There are multiple factors to consider when deciding what sort of volunteering you want to take part in during your time at City. Before you start browsing the range of volunteering opportunities we have available for you to take part in, read our handy guide to help you narrow down your options.
- Career aspirations
The graduate job market is highly competitive, and employers receive many applications from highly qualified candidates for a limited number of roles. Volunteering can be a great way to set yourself apart from others by showing your commitment to a particular field or cause and building your experience. If you know what field you want to go into, you could decide to volunteer for an organisation directly related to that, where you can gain work experience as well as meet experienced professionals who can shed light on what it’s like to work there.
For example, Speech and Language Therapy students could help run informal voluntary speech and language therapy sessions. Similarly, students taking numerical or quantitative degrees could spend some time volunteering as a finance assistant for a local charity.
Equally, volunteering in a specific field can help you find out what you don’t want to do once you graduate. By thinking about the kind of work experience you want to gain, you can narrow down the volunteering roles that will be of interest to you.
- Personal views and interests
Many people volunteer for organisations whose ‘mission’ aligns with their personal views and life goals. In the UK, there are 168,850 charities, meaning there is absolutely something to match everyone’s personal interests. It could be that you volunteer for a charity who supports those with shared experiences with you or others that you care about, such as a health issue or learning disability.
Or you might volunteer for a charity that advocates for a particular human right that you believe in. This could include children’s education, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, animal welfare, environmental action, or anti-poverty, to name a few. It’s a good idea to have a think about the things you truly care about and value in life and see if any opportunities align with that.
- Schedule commitments
As a student you have your studies to keep on top of, but you may also be involved in extra-curricular activities, sports, part-time employment, care responsibilities or other commitments. It’s a good idea to spend some time thinking about how much time you wish to dedicate to volunteering beforehand, as well as what days of the week you would like to volunteer.
Some charities will expect a weekly commitment over months, whilst others will offer flexible and remote roles designed to fit a busy schedule. Each volunteer opportunity clearly demonstrates the level of commitment they expect from you, as well as the location, so you can easily rule out those that don’t match your time schedule. We’d suggest you look at your weekly schedule and map out a time that works around your commitments, as most charities offer flexible roles that fit around you.
- Learning something new
If you’re looking to learn something different, either to enhance your skillset or just because you’re interested, volunteering is a great place to start as it’ll likely need no prior work experience. You could be interested in learning a new skill, such as digital marketing tools and web design, qualitative or quantitative research skills, or public speaking skills. Or you might want to volunteer for a cause that you know nothing about.
On our website we have charities across all fields, including the environment, health, young people, LGBTQ+, women and girls, education, refugees, homelessness, disability, and many more. We are also working to increase the range of roles available, particularly roles that involve the learning of ‘hard’ skills. So, consider stepping outside your comfort zone to try something new – you never know, it could be your new calling!
- Altruism and fun
And finally, with all that said, you don’t have to have a reason to volunteer beyond the desire to help others and have fun whilst doing it! If this is the case for you, then throw yourself into anything that you think you’d enjoy. And if you’re not sure, we’re here to help you – book a 1-2-1 with our team to discuss how your volunteering journey will begin and where it might take you.
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