Volunteering
Build useful skills, experience and confidence by giving your time to a role or organisation.
Volunteering can build useful experience
Volunteering can help you build confidence, meet people, understand workplaces and develop skills you can use in future applications and interviews.
Build skills
You might practise communication, teamwork, organisation, customer service, problem-solving or practical skills.
Try something out
A volunteering role can help you learn whether you enjoy a type of activity or environment.
Create evidence
Regular responsibilities give you real examples to use on a CV, application or at interview.
Choose something that works for you
- Think about what causes, activities or organisations interest you.
- Be realistic about how much time you can give.
- Look for a role where you can take on genuine tasks and responsibilities.
- Ask what support or training is provided.
- Keep a note of what you do and the skills you use.
Volunteering is not only valuable if it leads directly to a job
It can still be worthwhile if it helps you become more confident, learn something new, build a routine or understand what kind of work suits you.
Use what you gain
Add volunteering to your applications
Explain what you did, what you learned and the skills you used.
Strengthen your application →Turn volunteering into interview examples
Use real situations from your role to show how you work with other people and handle responsibility.
Prepare for interviews →Use your experience in a job search
Look for roles where the skills you have built are useful.
Find work →Need help with your next step?
A careers guidance practitioner can help you think through your options and prepare for work.