Lending a hand gives back
It’s good to give but you can also receive, Melanie Burgess reports
Volunteering often is a selfless endeavour, but it also looks good on a resume and can be an opportunity to build transferable skills.
VOLUNTEERING often is a selfless endeavour, but it also looks good on a resume.
Whether a first-time worker looking to gain experience, a parent transitioning back into the workforce or a university student wanting to put theory into practice, it can be an opportunity to build transferable skills.
Employment Office chief operating officer Andrea Davey looks for workers who have keenness, emotional intelligence, self motivation, time management skills, and resilience and persistence to achieve.
She says proactive volunteers can gain these skills in any kind of role.
“In sourcing, securing and maintaining a volunteer role you will demonstrate keenness, self motivation and persistence,” she says.
“Assuming you have the opportunity to interact with colleagues or clients, your EI skills will evolve (and) balancing a volunteer role with life’s other priorities will develop your time management skills.
“Ultimately, the more life experience and work experience the better, and volunteering supports this.”
Different volunteering roles lend themselves to developing different skills so people can target specific opportunities. For example, those who want hospitality skills can serve drinks at music festivals, or those interested in flora can take tours through city botanic gardens.
Cancer Council recruits volunteers as Relay For Life committee members, retail shop assistants, Daffodil Day workers, and support workers for patients and their families.
“Cancer Council’s diverse volunteer workforce includes university students, people planning a return to work and brushing up on skills, retirees, people looking to gain employment and people who want to give back to the community while supporting a vital cause,” Cancer Council Queensland chief executive Chris McMillan says.
“Our volunteer opportunities help volunteers develop a wide range of skills including event management, customer service, community support and communication.”