24 - Up-Skill And Find Career Clarity For Free With This One Tool

What do you think about giving your time away for free?

Typical business and entrepreneurship training would tell us that time is money and if you care about calculating your personal hourly rate then you should only do tasks that are worthy of your time and outsource the rest.

Whilst it makes total sense, there is a unique situation that works otherwise – volunteering.

Volunteering is an incredible way to gain some serious experience, enhance or level up your existing skill set, boost your career, and you can do some good at the same time. It is also great tool if you feel stuck and want to make a career change, you can explore as many options as you want or need without the long-term commitment in order to find something that you love.

There are many non-profit organisations that need your support, unique expertise and experience, and this can be personally rewarding. However, you do not need to be limited to volunteering in charities, especially if there are some specific skills gaps or experiences that you are looking to fill.

It isn't just for those who want to do good, it's also a fantastic way to grow professionally too.

Here are a few benefits and how you can take advantage:

When you volunteer, you are often able to carry out tasks that you might not usually get to do. It’s an all-access pass to different kinds of work experiences that you can learn from. You could be organising events, managing social media, or fundraising. These real-world tasks help you learn and become more versatile, giving you skills you can flaunt later. Is there an area you need to up-skill?

Another great thing about volunteering is the people you'll meet. Picture yourself surrounded by subject matter experts, passionate, motivated and experienced people from all walks of life. Networking doesn’t have to be difficult or via social media, in volunteer settings, it can be relaxed and genuine. Plus, you never know when a new contact might have a lead on your dream job.

While you’re volunteering, you’re not just learning how to execute specific tasks. You’re also honing soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. These are the kinds of skills that make you stand out and work well in any job environment. In some organisations you need to meet strict criteria in order to be promoted or progress (such as leading a team) yet you may not get the opportunity where you are (for example, if you don’t have a team to lead!). There is nothing stopping you gaining and enhancing these skills somewhere else.

When you take on new challenges and succeed, your self-confidence gets a massive boost. Whether it's leading a team or organising an event, these experiences make you more self-assured, and that confidence will shine through in job interviews and daily work life.

Is there a job or industry that you are curious about? Volunteering can be a fantastic way to explore many different opportunities hands-on and with minimal commitment. By dedicating your time to different companies, roles or experiences, you will gain valuable insights that you would not normally have whilst building practical experience. It will help you to understand if a future in the career suits your interests and skills. It can also boost your resume, making you a more attractive candidate for future job opportunities.

Where can I find the right volunteering opportunity for me?

To find the right volunteering opportunities that will help you, start by identifying what are the skills gaps you may have. You can do this by asking those you work with, your manager, or looking at common career development pathways. Not sure what career you want to pursue? Write a list of things that you are curious about. Journalling is a great place to start, check out the resources page of my website for 50 questions to ask yourself when journalling to help you get started. 

Next, assess the sorts of organisations that can give you the experience that you are looking for. Do you want to learn finance? Try an accountancy firm. Interested in animals? Try the local vets… you get the gist.

And remember, you are not doing this to get paid, but are looking for the experience.

Finally, reach out to local companies, nonprofits or community centres and enquire about their needs and how you can contribute. Don’t be afraid to share the reasons why you are wanting to volunteer, and don’t forget to share the benefits that you can bring to them.

A few final tips:

• People don’t often receive things for free, so when you offer your time people may not know what to say. If you meet someone face to face, make sure you take a cover letter explaining what you are looking for and why, how they will benefit and leave your contact details.
• It may take you a long time and lots of attempts before you get a “yes”. It will be worth the effort, believe me. Keep persevering until the right thing comes up.  
• Be grateful for the opportunities you do get, and make the most of it even if you realise that it is not for you. This is an important lesson in itself and be sure to make a note of what you didn’t like (the size of the company, the specifics of the role etc) so you have a reference for the future.
• If you are worried about where you will find the time, think of all the ways you can create it. Can you work a few extra hours Mon-Thu to get your Friday back for volunteering? Perhaps you could book some time on holiday, or volunteer on weekends?

I dedicate some of my time to a charity that I am passionate about. Not only have I learned so much about the education sector, but I have filled a huge knowledge gap about how charities function. There are some amazing people within the organisation, and it is a genuine privilege to bring my unique perspective at meetings and team days (pictured). I learn something new each time I work with them!

If you have a skill gap, are curious for a specific career and haven’t considered volunteering yet, now is the time! It is a fantastic way to gain experience, make connections, and build skills.

Want to talk it through further or need some 1:1 support, drop me a message at [email protected]. And don't forget to keep your eye out for my upcoming Career Clarity course.

Always with love,

Elsa x