How you’ll benefit
Volunteering is a great way to meet new people, particularly if you’re just starting out at work or are new to an area. You’ll broaden your network and find people with common interests while giving you the opportunity to practice and develop your social skills in a safe environment. And working in a team of peers and taking responsibility for activities can give your self-confidence and self-esteem a boost too.
It’s also the perfect way to discover what you’re good at, at a pace that suits you. You can work on the things you need to grow in and put the skills you already have to good use. You could offer to speak at an event, volunteer to chair a meeting, or manage a project – all excellent ways of growing your experience outside of work, while contributing towards your continuing professional development (CPD).
Explore the IET volunteering opportunities
How your employer will benefit
It’s widely accepted that volunteering develops personal and professional skills that you’ll bring back to the workplace. With such a diverse range of opportunities, you’ll be picking up all sorts of experiences that can work alongside your job objectives. Your soft skills, such as teamwork and communication skills, will improve and if you take on certain roles, you’ll gain experience in leadership and management – all things that your employer will really appreciate.
Plus, you’ll be networking constantly and meeting people from different sectors and industries meaning you’ll get a varied picture of what else is happening in the engineering and technology world. You’ll be exposed to new things and come to understand a few new perspectives that you may just want to share with your colleagues.
Giving back to the industry isn’t just on an individual level either. More and more organisations encourage their staff to volunteer because they see the positive impact it has on their workforce, as well as the wider community. In a world where sustainability is ever important, volunteering helps make a difference.