Volunteering could land you your dream job

Did you know volunteer experience could give you the boost you need to get hired? Most job adverts in the papers, and online platforms, ask people with volunteering experience to try their luck.
Charity Byarugaba, a careers’ development person and project administrator at Kyambogo University, says the idea of hiring people who have volunteered, or volunteers, has become common, confirming the notion that employers are impressed by someone with social conscience.

Recruitment strategy
Byarugaba says volunteering experience is looked at when a company is assessing if a candidate is worth hiring.“There are many reasons why companies would want to take in volunteers, one of the reasons is that some companies use it as a hiring strategy,” she says, adding: “The fact that hiring managers are looking at volunteer experience as adding a little glitter to a CV is a good reason for recent graduates to showcase their experience at no cost. If a job seeker comes to an organisation and they are willing to volunteer their skills, this is one indicator that this person has a particular interest. The managers opt to follow them up and mentor them to become their best.”
Byarugaba explains that among the volunteers who come in the company, it is easy to tap into their expertise, at a relatively low cost. If the company is looking out for expertise in different areas, it is very easy to get them through the volunteering strategy.
She asserts that this shift in attitudes toward volunteering could also give mid-career people who are aching for a change of pace or vying for a raise, a shot at a new job or promotion. Individuals who volunteer gain experience and are able to qualify for the next job positions. Most people seek volunteering vacancies so that they can qualify for their dream jobs.
Leah Namiiro, a personal development trainer at Girls Forum International, says volunteering is one of the best ways to build networks at a time when hiring decisions are often based on who you know.
“You can be able to find work, contacts and many business opportunities. You meet many people in the course of your volunteering process and some assign you to help them on jobs in their organisations. This has worked for me in the five-years I have worked at non-government Organisations as volunteer,” she says.
She adds: “I advise the people I counsel to take up volunteering jobs. This can help you stand out in a tough job market. Volunteering helps you access key people in the industry, and it is a great way of interacting with people with similar values.”
Namiiro explains that volunteering helps build your career profile in addition to giving you experience and exposure. She says, although you may not be taking home a salary, you should still take the job seriously and make the most of it.