Volunteering is an altruistic way to gain valuable and rewarding experience while helping the community or providing a service. Taking a strategic approach to volunteering can have positive effects on the development of skills and experiences in a position or field related to your student’s degree program. Relevant volunteer opportunities can be useful when applying to full-time or internship opportunities, and students can sometimes turn their experience into paid positions.
Benefits of strategic volunteering:
- Allows students to gain valuable skills and experiences in a role that incorporates their long term career goals.
- Allows students to demonstrate skills and values and their impact within an organization.
- Allows students to get their foot in the door of certain organizations or non-profits that they have an interest in.
- Allows students to expand their professional network.
Things to consider when finding strategic volunteer opportunities:
- Do my values relate to this organization’s mission?
- Will this role motivate me to learn and improve?
- What can I learn or take away from this experience?
- Can I obtain additional training or certification through this role?
- Does this opportunity align with my future career goals?
The Career IMPACT Center is always happy to answer any specific questions your student may have about our resources or how to prepare for a professional setting. Have your student contact us by phone at 602-639-6606 or via our website, https://students.gcu.edu/student-resources/career-impact-center.php.
