Have you ever been in a situation where you were asked to give a proof of your leadership skills, team working skills or maybe you were asked to talk about a situation where you were creative and was able to think outside of the box?
The person asking these questions might be a prospective employer, an industry leader or maybe an industry professional. These types of questions are extremely common, especially in ‘competency-based' interviews, and unless you have a concise, polished example ready to reel-off, it can be very difficult to persuade this person with your skills. Well... if you have no experience, volunteering can be a great way to get it, in the matter of fact volunteering in a professional society can be the best of both worlds. Simply it will expand your horizon in all directions.
Volunteering will help you develop new skills as well as apply current skills in new ways. For example, a mid-career professional who has worked in marketing could use her/his marketing skills to help an organization with their fundraising or other mission-based events.
Also, It’s an opportunity for career exploration. Volunteering allows you to try on different roles, issues within the organization without job-hopping. Of course, volunteering isn’t the same as being on staff, but it can expose you to the work of an organization in a deeper way than becoming a member.
Volunteering will enhance your Leadership skills, after all you are the leaders of the future. Of course you will hear the "Leaders are born not made" phrase, well, in my humble opinion this is a delusion, as far as your experimenting go; you will display various leadership skills and you will learn to lead and to benefit the society you are in.
In conclusion, volunteering will re-shape your personality, polish and enhance your skills, as well as reflect and support a complete picture of you. It will give a real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Show people what you are passionate about and maybe you will inspire them too!
And now go and have yourself a wonderful day :)
Cheers!