Extend a Hand Out and get a Leg Up

The more I learn about LinkedIn, the happier I am to be working with them. The latest and greatest in their repertoire of new tools? The addition of a volunteer work experience section on your profile. I’ve always been a big proponent of committing to a cause not only with the view to helping others, but also as a form of career advancement (yes, that’s strategic, not shameful). According to LinkedIn’s latest survey results, 89% of respondents had volunteer experience but only 45% include it on their resume. This is crazy low considering they also found that one out of every five hiring managers agree they have hired a candidate because of their volunteer work experience. Your volunteer experience counts and if you don’t include it in your profile, on your resume or when you’re negotiating for a promotion you’re not getting the credit you deserve.

Here are a couple of other reasons you want to get on the volunteer path:

Test-Drive Your Passion – A truism of career success is that passion correlates with talent and talent translates to reward (both financial and emotional). One of the safest ways of test-driving your passion as a career is to volunteer your talents. Not only do you get to try your hand at a repertoire of new skills and experiences in a low-risk forum, but you’ll also be showcasing these talents to a whole host of peers who may just happen to have the connections you need to get hired.

You Never Know Who You’re Going to Meet – The majority of career enhancing opportunities come through relationships and volunteering exposes you to people you wouldn’t encounter otherwise. And get this: volunteer relationships are particularly beneficial since many of the folks you interact with while volunteering are usually driven, conscientious professionals who can be a great referral. Volunteering offers a whole new world of qualified and valuable connections.

Get Noticed / Motivated – The most successful people in the world dedicate their efforts to a cause that extends beyond themselves and your boss and / or hiring manager are well aware of this. In this hyper-competitive world of work, volunteering not only provides you the opportunity to showcase your talents and experiences, but it also allows you to demonstrate compassion and commitment.

Add the new “Volunteer Experience & Causes” field to your LinkedIn Profile now. In the new “Volunteer Experience & Causes” field, LinkedIn members can add volunteer positions, causes they care about, and organizations they support.