This is how your volunteering assignment becomes a plus point when looking for a job!

You don't always get the tasks that you imagined before the trip during the volunteer work. Of course, that's not a bad thing per se - in the best case, you'll discover previously undreamt-of talents in yourself. However, if you have the feeling that you are perhaps not trusted enough or if you don't really enjoy your tasks, don't be afraid to address this to the project managers in a friendly and open manner!

Get an overview on site of which tasks you would like to take on - either because you want to use existing skills in a meaningful way and strengthen them further, or because you would like to try yourself in completely new areas of responsibility. Keep an open eye to where help might be needed or where processes could be optimized and proactively offer your support. Be curious and ask questions, adopt different perspectives.

In this way you increase the chances that your stay will be as enriching as possible for both the project and yourself: You can learn a great deal from the people on site, at the same time the skills you already bring with you are also a valuable resource from which the project can benefit.

Even when volunteering, it is advisable to have your commitment documented by a document that you attach to your application documents. In this way, you create credibility and trust with your potential new employer right from the start.

In this case, of course, it doesn't have to be a classic job reference and it's not about evaluating your skills. However, the document should state the organization's name and mission, the length of time you have been involved, your responsibilities in the project, and the areas you have supported and contributed to. Many sending organizations also offer their volunteers further training courses or trainer certificates (e.g. on the subject of intercultural skills) to prepare their volunteers for the assignment – ​​these can be extremely valuable and should definitely be listed.

The document should be signed by a local project officer or the sending organization and show the organization's official logo and/or contact details. With many sending organizations, including Rainbow Garden Village, you will automatically receive a certificate of your commitment.

You will certainly take home a wealth of experiences, memories, new perspectives and skills from your volunteer work. As already mentioned, all of this can also be used for your later job tremendously helpful be. If you would like to mention your volunteer work in your application documents, it is definitely worth reflecting on your experiences.

Write down which tasks you took on during your assignment on site and then think about what added value the individual tasks had for your development and which skills you promoted as a result. Of course, this also includes your personal development, i.e. the famous soft skills.

For example: part of your assignment was teaching children a foreign language. Of course, you have expanded your skills in terms of knowledge transfer and pedagogical methods on a “professional” level. In addition, however, you will probably experience that on a personal level your empathy, patience, communication skills and cultural sensitivity will also be strengthened.

You should also not ignore the level of your personal values. What triggered your journey emotionally in you? What new perspectives have expanded your inner horizon? What influence do your experiences have on your future decisions, for example in relation to your career choice or your consumption/lifestyle? Have you perhaps even found your personal mission that you now want to continue to follow?

Especially if you are looking for a career in, for example, Nature Conservation, in the social area or are interested in development cooperation, your inner motivation is a very important factor for employers - because here they are looking for people who are passionate about the cause and have a healthy dose of idealism.

If you would like to state your volunteering as practical experience in an application, it is essentially about naming the specific added value that your commitment has created for your personal and professional development.

In principle, very similar rules apply to the presentation of voluntary work as to full-time positions: The name of the organization, the period of your commitment and a few brief key points of your specific tasks and responsibilities should be included in the CV. The best way to do this is to create a separate section in your CV with the heading “Volunteering”. If necessary, you can then go into more detail in the cover letter in order to underline certain competencies with practical examples.

Do you have professional experience: r, for example as part of a sabbaticals, completed a skills-based assignment, you may even be able to go one step further and show concrete successes that you were able to achieve by bringing your know-how to the organization. An example: As a marketing expert, you supported an aid organization in fundraising and public relations and were able to increase donations through a successful PR campaign. Something like this should definitely be included in your application!

What should also be mentioned in the cover letter is your very personal motivation to get involved in this specific organization or for this specific topic (animal welfare, educational equity, climate protection, etc.). Here you show yourself to the employer not only as a smooth sequence of professional stations, but also as a reflective and committed personality.

Are you looking for a job with social added value and other helpful guides on the topic of "working meaningfully"? Then feel free to look up SustainableJobs !