Military Times
More from Military Times
Reboot Camp
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Transition
  • Best for Vets Rankings
  • Ask the Experts
  • Home
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Transition
  • Rankings
  • Transition Tips
  • News
  • Ask The Experts
  • Vet All Stars
  • Videos
  • Cheat Sheets
  • Polls & Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Partners
  • More from Military Times
  • © 2019 Sightline Media Group
  • Employment Main
  • Job Listings
  • Job Fair Calendar

Employment

Volunteering: Help yourself by helping others

By: Adisa Hargett-Robinson   February 2, 2018


Get off the couch! 

1 of 6 Volunteering can be a great thing to do, for many reasons. Of course, it is an opportunity to help others, improve the world around you and get some warm fuzzy feelings. Approached thoughtfully, volunteering can also provide many benefits for your career aspirations. At the very least, it'll make you stop watching Netflix for an hour. You don’t want to be this guy; he doesn’t he look like he's having fun. (David Clark/Getty Images)
Volunteering can be a great thing to do, for many reasons. Of course, it is an opportunity to help others, improve the world around you and get some warm fuzzy feelings. Approached thoughtfully, volunteering can also provide many benefits for your career aspirations. At the very least, it'll make you stop watching Netflix for an hour. You don’t want to be this guy; he doesn’t he look like he's having fun. (David Clark/Getty Images)

1. Entry-level opening ... five years of experience required 

2 of 6 Most companies want you to have tons of experience but don’t want to hire you to get the experience. Confusing, right? One way to get that experience is by volunteering! Many organizations, especially nonprofits with small budgets, have volunteers on staff. Because they rely on volunteers, these groups are often more likely to give an inexperienced person a chance. Be open-minded when evaluating opportunities. For example, if you need experience with human resources, you may not find an organization in your area looking for an HR volunteer. But you may find one looking for a volunteer coordinator. While the two positions may sound different, they could help you build up similar skills, such as recruiting talent, on-boarding newcomers, and resolving issues and grievances. (OcusFocus/Getty Images)
Most companies want you to have tons of experience but don’t want to hire you to get the experience. Confusing, right? One way to get that experience is by volunteering! Many organizations, especially nonprofits with small budgets, have volunteers on staff. Because they rely on volunteers, these groups are often more likely to give an inexperienced person a chance. Be open-minded when evaluating opportunities. For example, if you need experience with human resources, you may not find an organization in your area looking for an HR volunteer. But you may find one looking for a volunteer coordinator. While the two positions may sound different, they could help you build up similar skills, such as recruiting talent, on-boarding newcomers, and resolving issues and grievances. (OcusFocus/Getty Images)

2. Yes, new friends. 

3 of 6 I don't care what Drake says in the song “No new friends.” Knowing the right people can open up the opportunity you’re looking for. This can be particularly helpful for transitioning service members, who often are changing career fields, relocating to a new area or both. Many organizations who use volunteers have national and international networks. Someone in the local office could provide a lead on a job in a different part of the organization or a different part of the country. Volunteering at a nonprofit could put you shoulder-to-shoulder with a hiring manager, company vice president, or even the CEO. Meeting them in an out-of-office setting gives you a chance to see and be seen without the pressure that often comes with a job interview. Talk about a win-win! (Robb Cohen/Invision/AP)
I don't care what Drake says in the song “No new friends.” Knowing the right people can open up the opportunity you’re looking for. This can be particularly helpful for transitioning service members, who often are changing career fields, relocating to a new area or both. Many organizations who use volunteers have national and international networks. Someone in the local office could provide a lead on a job in a different part of the organization or a different part of the country. Volunteering at a nonprofit could put you shoulder-to-shoulder with a hiring manager, company vice president, or even the CEO. Meeting them in an out-of-office setting gives you a chance to see and be seen without the pressure that often comes with a job interview. Talk about a win-win! (Robb Cohen/Invision/AP)

3. We're talking about practice 

4 of 6 Sorry, Allen Iverson. We're talking about practice again. Think of volunteering as the final practice before the big game. It can help you hone your abilities or even teach you a new set of skills that will be useful at that future corporate job, all in a low-pressure environment. You can try new things, take risks, work through failures and learn. Even if you mess up so badly that the volunteer organization fires you, you won't get a pay cut! (Tom Mihalek/AFP/Getty Images)
Sorry, Allen Iverson. We're talking about practice again. Think of volunteering as the final practice before the big game. It can help you hone your abilities or even teach you a new set of skills that will be useful at that future corporate job, all in a low-pressure environment. You can try new things, take risks, work through failures and learn. Even if you mess up so badly that the volunteer organization fires you, you won't get a pay cut! (Tom Mihalek/AFP/Getty Images)

So go volunteer !!!! 

5 of 6 Volunteering might not get you a fat paycheck, but it can provide you with a lot more than it would appear on the surface. And if it doesn’t help you with anything discussed above it will at least get you of that couch! (Natasaadzic/Getty Images)
Volunteering might not get you a fat paycheck, but it can provide you with a lot more than it would appear on the surface. And if it doesn’t help you with anything discussed above it will at least get you of that couch! (Natasaadzic/Getty Images)

 

 

6 of 6 Information contributed by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Find more at https://www.vfw.org.
Information contributed by Veterans of Foreign Wars. Find more at https://www.vfw.org.
REBOOTCAMP NEWS
Transition

This state is helping vets in prison get their VA disability benefits
Education

Vermont’s Norwich University gets $7.3 million for cyber security programs
Transition

Can extreme sports and adrenaline help veterans with PTSD?
Transition

The share of troops and vets buying homes with VA loans has more than doubled
Transition

This nonprofit helps vets — by organizing projects for those vets to help others
More Rebootcamp News
VET ALL STARS

An IED took both his legs — but that won’t stop this vet from driving 18-wheelers

This Marine went from the ballet to the battlefield — and back again

Navy vet’s new mission: Building a vet-friendly school

Want to get into a top school? Check out this nonprofit led by a Navy vet.
More Vet All Stars
Close
Now Playing

BEST FOR VETS

Military Times Best:
Colleges 2018
Best For Vets:
Employers 2018
Military Times Best:
Franchises 2018
Military Times Best:
Places to Live 2017
New tool:
Best for YOU
Employers
Transition
This state is helping vets in prison get their VA disability benefits
Transition
Can extreme sports and adrenaline help veterans with PTSD?
Transition
The share of troops and vets buying homes with VA loans has more than doubled
Transition
This nonprofit helps vets — by organizing projects for those vets to help others
Military Times
LATEST NEWS
Homeland missile defense system takes out ICBM threat in historic salvo test
US-backed Kurdish fighters want international tribunal for ISIS detainees
Memo: Pentagon delivers reprogramming request, seeks supplemental for $9 billion hurricane damage
ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask the Experts: How much is too much when it comes to civilianizing your resume?

How do I decide whether to stick with my MOS in my civilian career?
More Ask The Experts
Comments
  • Newsletters
  • Got a Tip?
  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
  • https://rebootcamp.militarytimes.com © 2019 Sightline Media Group
    Not A U.S. Government Publication
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Transition
  • Best for Vets Rankings
  • Ask the Experts
Terms of Use
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
Get Us
  • Newsletters & Alerts
  • RSS Feeds
Contact Us
  • Help & Contact Info
  • Advertise
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Team
Military News
Air Force News
Army News
Marine Corps News
Navy News
Defense News
Federal News
C4ISR
Cyber
History