January 02 2012

Why You Should Get Involved In Volunteering?

posted in 1L/2L, 3L, Law School Applicants by Bharat Itagi
Categories: At Home

"Everybody can be great because everybody can serve."

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

Perhaps exciting and most cherished benefit you get from volunteering is the satisfaction of incorporating service in your life and making a difference in your community and country. The intangible benefits alone—such as pride, satisfaction and accomplishment—are worthwhile reasons to serve.

LegalPulp answers to the question,why you should be out there involved in volunteering?

Volunteering helps in giving something back

One of the more obvious reasons why people volunteer is because they find something they are passionate about and want to do something good for others. People who volunteer in their community have a personal attachment to the area and want to make it a better place for themselves and for others. People who have themselves struggled with social issues usually have a certain empathy for those in a similar situation and will often wish to help out. Many people who volunteer think that they are very fortunate to live the way they do and want to give something back to society, as a way of balancing the scales.

Volunteering boosts your career options

Volunteer work can often lead to a paying job. Volunteers have the possibility of becoming volunteer coordinators. Similar to interns, volunteers can try out a field to see if it suits them and also show that they are dedicated enough to work for free in the hopes that it may lead to a paying job. English teachers are a great example of volunteer jobs that often turns into careers.

A survey carried out by TimeBank through Reed Executive showed that among 200 of the UK’s leading businesses

•    73% of employers would recruit a candidate with volunteering experience over one without

•     94% of employers believe that volunteering can add to skills

•     94% of employees who volunteered to learn new skills had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted.

Also, if you are thinking of a career change then volunteering is a perfect way to explore new fields. If you have a passion for the arts but have career in law why not volunteer at your local theatre? Or if your ambitions are to be a doctor why not find out about volunteer opportunities at your local hospital – the ideal way to expand your work portfolio in your field and to gain a real insight into your chosen path.

Volunteering enhances your skills and experience

Volunteer work is a great way to gain experience in a broad range of fields. You can gain experience in different aspects of legal field like education, journalism, social work, health care, marketing, politics, etc.… The opportunities are endless. Volunteering is a great way to put in a little of your time and gain some valuable skills, whether professional or practical.

Many employers won’t hire a person; no matter how much education they have, if they don’t have any relevant experience. Similarly, many law and medical schools expect applicants to prove their interest in the subject and their determination to succeed by volunteering for professional roles.

Volunteering connects you to others                                                          

One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. However, volunteering is a two-way street, and it can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

Volunteering increases your social and relationship skills

While some people are naturally outgoing, others are shy and have a hard time meeting new people. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills, since you are meeting regularly with a group of people with common interests. Once you have momentum, it’s easier to branch out and make more friends and contacts.

Volunteering helps you make new friends and contacts

One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, especially if you are new to an area. Volunteering also strengthens your ties to the community and broadens your support network, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun-fulfilling activities.

Volunteering brings fun and fulfillment to your life

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

Many people volunteer in order to make time for hobbies outside of work as well. For instance, if you have a desk job and long to spend time outdoors, you might consider volunteering to help plant a community garden, lead local hikes, or help at a children’s camp.

Volunteering will send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family…

People pay attention to your life outside the environment in which they have direct contact with you. For example, your employer would be interested in the activities that give you a good work-life balance, just as academic institutions are interested in your extra-curricular activities. Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of you, and gives real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Show people what you are passionate about and maybe you will inspire them too!

Volunteering also has some personal benefits

As well as offering volunteers the opportunity to develop their skills, build up their CV and making new friends, volunteering can also offer personal benefits. Many volunteering organizations, offer their help when needed to you because it is an issue that is close to their own hearts and if this is the case it can be even more rewarding when they see the fruits of their labour.

In most cases the biggest personal benefit is simply feeling good about yourself. Volunteers make a real difference to the world we live in, be it through conservation, work, and teaching. They can go home knowing they have done something amazing. What's more, Volunteering encourages significant personal development and volunteers will usually go home more confident, happy and outgoing people.

LegalPulp, at the end, wishes you to suggest on where to search for the Right Volunteering opportunities

Some of the best organizations that you can consider volunteering opportunities can also be searched at:

▪    Community theaters, museums and monuments

▪    Libraries or senior centers

▪    Service organizations such as Lions club or Rotary clubs

▪    Youth organizations, sports teams, and after-school programs

▪    Historical restorations and national parks

▪    Places of worship such as churches or synagogues

▪    Online databases such as Volunteer Match or Idealist

Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.” It is never too late to learn new skills and no reason why you should stop adding to your knowledge just because you are in employment or enrolled to a law school. Planning and implementing a major fundraising event can develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. Supervising and training other volunteers helps to develop supervisory and training skills. These are examples of skills that can enhance a career but you don’t have to develop skills with the intention of facilitating your career. You can even explore your love for music and learn to DJ (disc jockey) so you can offer your newfound panache to local youth club discos. The possibilities are many. Choice is yours.

 All the best..!