Volunteering and its Impact on Career and Personal Growth

Often, young adults lack leadership experience or other crucial skills employers look for when hiring new personnel. But, if you have volunteer experience in raising awareness, organizing teams, or other administrative leadership positions, it could go a long way in opening doors to employment and personal growth. Volunteering can have a powerful impact on one’s life, enriching both the individual and the community. In addition to the altruistic benefits, giving back to the community can deliver emotional enjoyment, professional development, and personal growth.

This is what Ayden Hector, a business major and a Colorado State Rams football team member, has discovered. He is very active in the student-led organization, B.Box (also known as Birthday Box). This GoFundMe campaign has a fundraising goal of $1,500. The money donated goes to helping homeless youth by delivering B.Boxes to teen homeless shelters each month.

Hector has been nominated for the All-American Bowl’s “Man of the Year” award for his many contributions to the local community. However, the rewards of volunteering have also positively impacted his career and personal growth in many ways.

Volunteering Enhances Professional Growth

Volunteer work is an individual and collective effort. Leadership opportunities and group efforts to inspire others to donate are often available with larger projects. For example, helping to package delivery boxes at a food bank can quickly grow into coordinating the operations or advising on strategies for efficiency and cost-cutting measures. These critical skills provide supervisory and operational experience that can translate into the workplace.

In addition to skill building, ample networking opportunities exist when volunteering. Collaborating with individuals from different industries creates valuable connections for mentorship, job referrals, or discovering new career opportunities. Ayden Hector suggests volunteering with a variety of organizations and choosing opportunities with transferable skills that align with your goals or values.

Volunteering can be a powerful catalyst for professional development and can help sharpen skills learned in the classroom. Organizing events, managing budgets, or assisting with online marketing for a charitable organization can deliver valuable skills that are used in business every day.

The Personal Rewards of Giving Back

The benefit of giving back to the community doesn’t end when the project is complete. Often, long-term personal rewards can help establish one’s legacy, adding a lasting positive impact. For example, dedicating years to environmental causes such as planting trees, cleaning green spaces, or raising recycling awareness will leave a lasting imprint on the community and the environment.

Ayden knows firsthand how engaging in community projects can build self-esteem. Helping young people in homeless shelters has been a profound experience for him and his co-volunteers. This meaningful project has given them a sense of purpose that acts as an anchor during challenging times. Research has shown that mental health issues such as stress, feelings of isolation, and boredom can all be reduced when purpose and meaning are added to one’s life.

Volunteer work has a way of reinforcing critical thinking skills, adaptability, and resilience. When resources such as limited manpower or time constraints arise, it is up to volunteers to engage in creative problem-solving and to persevere until the mission is complete. These valuable qualities can enhance personal growth and one’s ability to navigate complex life situations with confidence and poise.

The Joy of Having a Real-Life Impact

There are so many dimensions of volunteering that have a real-life impact and can bring immeasurable joy. Dedicating your time and energy to a cause without the expectation of reward can be a powerful and transformative experience. It is not uncommon for volunteers to exclaim that the project has brought joy and satisfaction into their own lives.

Ayden Hector has been volunteering regularly within the community since 12. He served as a youth referee for Pick 6, an organization that teaches children flag football while building healthy habits, self-confidence, and leadership skills. He volunteered for Relay for Life, a fundraising event where community members come together to take action against cancer. Hector has also supported the Tent City organization, which offers shelter and support services to people experiencing homelessness.

With each volunteer experience, emotions of happiness, fulfillment, and pride are all experienced. The thought of improving someone else’s life, even for a day, can have an enormous impact on the giver and the receiver. These are the values that come with volunteering on both a personal and community level. When people come together to address common challenges, bonds of trust are built that can last a lifetime.