Employers, does voluntary work look as good as people claim?

Hope4Hope

Hi all,

I'm 30 and I've not worked since I was 20 due to mental illness. I'm finally ready and motivated to get back to work and I'm after a basic job like shelf stacking in Tesco or something else that generally doesn't require any qualifications or experience.

I've been applying for the last 2 months and I've not even had a single phone call back. I'm thinking to volunteer at a local charity shop, but will this really have any impact on my CV, I know volunteering seems to be held in great esteem but in reality, do employers really like seeing this on CV's?

My main reason for doing it is that it will demonstrate that I can work and that I'm serious about it, otherwise I wouldn't be working for free. If you were going to hire someone who's been our of work for 10 years, what is the single most important thing you would look for on their CV.

Thanks.

pinkfluffybabe

Like many things, it depends on the employer, but generally speaking, yes, it is viewed in a positive light.

As you say, volunteering shows you can work (turn up on time, be reliable for shifts, work in a team). It can also give you a recent reference.

You might want to think about what type of volunteering you would want to do. If you want to work in Tesco, for example, then volunteering in a charity shop might give you very obviously relevant skills and experience - cash handling, customer service and so on.

Alternatively, you may want to do something completely unrelated to any job you are looking for - maybe related to a hobby or personal interest.

If you are lucky (and interested), the volunteering itself may lead to a job with the charity or another associated organisation.

Good luck!

Takeaway_Addict

It looks better than nothing on your CV...

bugslet

As an employer, I'd say yes. It shows that you have made an effort and are self motivated. As pinkfluffy says, it needs to be relevant to what you are aiming to do.

Good luck.

Gavin83

Picture yourself in the employers shoes. You have two candidates, one has voluntary work on their CV the other has nothing. Who would you pick?

It obviously only really applies to entry level jobs though. I wouldn't be particularly impressed if a manager applied for a job with his last position in a voluntary job at a cat sanctuary.

Sanne

If you are looking at charity shops keep an eye out as I'm sure that some offer some NVQs while volunteering, I.e. you wouldn't only get experience but also a qualification to your name.

Cancer research is one of them - http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/volunteer/volunteer-in-our-shops as is Scope http://www.scope.org.uk/charity-shops/volunteer but there are probably others.

Owain_Moneysaver

Gavin83 wrote: »

It obviously only really applies to entry level jobs though. I wouldn't be particularly impressed if a manager applied for a job with his last position in a voluntary job at a cat sanctuary.

I would. I like cats.

And a voluntary job might be a very responsible one, recruiting volunteers or writing grant applications or other manager-like things.

Gavin83

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

I would. I like cats.

And a voluntary job might be a very responsible one, recruiting volunteers or writing grant applications or other manager-like things.

Anything beyond an entry level job I'd expect someone to have paid relevant experience. If someone's last job was voluntary I'd be questioning why. Of course everyone is different but that would be my take on it.

I'd also imagine any managerial job at a place that accepts volunteers wouldn't be on a voluntary basis.

beluga

I was in a similar situation, with a big gap on my CV for various reasons, so I started volunteering. I really enjoyed it, it gave me a purpose and made me confident enough to apply for jobs. I'm now working full time. The interview feedback I got was really good and they were impressed with my voluntary work. It also got me a good reference as well as experience and confidence.
The company paid for training, bus fares to work and I got a lunch allowance, so nothing to lose really!

I think you get out what you put in though, I know several people who volunteered but didn't do much work, were unreliable etc. and that hasn't helped them very much!. I took advantage of the opportunity, took all the training they offered and did my best to be useful.

Good luck!

paddyrg

Not just for your CV, but also for you to get back into the working world, helping you readjust to the structure and routine.

RareWalker

One reason, acquiring skills or knowledge as a volunteer and then putting them to use may demonstrate higher levels of capacity, potentially making the volunteer more attractive to and productive for employers.
Employers like to hire people who can demonstrate that they’re motivated and hard working, even if they haven’t been getting paid for their efforts lately. Volunteering can also provide you with an insider’s advantage if the nonprofit has an opening for a paid position.