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The value derived from volunteerism is immeasurable, particularly since volunteers are paid in hugs, smiles and thank you's. Volunteers are able to flex their time to meet the needs of both their volunteer job and their personal /family needs. They can work from home, either on a computer or by making phone calls; or work on site of the project by setting up, cleaning up and everything in between.
You can enhance a resume and network with many levels of management and executive personnel for professional development. Or you can just meet new and interesting people, determine if you wish to learn a new skill, hire a new person (or be hired by someone) based on their volunteering. You can broaden your horizons, open your eyes to new possibilities, create new opportunities both personal and professional and feel good about the value of your contribution. One thing for sure, you will never run out of volunteering opportunities.
Volunteering utilizes skill sets such as:
Volunteerism takes many forms and varied means of support from financial, physical and mental/emotional support as well as personal time and energy. It requires utilizing skill sets that are both innate and learned, taught and shared. Volunteering can equate to attending school all over again, learning new skill sets and enhancing existing ones. Volunteering requires emotional skills: sympathy, love and kindness. It also allows people to support something or someone, religious beliefs or a cause based out of a need/ desire to produce an end result that is better than before. The great news about volunteering is that there is a "job" for everyone. In this turbulent, competitive, job seeking market, volunteerism seems to be on the rise. Many organizations require that all levels of management throughout a company volunteer a set number of hours each year. This actually shows up in each employee’s annual review. Schools, clubs and scouting have requirements of age appropriate volunteer hours to achieve awards/scholarships at varying ages. The more you do, the more successful your volunteering experience can be for you. Volunteering can help increase one’s self-esteem, net worth, personal value system, and health.
These days, employers and universities are looking for more well-rounded and diverse community volunteers. They are looking for what makes a candidate unique, different, and more involved in their community. In talking to several top executives, they believe volunteering shows loyalty, commitment, sacrifice, time management and unselfish behavior to name a few top qualities. Volunteerism comes from the heart.
Significant life changes might inhibit someone from continuing with their career or climbing a corporate ladder, however, a volunteer job can replace a piece of an individual that is "lost" because of a disability or illness, job loss, or family need. Many female executives that I know have shared their challenges with me of going from "the board room to the baby room". Volunteering has filled the void in so many of these cases. Many men have shared that as their careers have shifted/downsized, there has been opportunity to "volunteer" at their child's school for example (allowing them the opportunity to be a part of their child's educational goals).
I'm sure as you read this, you are thinking about all that you have done, can do and will do as a volunteer. So, dear volunteer, consider this a "thank you with a hug and a smile" for sharing your heart now and in the future. Oh, and as every business plan has a bottom line, the bottom line is if you don’t "show up" to a "volunteer job", you will never know just how great you can really feel. So, definitely show up!
Think about your skills, purpose, cause, or need and be the best volunteer that you can be!
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Patty Mendel Kopelman earned her MBA from Nova Southeastern University in 1991. Her career spanned over 20 years as a healthcare executive for companies such as Tenet HealthSystems, BlueCrossBlueShield of Florida, Nova Southeastern University and Humana Medical Plans.