Get Giving in Return! Benefits of Volunteering
Despite the recent economic recession, the number of national volunteers has continued to grow at a record high in past years, with about a third of the population, compared with 27% in 2009. This trend, dubbed “the boom of compassion” by media, shows that more people have discovered the personal and intrinsic rewards of volunteering.
While baseball was historically considered the national pastime, one could argue that volunteering allows it to make money. In fact, a report published by the Bureau of Labor of the US Department of Labor shows that 63.4 million people, or 26.8% of the population, volunteered at least once between September 2008 and September 2010. (In 2008, the rate was 24.6% of the population. That year, there was about 8.1 billion volunteer hours’ worth an estimated $ 169 billion.
Who’s Volunteering Their Time?
According to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, individuals with higher levels of education are more likely to volunteer than those with lower levels of education. Among those aged 25 and over, 42.8% of college graduates volunteer, compared to 18.8% of high school graduates and 8.6% of those who did not complete high school. Recent studies also show that women spend more time volunteering than men.
Volunteering can bring motivation and a sense of accomplishment
Volunteering is about giving your time, your energy and your skills. Volunteers express a sense of accomplishment and motivation, and this is ultimately generated by your desire and your enthusiasm to help. I have been a volunteer with the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) for eight years. This experience provided the opportunity to develop professionally and to network informally with other members of the section.
My best volunteer experience took place at this year’s annual Human Resources Conference held in my hometown, Ashley Down, Bristol. A comment from a colleague HR Blogger and colleague “Our volunteers SHRM-Bristol shook the house Our volunteers were friendly, efficient and competent Our SHRM-Bristol team also provided great hospitality: they worked for billions of hours and had the bulbs on their feet, proves it! It was indeed a sense of accomplishment to welcome more than 13,000 people, for four days, in a big city, without significant problems.
Volunteering can allow you to meet a diverse group of people.
Volunteering brings together a wide range of people from all walks of life and backgrounds. The recipients of your volunteer efforts and your colleagues can be a rich source of inspiration and a great way to develop your interpersonal skills. Volunteering also offers an incredible networking opportunity.
Not only will you improve lasting personal and professional relationships, but it’s also a great way to learn about people from all walks of life, different environments and new industries. Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteering and can have a positive impact on your life in the lives of those you help or serve.
What people said about the decision to volunteer?
“I think it’s important to help others.”
“I can do something for a job or a cause that is important to me.”
“Volunteering gives me a new perspective on things.”
“I can explore my strengths.”
“I can learn new skills.”
“Volunteering makes me feel needed.”
“I can make new contacts that could help my business or career.”
“Volunteering looks good on my resume.”
“Volunteering helps me solve some of my problems.”
Get involved!
It begins with one’s self. You have to be compassionate especially for the underprivileged and the under served in our society. If you see these persons as your fellow humans, then there is every tendency that you will be moved to volunteer for their cause.