How to Capitalize on The Holiday Season by Networking During Your Volunteer Work
Volunteer work gives you the opportunity to give back to the community, but there are personal benefits you may not have considered. You may have the opportunity to take on roles you do not in your current company. You can try different types of work to gain new skills and experience.
Meet New People
Volunteering often affords the opportunity to interact with different types of people in varying fields and at all levels of from entry level to management. In a volunteer experience everyone tends to be on equal footing. You may find yourself working side-by-side with the CEO of a local company from an industry you do not typically encounter. It can give you exposure that’s very difficult to come by in your daily workday. Be open to getting to know people and let them get to know you while you do something positive for your community.
Approach with Passion
There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities, particularly around the holidays. Be sure to choose one that you feel strongly about and that uses your strengths. Going through the motions on a volunteer project that sounds like a good cause but is not the right fit isn’t the best for you or the organization involved.
Gain New Skills
Sometimes volunteer work means getting out of your comfort zone, but it can expose you to new people and opportunities. You can build cross-cultural communication skills as you work with other volunteers and community members. Taking a leadership role while volunteering can build skills that will translate to your career, for example public speaking.
Keep Your Eyes Open
At the volunteer site, you might notice somebody who would be good for your current company. You could find a fellow volunteer who would be a good fit in your current culture – maybe even somebody your organization could create a position for you based on your assessment of their skills if they seem like a good fit for the company.
Make an Impact on Your Community
By working in a volunteer position, you could learn about industries and opportunities that you had never considered before and try them in a virtually no risk situation. While we want to use volunteer time to give back to the community during the holiday season, we want to be mindful of who we work with and who we meet along the way. Every connection is an opportunity to long term job success. Think about this as you get out and volunteer during the holiday season.
Ready to Put Your Experience to Work?
If you’re ready to find a new position, especially one that volunteering has opened your eyes to, take a look at the career opportunities currently available at RealStreet. We have some of the best architecture, engineering and construction opportunities that the industry has to offer!