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Experienced philanthropist and Rotarian Ian King of Los Angeles has a long history of working with multiple charities and NGOs in the Los Angeles area. He strongly encourages young people to offer their time and help to provide care and assistance to needy, vulnerable individuals, noting that the care they provide not only helps the needy but also offers multiple benefits to volunteers. As he rightly points out, volunteering can help a person gain valuable life experience and job skills that could help one find employment faster and more efficiently than would otherwise be possible.
Many college and university students feel that if their volunteer experience isn’t 100% relevant to their future careers, it’s not worth documenting on their resumes. However, experts and current statistics show that this notion needs to be revised. Nearly 90% of recruiters on LinkedIn state that when a new hire doesn’t work out, it’s typically because of a lack of soft skills. Over half of all employers say they consider soft skills essential when making a hiring decision. Important skills such as creativity, the ability to work well with others, strong oral and written communication skills, self-discipline, innovation, the ability to collect and process information, and the ability to sell and influence others are valued skills that could help a person not only get a job but also get ahead in their career. These important skills can be developed and honed through volunteer work. Many projects require a volunteer to work with others, develop innovative solutions to unforeseen problems, exercise self-discipline by setting aside “free time” to help the local community, etc.
Ian King, a Los Angeles local, also points out that volunteering can help people get to know various career options to determine which career path is the best for them. For instance, a person who is considering studying to become a teacher could volunteer to work as a tutor or a mentor for underprivileged children. Doing so would enable the individuals to understand the challenges and rewards of a teaching career to make a well-informed decision. Alternatively, those still deciding which career path is the best fit could volunteer with several charities in various fields. Habitat for Humanity helps construct houses for low-income individuals and families. Organizations dedicated to conservation offer volunteer opportunities for those who are considering a job in ecology, wildlife management, or a related field. Helping to organize a toy or food drive is an excellent way to test managerial and sales skills while volunteering at a pet shelter could help a person consider the benefits of becoming a veterinarian.
He also explains that volunteering allows people to network with each other and build connections that would serve both parties well now and in the future. Rotarians, for instance, are professionals who either hold executive positions in their companies or run recognized, reputable businesses. Volunteers who want to network with potential employers who are looking for motivated, qualified employees can meet the right people on volunteer projects. By the same token, business owners and executives who are looking for motivated workers may find them among the ranks of young, part-time volunteers. What’s more, networking with business professionals from fields unrelated to one’s planned career path could offer unforeseen future benefits. For instance, an aspiring doctor may see no benefits in getting to know a professional architect; however, unbeknownst to the medical student, that architect may know the head of a large local hospital who is looking for conscientious medical students who are truly concerned about the needs of all community members.
Ian King of Los Angeles notes that anyone involved in volunteer work in the past should not hesitate to include their experience on a business resume. It is ideal to include the experience relevant to one’s future career; however, he emphasizes that all volunteer work experience should be listed even if the experience is not directly related to the industry or job description. At the same time, King explains that college and university students who still need to volunteer should seriously consider doing so. Volunteer work benefits the community by meeting the needs of the less fortunate and allows volunteers to learn essential soft skills, network with other volunteers, and explore various career paths to make smart career-related decisions.
