If you have ever wanted to give back to society or simply do something good, then volunteering is the key. It is a selfless act, yet one that fosters personal growth, learning, and purpose. There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from bringing smiles to faces or helping light up lives. But that’s not the only thing you get. You can also garner functional volunteer skills to build a wholesome resume.

Why Volunteering is More Than Just Giving Back 

As mentioned above, volunteering is a two-way street; you give, but you also grow both personally and professionally. Here are some ways you can benefit from volunteering in your community: 

Skills Acquisition

A 2016 impact survey by Deloitte shows that 92% of HR executives believe volunteering skills pave the way for leadership roles. Working in real-world scenarios and hands-on problem-solving enhances leadership development, communication, and community-building skills.

Volunteering roles often require multitasking, planning, and team collaboration, which are critical for any career path.

Boosting Employability

Volunteering gives way to meaningful interactions and helpful connections. There are high chances of you landing internships and offers through the outreach work you do.

Employers value volunteering experience because it demonstrates one’s zeal, social responsibility, and resilience. Volunteering helps bridge experience gaps for fresh graduates and career changers. According to LinkedIn, 41% of employers view volunteering experience as equivalent to paid work experience.

Personal Development

Group volunteering activities enhance emotional intelligence and empathy through direct engagement with diverse communities. Volunteering also builds confidence, purpose, and a sense of achievement.

Professional Networking

As a volunteer, you can open doors to professionals, mentors, and opportunities in the nonprofit, development, and corporate sectors. Collaborative experiences often result in long-term partnerships and help you gain valuable references.

Community Impact

Volunteers bring in fresh ideas, energy, and innovation to grassroots efforts. They promote civic engagement and collective responsibility, especially among youth.

Improved Mental and Physical Health

Regular volunteering is linked to lower stress levels and increased happiness, as suggested by Harvard Health Journal. When you feel low, volunteering can give a strong sense of purpose, thus reducing feelings of isolation or burnout.

Top Skills You Can Gain From Volunteering 

Volunteering is a powerful way to make your resume stand out, especially when your experience is value-driven. The skills you develop through volunteering can set you apart and leave a lasting impression. They include:

Communication Skills

The impact of volunteering is vast. You can meet new people and connect with diverse communities, learn about different cultures, and share viewpoints. Reaching out to organizations, facilitating sessions, and communicating with children and adults all help in sharpening interpersonal skills.

Interpersonal skills are essential for building confidence and self-esteem. Communicating clearly and effectively can help you succeed in job interviews, collaborate with others, and lead teams confidently. Strong communication skills also help enhance clarity in thoughts and action, taking you closer to achieving your goals.

Leadership & Management

Volunteering skills are integral for developing leadership and management skills in real-world settings. The activities you participate in while volunteering teach you to take initiative, lead diverse teams, and manage projects with limited resources.

Be it planning events, coordinating tasks, or responding to challenges on the ground, volunteering helps enhance strategic thinking, communication, and emotional intelligence. It also sharpens your ability to adapt, solve problems creatively, and lead with empathy. This further helps create future-ready leaders.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking

Volunteering exposes you to the real issues on the ground. This challenges one to think critically and design practical and impactful solutions. Hearing diverse perspectives and pain points helps develop inclusive thinking and fosters long-term visioning.

Working with limited resources requires creative solutions and is crucial for future entrepreneurs and managers. This encourages thinking outside the box to design effective community programs.

Time Management and Organization

From planning fundraisers to organizing donation drives, volunteering teaches you how to manage timelines and resources. It significantly enhances time management abilities, especially when juggling responsibilities alongside studies, work, or personal commitments. Volunteering also teaches one to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and stay organized.

Volunteers often work in high-pressure or unpredictable environments, such as relief camps, events, and outreach drives. This experience teaches you to stay calm under pressure, think on your feet, and manage risks effectively. 

Teamwork and Collaboration

Managing teams as a volunteer demands empathy, active listening, and understanding people’s perspectives. This improves the ability to lead with compassion and cultural sensitivity while being inclusive and open-minded.

Coordinating volunteers or leading a small team fosters skills in delegation, motivation, and conflict resolution. Group volunteering activities don’t just boost collaboration but also help people work collectively towards achieving goals to create a greater impact.

Real-Life Examples of Skills Gained Through Volunteering

At Girl Power USA, we provide our volunteers with a wholesome learning experience in an inclusive and flexible environment. Our goal is to empower young changemakers to grow both personally and professionally by engaging in meaningful, real-world work. From content creation to strategy and outreach, each experience has added layers to our team’s skill sets. 

For Kalyani, volunteering has offered both learning and relief. As an entrepreneur, she relishes the freedom to create while deepening her knowledge of branding and design. “When volunteering, I don’t have to be a decision maker,” she says.” It’s fulfilling to be able to work with a team without the core responsibility of leading everything on my own.”

Sophia, who works on the ground with Girl Power USA training young girls in Uganda to make sustainable pads, has gained vital skills in leadership, community engagement, and sustainable innovation. Motivated by her experience, she channeled her voice into action. “I never wished for any other girl to go through what I went through,” she says. “Volunteering taught me to turn empathy into impact.”

Godian, another Girl Power USA volunteer, emphasizes his growing confidence and improved communication. “I feel more relaxed and natural during video calls,” he says, adding that his work on LinkedIn content and TikTok strategy has helped him explore gender and empowerment topics more deeply.

So, the next time someone says, “Oh, you’re just a volunteer?”, smile and tell them you’re a multitasking ninja, and that you are learning leadership, empathy, and project management. Volunteering isn’t a backup plan; it’s the real deal where growth meets change-making. And, you might just realize the best version of yourself at the next community clean-up or awareness drive.

Do something for your community or simply join Girl Power USA’s tribe to kickstart your journey of purpose and personal growth by participating in life-changing social impact activities around the world.

1- How can I start my volunteering journey?

Starting a volunteering journey is easy. Look for opportunities in your areas of interest. Search for NGOs, initiatives, and local organizations working on your interest topics, or simply start putting efforts into addressing issues independently and locally.

2- How does volunteering help in creating an impact?

Volunteering creates impact by turning time and skills into meaningful change. It supports causes directly, such as educating children, cleaning the environment, or helping vulnerable groups. It also builds awareness and inspires others to act.

3- How to Volunteer for Girl Power USA?

Girl Power USA is an inclusive and flexible platform to fuel your volunteering journey. You can visit Girl Power USA’s website to learn more. Apply for our volunteer positions to enhance your volunteering skills.