DOES VOLUNTEERING HAVE BENEFITS?

 

The University of Ibadan has always been considered a haven for academics. However, there are several ways to make an impact aside from your academics at the University of Ibadan - volunteering is one of those ways. You can make a great impact through volunteering.

Volunteer experiences, at their core, are about helping others. If you have a particular cause you believe in or a cause that is very dear to your heart, you can volunteer when you have an opportunity. However, they often provide personal benefits as well.  

 Building a good resume is necessary for landing internships or future jobs. For those who have not graduated yet, volunteering can also help you stand out when applying for scholarships. Companies, universities, and institutions love to see volunteer work on a job candidate's resume because it helps to show that the candidate puts others first and that the candidate is very aware of life outside the classroom. It would most likely increase your chances of being selected among your peers.

Volunteer work offers experience in exchange for money. What it means is that, instead of employers paying people to do a certain job; volunteers do the work for free, learn about teamwork, and gain valuable knowledge.

 Favour, a 200-level student from the department of Psychology, recounts her experience while working as a volunteer in Queen Elizabeth II Hall as a freshman. 

"It gave me an experience in learning how to put an event together. I had never done something like that before and it was a novel experience. It was fun meeting people from different backgrounds, putting ideas together, and working together for a common goal. It was my first time experiencing something like that. I learnt teamwork"

Nazana, a 200-level student from the department of Political Science recalls her work as a volunteer. 

“I learnt from the other volunteers and the organizers. I got to know a few things about the hall that I had not known before. I understood people and interrelationships in a way that I had never done before. I honestly believe that volunteering - while it can be exhausting - is very eye-opening.”

Volunteering can help you gain experience in skill sets that many employers want. For example, nonprofit organizations frequently need help with accounting, marketing, event planning, and much more. Volunteering is a great way for you to test a new job if you are not sure you want to change careers. You may not experience the full range of job duties, but it does give you a sneak peek of your possible new career path. Building a great resume is necessary for landing internships or future jobs. For those who have not graduated, volunteering can also help you stand out when applying for scholarships. 

Queen Elizabeth II Hall has opportunities to help her residents familiarize themselves with volunteering work at the undergraduate level. This is a close opportunity that gives you an edge over others who have not participated in the act of volunteering.