Volunteering As A Way To Get A Job? Yeah, It Works
Volunteering is one of the smartest (and most underrated) ways not just to find good jobs but to get hired. A major U.S. government study found that people who volunteer while unemployed have a 27% better chance of landing a job than those who don’t. In some groups (like those without a high school diploma or in rural areas), the boost is even higher — up to 55%. How exactly does volunteering help? Here are four solid reasons why it’s not just “nice to do” — it’s a strategic move that builds your resume, opens doors, and gives you an edge over other candidates.
1) It Supercharges Your Job Search
It does that primarily by building your professional network. Volunteering puts you in close contact with people who may know about job openings, can make introductions, or even hire you. Even in today’s world of electronic recruiting, the majority of jobs are still filled through networking, jobs you would never find any other way.
It also boosts your job-search skills. Applying for volunteer roles practices everything from writing applications to interviewing. Plus, seeing your impact in real time rebuilds confidence that sometimes dips during long job hunts.
It’s low-risk career exploration. You can test-drive different industries, roles, or causes without any risk. Many people discover their true passion or next career move while volunteering.
2) It Improves Your Odds of Actually Getting Hired
It adds real-world experience to your resume. Particularly if you’re new to the workforce or changing careers, volunteering adds tangible achievements, projects, and responsibilities that make your resume look complete and professional. Employers see it as equivalent to paid work in many cases.
You get strong, credible references. Supervisors and colleagues from volunteer roles can vouch for your skills, reliability, and attitude — often more convincingly than a short-term gig.
Hiring managers actively value it. Surveys show 81% of HR professionals consider volunteer experience when making hiring decisions, and 41% view it as equal to paid work. It makes you more desirable—and helps you stand out in a sea of similar resumes.
It fills gaps in your work history. If you have a gap in employment, as many people who have been out of work do, recruiters may wonder what you have been doing with all that time, and whether it indicates a low-energy personality or worse. It pays to be able to fill those gaps with something as praiseworthy as volunteering.
3) It Gives You New Skills And Boosts Your Mojo
You often develop new and transferable skills. Whether it’s project management, communication, leadership, social media, or data analysis, volunteering let’s you practice (and prove) skills that directly translate to paid roles — without the pressure of a full-time job.
It proves your work ethic and dedication. Hiring managers love seeing that you show up consistently, take initiative, and care about something bigger than a paycheck. It signals you’re reliable and committed—qualities that stand out on any application.
4) It Can Even Lead Directly to a Job
It can turn into a paid job inside the same organization. Nonprofits and companies often hire from within their volunteer pool first. You’re already trusted, trained, and familiar with their mission—making you the obvious choice when a paid position opens up.
So What Kind of Volunteering Should You Consider?
Almost any kind of volunteering will help your job search in the ways described above — so it’s more important to do something than hold out for specific volunteer work. But that said, volunteer work is especially helpful if you can wind your way into roles that mirror your existing skills or potential target industries (e.g., tech nonprofits if you want ed-tech; animal shelters for veterinary tech; libraries/museums for education or museum jobs).
Before taking a volunteer opportunity, ask yourself:
Does the opportunity connect you with people in any way? Networking is one of the biggest benefits of volunteering, and you don’t get much of that in some roles, though there may be other upsides.
Does it enhance or at least demonstrate your skills? These might include fundraising, client/customer service, communications, program coordination, or specific skills you have (e.g., bookkeeping, language skills, etc.).
Will you be happy doing it? If the opportunity looks like an unwelcome chore, don’t take it. You need to feel good about volunteering to do a good job, and part of the benefit, even apart from the practical value, is helping you to get your mojo back. It might be added that happy people are more attractive as job candidates because people want to work with them.
If you don’t take the volunteer opportunity, would you be doing anything else? Large gaps in your resume are red flags for recruiters, because they can indicate low energy. So it’s better to do something than nothing, just to show employers — and yourself — that you’ve still got your mojo. If you’re not doing anything else, then at least volunteer.
Next Steps
You may already be aware of local volunteer opportunities at churches or charities (Red Cross, etc.), and those can be great, especially for local networking.
If you need additional volunteering sources, here are some of the biggest volunteer matching sites. Note: Some of the opportunities offered through these sites are remote — those can demonstrate your skills and get you recommendations, but might be less likely to build your network in some cases, so bear that in mind.
Catchafire.org — The gold standard for skills-based, project-based virtual volunteering. Nonprofits post specific needs (marketing plans, website redesigns, financial audits, etc.). Most projects are remote and time-bound.
VolunteerMatch.org — Largest volunteer database in the U.S. Excellent skill-based and virtual filters; you can search by your exact expertise.
Idealist.org — Huge selection of volunteer gigs plus nonprofit jobs. Great for both local and remote opportunities; easy to browse by cause and skill.
Taproot Foundation / Taproot+ — Connects professionals with pro-bono consulting projects (strategy, tech, HR, etc.). Extremely high-quality and resume-boosting.
Engage (pointsoflight.org / AllForGood) — Points of Light’s platform (includes former AllForGood). Massive marketplace with many skills-based and corporate-partnered opportunities.
LinkedIn Volunteering Opportunities — Search “volunteer” in LinkedIn’s jobs/volunteer section or browse company/nonprofit pages. Also perfect for networking while volunteering.
CreateTheGood.org (AARP) — User-friendly site focused on flexible, meaningful roles—many skills-based or leadership-oriented, especially good for mid-career or older volunteers.
Executive Service Corps (ESC) or local affiliates — Matches experienced professionals with nonprofits needing strategic help (finance, marketing, board development).
MovingWorlds.org — Skills-based “experteering” platform with both virtual and international opportunities; strong focus on career growth and impact.
Local United Way, HandsOn Network, or nonprofit board portals (e.g., BoardSource.org, Idealist board listings) — Search your city + “board service” or “volunteer leadership.” Board roles are one of the fastest ways to gain high-level experience and connections.
Good luck!
