be really important later on, especially in your career. However, these problem-solving skills will also be important in your personal life too.
It takes teamwork to run a charity or non-profit. If you are volunteering, you need to be ready to join forces with other people to make your visions come to life. If you have a particular plan, there is a good chance that you will need a couple more people to get their heads together. Just being able to be a part of a team will teach you a lot, but so will building a team if you ever get that opportunity.
On top of everything, volunteering is good for your personal growth and your spiritual growth. If you feel like you have been too wrapped up in your own personal drama, volunteering may give you that distance you need. This is especially the case if you are taking online courses at a college like UAB online. In the end, the greatest reward from volunteering is being able to give back.
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