How useful is volunteering in a shop when it comes to a non-customer facing job?

Enigma16

something like sales, working in a bank etc, etc. i always assumed shop volunteering is useful if you want to work in a customer facing job, but if you want to work in bank or insurance call centre customer service, or working in sales it would be a bit useless.

DCFC79

Just a few

Working as a team.
Being responsible for x and x, being given the keys to lock up at end of day.
Using the till appropriately (being responsible for the money so trust is given).

motorguy

Enigma16 wrote: »

something like sales, working in a bank etc, etc. i always assumed shop volunteering is useful if you want to work in a customer facing job, but if you want to work in bank or insurance call centre customer service, or working in sales it would be a bit useless.

Quite the reverse.

• Working in a team
• Working for a manager
• Handling money / responsibility
• Dealing with customers
• Organising your time
• Fulfilling responsibilities
• Sales
• Talking to people
• Working shifts

To give you an example -

My son got in to working a filling station a few hours a week when he was 16 and still at school. Built up the hours and did summer hols, etc, then part time hours until he was 18.

Used the experience gained above to get himself in to a local Call Centre on inbound customer service, whilst he was studying at University.

Got himself on a contract for the Passport Office which gave him experience of working within a governance framework, following policy & procedures, etc.

Used that experience when he applied for a Customer Service Job for Santander Bank when he finished Uni and got in.

Has now had a years experience there doing that and is applying for a promotion in to a Service Management role and has a really good chance of getting it.

DigForVictory

All volunteering gives you something to talk about at interview, let alone the excellent examples above. This puts you yards ahead at interview from those who have similar academic backgrounds or lack thereof, as you can talk about the volunteering!
It can also source you extra character referees if you need them.

[Deleted User]

You're fears may be unfounded - I always remember a friend who swore she had to start in a care home to get on the airline as hostess. (A few years ago but I always remember her saying this)

I started a new job after being more 'business lead' and while one of the new colleagues pointed out the downfalls of the company training "you won't be taught how to deal with our clientele on the phone" which totally bypassed me going for the job with of course people hard of hearing so when I had someone 2nd call who sounded like they were a stroke victim that was bit of a challenge but I coped and yeah I started in call centre type places since 2012 and still can come across stuff which I think ohh gosh - Even as a Carer and previously having been the strong forced ruthless one in reactive front line repairs (the others all joked that I'd got contractors cowering in the corner when they would try and refuse jobs!) to this talking politely to the elderly by phone taking orders and also handling payments which I haven't done in a good couple of years and so as you can gather a change of mannor towards the diverse groups in days is do-able and even on the phones in different scenarios goes further then the initial career change.

Still I've also worked alongside shop workers now who have taken to the phones like a duck to water must say so I don't think it matters much.

kingfisherblue

One of the most important outcomes of volunteering is the fact that you show commitment. It's easier to turn up for paid work, but unpaid is a different matter. If you can commit to voluntary work for a decent length of time, it's a very positive point that employers consider.

This is in addition to the other aspects in the above posts.

daytona0

motorguy wrote: »

Got himself on a contract for the Passport Office which gave him experience of working within a governance framework, following policy & procedures, etc.

Used that experience when he applied for a Customer Service Job for Santander Bank when he finished Uni and got in.

I can't believe your son went from a government job to Santander!! Talk about a backwards step

motorguy

daytona0 wrote: »

I can't believe your son went from a government job to Santander!! Talk about a backwards step

Sorry, I didn't explain properly - it was a government contract for the Passport office within the call centre company he was with.

denisehilton

Enigma16 wrote: »

something like sales, working in a bank etc, etc. i always assumed shop volunteering is useful if you want to work in a customer facing job, but if you want to work in bank or insurance call centre customer service, or working in sales it would be a bit useless.

If the volunteering job is directly related to your fiend of study then it can do so much good for you. Many employers actually take it very positively if you have done a volunteer job.