We’re all familiar with this classic job-hunting conundrum - every job requires you to have work experience, but you won’t be able to gain this work experience unless you can land a job!

If you’re in this situation, you might want to investigate volunteering opportunities that can help you bridge this skill gap. In fact, 82% of hiring managers value seeing volunteering experience on an applicant’s resume. So, why not start searching for a volunteering gig that’ll better position you to step into your desired industry? By choosing the right opportunity, you can equip yourself with transferable skills and experience.

Community services

As the name suggests, the community services sector is all about making a difference in your local community. Volunteering in community services can be a fantastic way to meet people from all walks of life as well as develop specific skills such as communication, mentoring and caregiving that you can then use in your next role.

Explore volunteer roles in Community Services that will help prepare you for various jobs in the industry.

Education and training

Professionals in the education and training sector could find themselves working in a variety of settings, from preschool all the way to training up mature-aged students. If you’ve got your sights set on being an educator, a volunteer opportunity as a tutor, mentor or classroom assistant could equip you with invaluable experience as well as add real-world skills to your resume.

Explore volunteer roles in Education and Training that will help prepare you for various jobs in the industry.

Health

The health sector is an important and incredibly rewarding field, with a diverse range of job opportunities including nursing, dietetics, mental health and more to choose from.

A great way to get your foot in the door as well as figure out what healthcare specialisation you would like to do is by taking up a volunteer opportunity. From volunteering at children’s hospitals to working as a healthcare assistant, there’s countless ways to make a difference while building up your own resume.

Explore volunteer roles in Health that will help prepare you for various jobs in the industry.

Administration and office support

Want to gain some experience before applying for any sort of office job? There are admin volunteering opportunities across a huge variety of different workplaces, whether you’d like to help a local animal shelter with their paperwork or volunteer as a receptionist for a community centre. Pick up useful transferrable skills while also figuring out exactly what type of office environment you’d like to work in.

Explore volunteer roles in Administration and Office Support that will help prepare you for various jobs in the industry

To find out more about the impact of volunteering experience in the hiring process, read our Putting Volunteering to Work report or read our handy articles on boosting your resume with your volunteering experience, using your volunteer background to get hired, and highlighting your experience to catch the eyes of hiring managers.

Start searching now for your next volunteer opportunity that will help your career.