Fox Business: How Volunteering Can Help You Land the Right Job

If you’re looking for a new job, you’ve probably heard about the value of volunteering. It’s solid advice that really can help you land a job, says Charles Purdy, Monster.com’s career expert and author of “Urban Etiquette.”

According to Purdy, volunteering can help job seekers gain experience in a new field and build their resumes. It also helps workers keep their people skills sharp and “maintain their presence in the community.” And volunteering is a good way to account for any employment gaps in your resume.

But you must volunteer strategically, says Cheryl E. Palmer, CEO of Call to Career, an executive coaching firm in Washington, D.C.

“Choose a place to volunteer that needs your skill set and will potentially have job openings in the foreseeable future,” she says.

Be Picky

Volunteering in the context of a job search isn’t just about altruism. It’s essential for job seekers to be picky about the volunteer opportunities they pursue, Palmer says.

“One real benefit to doing work on a volunteer basis is that it puts you in the environment to meet people who are in your field,” Palmer says. “It can be another form of networking. And it gives a potential employer an opportunity to see how well you work.”

Suitable opportunities will vary depending on your chosen field. But Palmer advises job seekers to research organizations that are related to their industry. Many experts say it’s a good idea to contact the trade groups that serve your industry because they’re often the first to know about job openings, and those groups usually need help.

Be Passionate

As vice president of TicketKick, an online legal service that helps people beat their traffic tickets, Sara Schoonover manages a team of 10 employees in the company’s San Diego office. She sees lots of resumes, and she says it’s outstanding to see someone with a well-rounded history of volunteering.

“While I may not be able to relate to the applicant’s volunteer choices, it’s great to see people with passion for a particular cause,” Schoonover says.

But for some job seekers, identifying their passion may not be so easy. For them, stand-up comedian-turned-pyschologist Nancy Irwin of Los Angeles has some advice.

“The best way to choose a volunteer opportunity is to watch the news, and see what’s going on in the world that angers you,” Irwin says. “Turn your outrage into passion by volunteering for a cause that is making a difference in that arena. It will light (your passions) up in places you didn’t realize were dark.”