Get more than you expect out of volunteering

With a busy class schedule, social life, internships and everything else you’ve got going on, you may wonder, “how can I possibly find time to volunteer?” But it’s worth squeezing some volunteer work into your jam-packed schedule wherever you can.

Besides that warm fuzzy feeling of goodwill you’ll get, you may also have a chance to boost your career!

Many firms encourage volunteering because they realize the career benefits that can come along with it, such as gaining experience, making new contacts and generating business, to name a few. Deloitte took a survey which revealed workers’ perceived benefits of volunteering:

• 9 in 10 workers believe volunteering can have a positive impact on their careers
• 4 in 5 said volunteering could help them develop business skills, including decision-making, problem-solving and negotiating
• 3 in 4 who serve on boards of directors believe volunteering can help their leadership skills

If you think your financial expertise doesn’t lead to many opportunities for giving back, think again. Accounting professionals and students can be trained for programs like VITA, which offers free tax help to low- and moderate-income people, or other services that offer tax assistance to senior citizens and deployed military personnel.

Tax not your thing? How about financial literacy! The Ohio Society has volunteer opportunities through its Financial Fitness Ohio initiative that give you a chance to educate young people about the importance of managing their finances. This is a pretty big deal when you consider how many Americans are having money troubles right now.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. To find opportunities that fit your schedule and lifestyle, visit The Ohio Society’s Involvement page. Whether you can commit to serve over an extended period of time, such as on a committee, or prefer one-time opportunities when you can fit them in, you’ll be surprised by how much you get out of your service.

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