Volunteering is a noble activity that allows you to help people and animals without expecting a return. Usually, when you volunteer at a non-profit organization, you are solely focused on doing good for your community. Financial gain or benefits in general are not something you are concentrating on. But there is indeed some good that can come to you from making this choice. Dr. Philip Baldeo, a family doctor in New York, advises high school and college students to volunteer at a non-profit to gain knowledge and experience in various fields, which can positively affect their personal and professional future.
Here are a few of the perks you can enjoy when you volunteer at a non-profit:
Making a difference in your community
You always hear that volunteering at a non-profit is a form of paying back to your community. But you won’t really realize how true this is unless you go for it. When you volunteer at a non-profit, you will have a front-row view. You get to see how donations, employees’ work, and volunteer effort make a change in the target community. You will see with your own eyes the result of your dedication and commitment. You can
Opening the door for career opportunities
Volunteering is not a paid job, but it can open the door to multiple job opportunities. When you volunteer at a non-profit, you will understand how their system works. So, if you are interested in working in the non-private sector in general, your volunteer experience will qualify you to land the job. Your volunteer experience will not only familiarize you with the way non-profit organizations are run.It will also make you a preferred candidate in the eyes of non-profits looking for new employees. Managers at such organizations admire candidates who donate their time and efforts to help their communities.
As for the private sector, your volunteer experience can qualify you to get a job in many companies. This is due to the fact that cooperative managers appreciate individuals with a history of volunteering. Such history indicates a person’s ability to commit to work without putting money in the first place. Also, the type of experience gained from serving the community can qualify you to work with and communicate with different types of people.
Enhancing your overall health
Helping less privileged individuals live better can make them healthier. But did you know it can make you healthier too? When you help others, you will definitely feel better about yourself. This can reflect on your overall health and wellbeing in ways you did not expect. For instance, you will feel happier and more relaxed. If you have anxiety or depression problems, helping people or animals in need can make you experience fewer symptoms and complications.
So, volunteering at a non-profit will be more than just a way to spend some free time. It will be a life-changing step that can change your life for the better. So, in a deeper meaning, you are not only helping others live better, but you are helping yourself too.
