Many college freshmen enter college with some volunteer
experience. Some needed to complete a set number of volunteer hours to graduate
high school. Others sought out community service opportunities to
make their college applications stand out. And some simply felt a desire to
give back, adding volunteer service to their already hectic high school
schedules. Once those college freshmen start their first year on campus,
academic and social activities may take the place of those volunteer hours, and
draw attention away from unpaid work in the community. Consider the case for
volunteerism in college, as there may be some benefits to community service
that haven’t yet been considered when configuring those schedules.
Check out the benefits of volunteerism in college below for even
more reasons to volunteer time, because not only will the communities be made
better, but students may be doing themselves a favor as well.
Boost Your Resume
Lots of high school students have volunteerism on their college
resumes. Fewer college students are able to boast volunteer experience on the
resumes they’ll be using to apply for jobs post-graduation. If students are
able to fit the time in, even if it’s alongside a part-time, paying campus job,
it could be worth their while to pursue a volunteer position. Employers like
seeing that students volunteer their time, and are able to manage their time
well enough to take on an unpaid position. Volunteerism also suggests that
students are a team player, a quality many employers will look for in potential
hires. Many companies also lead a number of annual volunteer projects for their
staff, so if a student is active in community service and applying to work for
such an organization they should play up that experience. Students who look
interested in the company’s mission get a leg up on other applicants.
Volunteer experience may also boost financial aid packages.
There are a great number of scholarships and grants out
there that list community service as a prerequisite. If students dedicate some
time each week to volunteer work, they could be giving their financial aid
profile a boost as well. Once students start volunteering, they’ll see how easy
it is to continue doing so, whether they’re fulfilling the requirements of a scholarship
or looking to pad their resume.
Build a Network
Volunteer positions are a great way to meet people, especially
if students volunteer in an area that could be of use to them post-graduation.
Interested in education? Try volunteer tutoring. The program coordinators
may be willing to support students when they’re ready to apply for paying jobs
after graduation, or even direct students to job opportunities they may not
have heard about otherwise. Interesting in nursing or health care?
Perhaps there is a free clinic near campus that offers volunteer positions. The
contacts students make in these kinds of positions will be invaluable, and
could be a good source for them long after they find a job. Aside from a
professional network, volunteerism can also help them build social networks.
Students will not only be able to find like-minded people who share their
interests, but people from different walks of life as them, as well.
Grow as a Person
Whether it’s a somewhat selfish reason to volunteer or not,
volunteerism makes one feel good. The work students do will be rewarding and
beneficial to sections of the population and areas of the community that need
volunteers to thrive. In a volunteer situation, one person can make a real
difference, and they’ll get that feeling once they start.
Volunteering can also help students build on their existing
skill sets. If they’re relatively shy and want to become more outgoing, find a position
that will build communication skills. If they’re not sure about a particular
field of study or have interests in several potential majors, try volunteer
positions related to those areas. Even if students do something completely
different with their life, they’ll now be able to boast experience in a variety
of different fields. If one is not a good organizer or has some trouble
procrastinating when it comes to work and academics, try a volunteer opportunity
that involves some responsibility. Students will be surprised how they’ll
improve in those areas once they see that a person or organization is relying
on them.
Call (319) 272-2087, email information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org to get involved.
