Volunteering to Build Your Career: Skills, References and Experience
Volunteering is not only about giving back. Chosen well, it builds skills, local references, and experience employers recognize.
Volunteering is a great way to help your community, and it can also move your career forward. Whether you are a student, a newcomer to Canada, changing fields, or returning to work after a break, the right volunteer roles can give you experience that employers take seriously.
The skills you build
Almost every volunteer role builds skills that show up in job descriptions:
- Communication: greeting guests, answering questions, explaining where to go
- Teamwork: working alongside people you have just met toward a shared goal
- Reliability: showing up on time, following through, and communicating when plans change
- Problem solving: handling the unexpected, which always happens at events
- Organization: setting up spaces, managing supplies, keeping lines moving
- Leadership: as you gain experience, guiding newer volunteers
Choosing roles with your career in mind
You can be intentional about the roles you pick:
- Interested in event management or hospitality? Try setup, registration, or guest services at community events and festivals.
- Leaning toward health or social services? Look for opportunities with seniors, food security programs, or community wellness events.
- Thinking about education? Youth programs and tutoring roles are a natural fit.
- Want office or admin experience? Keep an eye out for administrative support roles.
Look beyond one-day events. Long-term and ongoing positions, and internal roles inside an organization such as office support, program assistance or coordination, give you deeper experience and stronger references than a single shift. They are often the closest thing to a real job.
Trying a few different areas is also valuable. Volunteering is a low-pressure way to find out what you enjoy before committing to a program or job.
Local experience and references
For newcomers especially, local experience and references can make a real difference in a job search. Volunteering regularly gives the people you work with a chance to see how you work. If you volunteer consistently and do it well, it is reasonable to ask a coordinator whether they would be comfortable being a reference.
Put it on your resume
Treat volunteer experience like any other experience:
- Give it a clear title, such as "Event Volunteer" or "Registration Volunteer"
- Name the organization and the dates
- Describe what you did and the results, for example "Checked in over 200 guests at a community festival"
- Include your total hours, which your Certificate of Hours documents
Your MiVolunteer Certificate of Hours is useful proof when an employer or school asks about your experience.
Learn while you volunteer
MiVolunteer runs free workshops and training, including our Training Seminars, which focus on skills for both volunteering and the workforce. They are a good way to build confidence and meet other volunteers.
Getting started
- Think about the kind of work you want to move toward.
- Browse opportunities that match those skills.
- Volunteer consistently, and track what you accomplish.
- Add it to your resume, and ask for references when the time is right.
Every shift is a chance to learn something and meet someone new. Find your next opportunity today.