Does volunteering really make young people more employable?

My last blog post looked at what some young adults thought were the real benefits of volunteering. Something that came out of the discussion was that volunteering is something that is highly admired by employers since it shows that the individual has taken their own initiative and are commited to their interests.

Additional research shows that many people who have worked as a volunteer and were looking for a full-time job claim that their volunteering experience certainly has a positive effect on potential employers. That said, volunteering may well be a positive influential factor but it certainly takes a lot more to secure that job!

What I can say is that volunteering provides you with enhanced employable skills. As a volunteer I meet many different people, attend various meetings and get to test out my public relations and communication skills. As well as providing me with more confidence volunteering has developed my communication, management, problem-solving, team-work and leadership skills.

What I understand is that there is no clear connection between volunteering and employability. It does however provide you with sellable employment skills allowing you to make a smooth transition into the working environment.