Employment Pathway: Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment

Each month we will explore volunteering concepts and issues through the lens of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).

Discover practical strategies to empower your volunteers and enhance their employability.

We'll explore how to structure volunteer roles to build valuable skills, provide meaningful experience, and create strong professional networks.

Learn to identify and articulate the transferable skills gained through volunteering and how to effectively support volunteers in their job search.

We'll also discuss fostering partnerships with local employers and creating pathways for volunteers to transition into paid employment.

Equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to transform your volunteer program into a powerful stepping stone for career advancement.

Outcomes

Identify and Articulate Transferable Skills:

Identify at least three specific, in-demand transferable skills (e.g., project management, communication, teamwork) they have gained or can gain from their volunteer role, and articulate how these skills relate to a desired professional role in a mock interview or resume context.

Develop Professional Networks:

Develop a targeted strategy for leveraging their volunteer placement to build a professional network, including identifying key contacts (staff, board members, corporate partners) and initiating at least one professional networking conversation.

Utilise Volunteering in Job Search Materials:

Integrate their volunteering experience effectively into their job search materials by creating a strong bullet point for a resume and a concise elevator pitch that highlights the practical experience and measurable achievements from their volunteer work.

Meet the Facilitator - Alice Anderson

Alice Anderson (she/they) is a Sector Development Coordinator at The Centre for Volunteering. She has over 10 years’ experience working in the disability sector and over 5 years’ experience in workforce inclusion. She is also a person with learning disabilities: dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Alice holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organisational Learning and Diplomas in Community Service and Business Management. She is passionate about the community services area while ensuring good governance and serves on two boards.

Alice also participates in multiple volunteering roles and believes volunteering is a great way to get involved with the local communities, improve themselves and support causes that they are passionate about.