Voluntary work can be appealing for all sorts of reasons, but for some freelancers it can be a way to combine career development with philanthropy. In this article we look over some of the ways in which volunteering could be useful to you as a freelancer.
CV and portfolio building
Your curriculum vitae and portfolio are both valuable ongoing resources showing what you’ve done, and therefore what you’re capable of. Continuously building on this shows potential clients all the ways in which you can add value through your services, with evidence based on real examples to showcase your work.
This might not always be so simple though, especially in the early days of your freelance careeer, during quieter spells, or if you’ve been working with clients under non-disclosure agreements.
Doing the work on a voluntary basis will allow you to show-off your problem-solving talents without fighting for the work first – hopefully helping you secure the job as a paid gig next time round.
It’s also a great way to test run brand new skills if you are in the process of a complete career transformation without being tied to any long-term employee contracts.
Making contacts
Volunteering in your chosen field means you are opening the door to a whole new world of contacts and opportunities you might otherwise miss.
You’ll be connecting with the right people and gaining access to resources which could help you get ahead.
Volunteer work is also great practice for networking, enabling you to hone in on your interpersonal and communication skills. It will stand you in good stead for future interviews and client meetings! You might even connect with someone who becomes a valuable mentor on your journey.
Employability
It’s common knowledge that the skills gap is still a prominent problem throughout the UK. Extra-curricular work towards learning and adopting new skills can help you stand out from the crowd.
Along with developing your skillset, taking up volunteering work demonstrates willingness, initiative, motivation and a drive to succeed. These are all extremely attractive qualities to prospective employees or clients who will be sifting through applicants or pitches.
Boosting confidence
CV building, contact making and employability are less important to the well-versed retiree who is simply looking to spend their time constructively. However, confidence boosting is vital to almost everybody as great self-esteem contributes to a healthy mind and positive productivity.
A survey by Reach Skills showed that more than one in three volunteers do it to increase their confidence levels and we salute them! Satisfaction, pride, sense of purpose and confidence in your own capabilities are all key ingredients to a happy well-rounded person, and staying motivated.
Good karma
As well as ticking lots of boxes for those of you still working your way up the career ladder, volunteer work will also allow you to rack up some serious good karma points.
If nothing else, altruistic acts of kindness make you feel all fuzzy inside and will give growing businesses the helping hand they need to succeed and we all know that feels, right?
Getting the most out of your volunteering experience
Taking a hiatus from money-making can be nerve-racking, so it’s important you get the most out of your volunteer experience. Be proactive in getting involved and go above and beyond what’s expected of you. Remember, it’s only temporary and one day these skills could be earning you a pretty penny.
If you feel like you aren’t getting enough out of the experience then speak up because volunteer work has to be a mutually beneficial process.
Lastly – ask questions. Be inquisitive to absorb the absolute most out of the situation and the people in it. Wring it dry!
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