Volunteering can help your career – Here’s how

Most people volunteer because they want to do something that matters. Maybe it’s helping people, protecting the environment, or supporting a cause that’s personal. But volunteering can also open up job opportunities, and not just in the charity world.

We’ve seen it time and again at TPP: someone takes on a volunteer role, and suddenly they’ve got new experience, new contacts, and a clearer sense of where they’re heading next.

Here are a few ways volunteering can genuinely help you in your career.

1. You pick up real, usable experience

You don’t need a paid role to prove your skills. Volunteering gives you the chance to build and show experience, whether that’s managing projects, speaking to the public, running social media, working in a team, or learning how to handle tricky situations.

If your CV is lacking essential skills for your career or you’re switching sectors, this kind of experience can make a real difference. Employers look for people who’ve taken initiative, and this is a great way to show it.

2. It can help you figure out what you actually want from your career

Not sure what direction to go in? Volunteering can help with that too.

You might realise you enjoy frontline work more than being behind the scenes. Or that you're good at listening to people, managing details, or solving problems under pressure. Sometimes it just takes trying something out to know whether it’s for you.

We’ve supported people who started volunteering in mental health or youth work and realised it was the missing piece; they just needed a way in.

3. It connects you to people

Volunteering puts you in rooms with people you might never have met otherwise. Colleagues, managers, even board members are all people who might flag jobs to you, write references, or recommend you for something down the line. We often see this with candidates wanting to move into the non-profit space and is a prime example of where volunteering can give you valuable insight whilst strengthening your CV.

Even casual chats over tea in a community centre can lead to new opportunities.

4. You gain confidence – sometimes without even realising

For people out of work, returning after a break, or dealing with things like anxiety or low self-esteem, volunteering can be a real boost. It gives you structure, a reason to get up and out, and the chance to be part of something bigger than yourself.

We’ve heard from young people who found their voice running youth groups, or older volunteers who rediscovered skills they hadn’t used in years. It all adds up, and that confidence carries into interviews and applications.

5. You’ve got something solid to talk about in interviews

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in interviews is not having examples. Volunteering can help with that.

You’ll have real situations to draw from, managing a tricky moment, working with someone different from you, solving a problem under pressure. These aren’t “just” volunteer stories, they are real, relevant experiences, and they show employers what you’re capable of.

Bonus: It makes a difference

This isn’t a token benefit. Charities rely on volunteers. Whether you’re helping once a week or just when you can, you’re supporting something bigger.

And if you’re applying for roles in the non-profit sector, it really helps to show your proactive mindset and that you’ve been involved already, not just interested from a distance.

A note on equality, diversity and inclusion

We also want to be honest: not everyone has the same freedom to volunteer. Some people are juggling care responsibilities, low pay, or other barriers. But for those who can, even just a couple of hours a month, it can be a route into spaces that aren’t always easy to get into.

It’s also why some organisations (TPP included) give staff paid time to volunteer. It levels the playing field a bit.

How we support this at TPP

We don’t just talk about this,  we help job seekers make the most of their volunteering experience, including:

• Help you talk about your volunteer work on your CV and in interviews, in a way that fits the job you want.
• Connect you with non-profits who value the time and skills you bring.
• And we practise what we preach: every TPP staff member gets five paid days a year to volunteer.

If you’re thinking of volunteering, here are some resources to kick-start your journey:

• TPP website – Volunteering
• Find your local volunteer centre via NCVO
• GOV.UK – Volunteering
• Do-IT – Volunteer matching site