Why volunteer?
Published on 14 February 17
There's so much you can do to get involved! Activities that support other students and improve the University community, get involved in charities and not-for-profit organisations or be a sports leader!
What's in it for me?
By volunteering you can...
- Meet new and interesting people - it can bring you into contact with like-minded souls as you volunteer together for a cause. It’s also a good way to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds.
- Build confidence - while volunteering you’ll experience fresh challenges and develop new skills that can help build your confidence.
- Explore Manchester - volunteering gives you a great reason to get off the campus and out into different parts of the city.
- Have fun - many students tell us how much they enjoy volunteering!
How will it help my career?
Volunteering can really help you to stand out from the crowd when you are looking for a job
It’s a great way for you to develop skills such as communication, organisation, teamwork and time management that are highly sought after by employers. Many of the skills that you'll develop through volunteering will be transferable, demonstrating that you are adaptable and can bring key skills to a job immediately.
Volunteering is an effective way for you to gain relevant experience. If you’re interested in a graduate job in marketing, you could volunteer with a local charity helping with their marketing activities.
In addition to your academic achievements, employers are keen to know about your wider University experience. Always mention your volunteering when you apply for jobs (in your covering letter and on your CV), highlighting the skills and experience that you have gained. You can also apply your volunteering experience in an interview to demonstrate your skills and experience.