By : Jéremy Guérin and Christine Rivest

Translated by: Luke Liddy and Matt Friedland

While the unemployment rate for young persons (under 25) in the European Union reaches 23.5%, other areas in Europe are much worse off, as the unemployment rate in Greece and Spain soars to over 56%, according to the European Commission ("Unemployment Statistics." Eurostat. European Commission 2013). These tough circumstances incite ruthless competition in finding jobs, forcing young job hunters to look for other ways to improve their résumé or CV. The ability to speak several languages is often an advantage in the job application process. Additionally, acquiring volunteer/work experience through a non-profit organization can often help CVs stand out as being unique. Gaining a global perspective by donating time and effort abroad provides the chance to test various interests in a realistic situation.

“95% of volunteers at Voluntario Global decided on Argentina to learn Spanish, while 70% wanted to gain work experience” – Statistics given by Voluntario Global

To show that you are qualified to fill a job position, having previous experience and a depth of knowledge about a subject is a good place to start. Almost all employers prefer, or even require, that applicants have previous work experience. A great way to gain this experience for the first time is to work with an NGO. It provides a fantastic opportunity to develop your own style of working as well as allowing you to begin to acquire preliminary skills in your career field of choice.

Because working for an NGO isn’t a common choice for most people, the application process is less competitive. And by that same token, once you’re accepted, you are given a lot of responsibility. Most NGOs are short-staffed, so volunteers can take the initiative and start organizing their own projects. This facilitates many valuable on-the-job learning experiences.

“My friends have internships with large companies back home, but they are bored because the companies give them very few real responsibilities. They are only assigned simple, menial tasks that have no effect on current company projects. However, at Voluntario Global, I was immediately assigned tasks specifically related to my area of interest, communications and marketing, despite my sparse work experience.” -Jéremy Guérin, France

When interviewing for their next job, ex-volunteers can give specific details of projects and tell of the many applicable skills that they’ve learned.

“Voluntario Global was my first internship. It was first time that I had a consistent job and worked for several months straight. My time with the communications team continues to be an integral part of my CV, and every interviewer has asked questions about both my volunteer work and my Spanish skills.”  - Andrew Furness, England

The lack of a strict employee hierarchy within many NGOs is one of the reasons that volunteers feel that they have been able to contribute so much to their respective organizations. Group  work is highly emphasized and required for all projects. Through this style of working, everybody plays a role in the projects’ development and can learn many new skills throughout the process.

“As a volunteer, I felt like an integral part of the organization. People really listened to me and took my opinions seriously.” –Jéremy Guérin, France

Employers are always looking for ambitious, motivated individuals to join their companies. When they see previous volunteer experience, they understand that you have dedicated your time to a humanitarian cause in a very tangible way. Furthermore, by showing your willingness to immerse yourself in foreign cultures shows your ability to adapt, learn, and get outside your comfort zone. Volunteering exemplifies all the elements that an employer looks for in a candidate: confidence, integrity, willingness to learn and set goals, openness to change, creativity and the ability to work in a team.

Working abroad also provides an opportunity to meet new people from all over the world. Not only does this allow you to form new contacts, but it also exposes you to perspectives and experiences that you otherwise may not have even known existed. Intense cultural exchange fosters increasing comfort with foreign cultures, which is a valuable experience to draw upon when searching for a job and also in other aspects of your life. By gaining new perspectives, you learn new approaches to solving problems and become more open to new ideas. That openness may allow you to uncover new possible careers and experiences; you may discover new passions that you never knew that you had.

‘’ The experience was life changing because it inspired me to do what I love. Being surrounded by so many hardworking and passionate people genuinely trying to make a difference really made me realize the power of community work. Volunteering helped me realize that I like to teach and that it is what I want to do for the rest of my life.’’  -Arpine Hovasapian, United States

To conclude, we must not underestimate the intrinsic value of volunteering and the impact you can have by dedicating your time. Volunteering is an incredible commitment and serving others brings genuine satisfaction of all those involved. What you will learn, live, and feel will serve you well in both searching for a job and discovering your passions. http://voluntarioglobal.org/