YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

IN REALITY, IS VOLUNTEER WORK REGARDED AS WORK EXPERIENCE BY EMPLOYERS?

DARREN BUCHANAN MANAGING DIRECTOR, HAYS QUEENSLAND

Volunteer work will be regarded as work experience and be more beneficial to your job search if it is in an area relevant to your field. For instance, university students often volunteer their services to the corporate world to gain professional work experience within the industry they want to enter. Charities can provide volunteer opportunities, enabling you to develop new skills at any point in your career. For example, skilled professionals looking to advance to an executive or board role could take on a board role for a small charity organisation to aid their professional development. There may also be soft skills that cross over.

SINEAD HOURIGAN BRISBANE DIRECTOR, ROBERT WALTERS

The answer depends on the stage of career someone is at. If you are entering the workforce through a path of study and are attending university, we would always encourage students to ensure they are engaging with as many relevant volunteering and pro-bono work options as they can logistically support. At other stages of your career, volunteering can take many formats. Some people choose to volunteer directly within the sector they are working in, such as sitting on boards of professional associations or not-forprofits. Volunteer experience broadens everyone’s horizons and employers will at least see you have the ability to think about others beyond yourself.

JULIE FORD SENIOR EXECUTIVE CONSULTANT, McARTHUR

It depends on the relevance of the skills used in the volunteer work, compared to the nature of the employer’s business. Using skills or tools that align with the employer’s requirements may result in the employer considering this as work experience, especially if you are starting out in your career. Alternatively, it might not be particularly beneficial as experience, however the fact that you have given your time and resources to help others is generally viewed positively. Be realistic – not all employers will have positive opinions of altruism but if it means gaining experience while helping others, it will eventually pay off.

DR NERIDA HILLBERG DIRECTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY, FERRIS MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

Yes, volunteering is a legitimate way of developing skills and experience in a broad range of areas. Volunteering also shows a potential employer you are proactive in how you develop your skills. It’s important though to remember the intention behind volunteering. I find it somewhat mercenary to only see volunteering as a method of gaining additional job experience. The altruistic element is so important. There are numerous community and charity groups in desperate need of volunteers. In my view, the drive and motivation to “give back” is a more desirable quality.