{"id":15419,"date":"2023-04-18T09:39:58","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T15:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/?p=15419"},"modified":"2023-04-21T10:50:37","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T16:50:37","slug":"volunteering-improving-your-community-and-your-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/blog\/volunteering-improving-your-community-and-your-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Volunteering: Improving Your Community and Your Success"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">April is known for warmer weather, showers that bring springtime flowers, and National Volunteer Month. And although this month is a great time to observe volunteers everywhere, it\u2019s important to remember that volunteering is important work that benefits others and yourself as well. Take a look at how volunteering improves your community and your success.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>Improve Your Community and Your Mood<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteering within your community improves the livelihood of everyone who lives there. Improved livelihoods create healthy communities that prosper. Prosperous communities create more opportunities for those who are in need. And, in addition to creating a\u00a0 healthy community, studies have shown that altruistic behavior increases internal feelings of well-being and happiness. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>Boost Your Resume and Your Skills<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteering not only improves your community and your mood, but it can also improve your skills and boost your resum\u00e9. If you are volunteering at an organization that is in the same industry as your chosen career, your time can count as work experience. For example, if you work in the educational field and volunteer each week by tutoring or mentoring children, you can list your time on\u00a0 your resum\u00e9. Potential hiring managers will not only take note of the gained experience, but they\u2019ll see that you also value helping others.<\/span> <b><br \/>\n<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you participate in volunteer work, it can help you\u00a0 stand out from other applicants when applying to schools. It shows that you care about hard work and others.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b>Build a Strong, Supportive Network<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019d be surprised by the number of people you can meet while volunteering. These people can turn into great networking opportunities or long-lasting friendships. Networking and gaining reliable references can be key to finding and landing a job.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><b><br \/>\n<\/b><b>There are several different ways you can help improve your community. Here are just a few ideas of the many ways you can volunteer:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your writing skills to write for a nonprofit organization<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your construction skills to help build homes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your people-skills to host a fundraiser<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your creative skills by knitting or sewing clothing and blankets for children<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use your social media skills and volunteer virtually by promoting your favorite causes<\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate the gently used items in your closet or garage (books, toys, movies, clothing, technology, vehicles, shoes, eyeglasses, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate your hair to Locks of Love or Wigs for Kids<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate non-perishable food items<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Donate blood or plasma or host a blood drive<\/span>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteer your time and serve food at your local shelter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteer your time and play with animals at your local animal shelter<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteer your time and adopt a highway or clean up a park<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteer your time and read to kids at the children\u2019s hospital or play cards with the elderly\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>April is known for warmer weather, showers that bring springtime flowers, and National Volunteer Month. And although this month is a great time to observe volunteers everywhere, it\u2019s important to remember that volunteering is important work that benefits others and yourself as well. Take a look at how volunteering improves your community and your success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":15420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3942,4],"tags":[1887,608,466,7447],"class_list":{"0":"post-15419","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-career-prep","8":"category-stories","9":"tag-resume-skills","10":"tag-success","11":"tag-volunteering","12":"tag-work-experience"},"better_featured_image":{"id":15420,"alt_text":"","caption":"The group of coworkers smile while they help paint the graffiti 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