We love talking to our candidates; it often warms the cockles of our hearts. Yes, of course, they bring enthusiasm, passion and enormous intellect to their jobs. They are excited and exciting people. They often bowl us over with their wisdom and courage. But actually, those aren't the only reasons that we come away smiling from our conversations with you. As the old saying goes, "If you want something done, ask a busy person". When we look at our candidates' achievements and commitments, we're astonished that they're still as active in their communities as they are; it restores our faith in human nature. From reading schemes to sports coaching, from charity trusteeships to foodbank coordination, you are a truly inspirational crowd! At kitchen tables, soup kitchens and schools across the UK, you're slowly but surely changing the world, one step at a time.
Volunteering is a huge cultural phenomenon in the UK; in 2021/22, for example, 55% of people in England reported that they'd volunteered in the previous year, and 34% had volunteered at least once a month. That said, volunteering isn't just a one-sided undertaking - it can also be a way of acquiring new skills and experiences that you can carry across into your working life. In the immortal words of Bugsy Malone, "you give a little love, and it all comes back to you..."
If you're considering a change of career direction, volunteering in a new field can give you a great insight into what this sort of change would really mean for you. After all, if it's just not going to be the right fit for you, then it's far better to know before you spend many years - and possibly your life savings - re-training... For those returning from a career break, volunteering can build your confidence, help you to refresh your skills, and enable you to provide a recent reference. Even if you're not applying for a new role imminently, there are still huge benefits to be gained from volunteering. It can build your professional experience and shows future employers that you're proactive and can use initiative. It proves how well you can contribute to a team and that you're hardworking and determined. At its most basic level, it demonstrates that you're willing to put yourself out in order to assist others - a highly prized attribute in any workplace. It's important, also, that you feel confident to include these newfound skills and experiences in your CV; after all, it's only reasonable that you should get the credit for everything you've achieved, whether or not you've been paid for it. Sometimes, candidates tell us that they don't feel their voluntary roles are as valid as their paid jobs, or that they feel a bit shy about emphasising them. Our job is to help you to overcome this - if anything, your voluntary experiences tell employers more about who you are and what you value than anything else on your CV.
We're also delighted to report that employers are increasingly acknowledging the importance of voluntary roles - after all, they can enable a candidate to bring a lot more to the table than their paid work experience might suggest. Sometimes, the reason that people are seeking a flexible role is because they want to balance paid work with voluntary commitments - we think that's something that should not only be supported, but which also deserves a huge high five! Happily, ever-larger numbers of organisations are taking steps to encourage their teams to volunteer - not only in their own time, but sometimes within working hours too. And really, there's something in employer-supported volunteering for everyone - of course, partnerships between companies and community projects can establish important links with the local community but the truth is that they can also reap huge staff development and team building rewards.
Rolling up our sleeves and getting involved, then, seems to provide a win-win opportunity for our CVs, our companies and our local communities - but we understand that it can be tricky to fully harness the professional benefits these opportunities bring. If you need any help in shouting from the rooftops about your voluntary achievements, then do get in touch with us. We always love to find out more about what you've been doing, and we're inspired by your energy and innovation!