Out of Work? Report Shows Volunteering Helps People Get Jobs

Jean Reed directs a volunteer program that sees more than 1,500 participants and 115,000 service hours a year at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 

During orientation for new employees at the hospital, someone always asks who had previously volunteered and hands always go up, she said. 

"Many people are volunteering to prepare for a career in health sciences," Reed said. "A lot of people enjoy serving others and doing so will make them a better employee in a lot of different ways, especially in health care."

Over at United Way of Johnson County, experiences, new skills and new connections often help volunteers find jobs. 

A new report finds that volunteers have a 27 percent better chance of finding work than those that don't volunteer. For those without a high school diploma or live in rural areas, volunteering increases the odds drastically, 51 percent and 55 percent, respectively. 

"It give people experience and helps build their networks," said Christine Scheetz, President and CEO of the local United Way chapter. "Volunteer experience allows people to build their interpersonal skills, knowledge and a greater context for the work they are doing."

Scheetz said plus it can expose people to job openings and potential employers and a chance to showcase their skills to a potential employer or reference.

Reed said she doesn't think there is necessarily a direct correlation between volunteering and finding a job, but it is more about actively trying to self-improve that helps in job hunts.

The report comes from “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?" which is a report from the Research & Evaluation Office within the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for service and volunteering.

The report uses empirical research to explore the relationship between volunteering and employment, according to its methodology.  

Gaining new skills, expanding your social network and getting a foot in the door at place you eventually work are among the ways the volunteering helps. 

The unemployment rate in Johnson County as of April is 3.1 percent, compared to a 4.7 percent rate statewide. 

People looking for volunteer opportunities in the Iowa City area may want to check out Serve.gov or United Way of Johnson County.