Why Should I Volunteer?

We live in a busy world. You have enough to do already so why should you volunteer? Do you get any benefits from it? The easy answer is: yes, you do! Here are five reasons to volunteer which are also five benefits of volunteering.

1. Resume Builder

Volunteering for an established company gives your opportunities to network and gain experience in a low risk environment. This is why volunteering is a great way to build your resume. If you think about it, unpaid internships are you volunteering your time and resources in order to work for an organization, for free. It’s the same kind of thing. No matter the official title, volunteering with an organization can be a great way to get experience in a field you may be interested in. If you want to be an event planner, volunteer at events similar to the ones you’d like to run. If you want to work with children, volunteer with schools or special needs programs to get experience. If you want to be a business person, talk with a business man and see if you can volunteer.

Having volunteer experience on your resume also shows potential employers that you can work with others and be selfless. It shows that you are contributing to the community and it shows that you can time manage because you were able to fit it in while managing your busy life. 

2. Bragging Rights

You can have some really incredible experiences volunteering that you couldn’t get otherwise. For example, I have never played baseball, softball or anything like that, but I volunteered with Miracle League of the Triangle, a baseball league for special needs children, and worked as an assistant coach. Now I can say I was an assistant coach for a children’s baseball team for two seasons. This kind of experience isn’t a resume builder for me, but it definitely impresses friends and strangers alike.

3. Support a Cause You Believe In

Many of our favorite non-profits and for-profit companies alike rely on volunteers to function properly. Without volunteers, many events would fail. If no one volunteers, it shows that the cause the company is promoting isn’t important to the community. Show your support for the things you believe in by giving your time and energy. This shows them that you care, that this is important to you and you want to do your part to make it possible. This is also a great way of determining how important a cause is to you. Is it important enough to help with or do you just want to like the idea of Facebook?

4. Give Back or Contribute to Your Community

Volunteering is a great way to care for your community and improve it. Volunteer projects like fixing up parks, cleaning up the sides of the road or participating in community events are a great way to support your community. It helps other residents enjoy their stay and creates a cleaner, more exciting environment for you.

5. Make Yourself Feel Good About Yourself and Life

When you volunteer, you come away feeling better about yourself as a person and about your life. It doesn’t matter if you explain this with science or religion, anyone who volunteers can attest to their improved mood. Sometimes, it’s subtle and sometimes it’s overwhelming. Either way, volunteering is a great way to improve your self-image and to give you a more positive outlook on life. It’s also a great way to get out of a sad or angry rut.

Do you like to volunteer? What have your volunteer experiences been? Share your experiences in the comments below!