Deloitte Services LP has released their 2013 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey, detailing the impact of volunteering as it pertains to professional experience. The data shows that 81% of Human Resources Executives desire college graduates that have volunteered for nonprofits. Furthermore, 78% of the surveyed executives prefer veterans with volunteering experience.
The overall research hypothesis is that “jobseekers build their skills and leadership capabilities through skill-based volunteerism [and] organizations recognize skill-based volunteers as a significant credential when considering candidates for hire.” This means that volunteering not only provides “far-reaching benefits to our society as a whole” but also to the volunteers in their hopes of finding a well paid job.
According to the Survey, “more than three out of every four HR executives take a job applicant’s skilled volunteering into account when making a hiring decision.” Although it is especially difficult to take on a non-paying job in today’s economy, the research data supports an appreciation for nonprofit experience. Over 80% of the college seniors and military personnel surveyed believed that they “learned something that benefited them” while volunteering and that 90% feel that this experience would look favorably to future employers.
As college graduates and military veterans enter into the professional world, it is important for them to know what employers are looking for in the hiring process. As of July 2013, the unemployment rate for people ages 20 to 24 is 12.6%, so recent college graduates need to do as much as possible to attract hiring the officials. Volunteering at nonprofits provide people with skills in leadership and marketability, two skills that are sought after in the job market.
