reed.co.uk finds volunteers jumping the jobs queue

Volunteering can give jobseekers a vital edge when looking for work, according to new research by job site, reed.co.uk, for charity, TimeBank.

Employers see volunteering as a way of spring boarding people into a career, with 84% of those responsible for hiring agreeing that volunteering is a way to help people find work.

And it’s not just those looking for a new job whose careers can benefit from volunteering.  Over 70% of employers believe that those who volunteer have a better chance of earning a higher salary and gaining promotion.

Jobseekers increasingly understand the value of volunteering too. Out of 3,000 jobseekers surveyed, 20% said volunteering helped their communications skills, 19% said their team working abilities were improved and 10% said their time management had improved.

With graduates fighting to make their CVs competitive, the new research shows that voluntary work could be the added extra to make a CV stand out from the crowd. When recruiting, 80% of employers value volunteering on a CV, 66% rate hobbies and 54% rate travel as important extra curricular activities.

Mark Rhodes, Head of Marketing at reed.co.uk, agrees that a stint as a volunteer can be a great way to gain new skills and experiences that are vital in a today’s workplace:

“Everyone knows the job market’s a tough place to be right now and we’re seeing jobseekers increasingly look to find a competitive edge when making applications.

“Jobseekers who volunteer can benefit from exposure to a range of core workplace activities, such as communication, line management and teamwork.”

Indeed, TimeBank’s own research, conducted earlier this year, revealed that half of volunteers across the country claim that their volunteering experience helped them secure a job.

Lynne Allen, 22 years old and a recent graduate, volunteered at The Brighton Fringe Festival and her experience secured her first job at a promotional merchandising and events company:

“I would recommend volunteering to any graduate who’s struggling to find a job. It can provide you with skills that you didn’t have before and that other candidates may not have. It shows to employers that you’re really dedicated too. I was so worried about finding a job after I graduated as I’d heard absolutely nothing back from those I applied for. Volunteering at Brighton Fringe Festival helped me gain lots of experience in events and I developed valuable skills that I didn’t have before – the employer spotted that and it must have given me the edge on other candidates.”

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of TimeBank says:

“We know that volunteering is a great way for people to stand out to a prospective employer. It demonstrates passion and commitment because you’re willing to give your time to a project despite it being unpaid, and it also gives you the chance to develop the soft skills needed in a work environment. For all those people that are being made redundant too, volunteering can help them sustain confidence, purpose and remain focused on returning to the job market as quickly as possible.”