The Benefits of Volunteering After Youve Been Laid Off

The Benefits of Volunteering After Youve Been Laid OffThe Benefits of Volunteering After Youve Been Laid OffLets say that you just lost your job due to a company layoff. Most likely, you want to start your job search as soon as possible so that you can find work again. But have you thought about volunteeringwhile youre unemployed? The benefits of volunteering after youve been laid off are numerous- and can help jumpstart your job search, too.In honor of National Volunteer Month, here are just a few of the benefits of volunteering after youve been laid offIt gives you purpose. Unless you hated your job, or knew it was coming, a layoff out of left field can leave you shaken and scared, unsure of the future. You might lose confidence in yourself and your abilities, and blame yourself for the layoff even if it was due to no fault of your own. So instead of dwelling on being laid off, volunteering can help you by thinking about things bigger than yourself. It can give you a reason to get up out of bed in the morning (because, lets face it, a layoff can be depressing), get dressed, and do something good.Its a way to help your community. Whether its volunteering at your local animal shelter and snuggling with all those puppies or helping to paint a mural in your local recreation center, doing good is always a good thing. You might have been so busy in your job that you didnt have time to volunteer, even though its always been in your heart to do so. Now is the time to channel all that energy into something positive, and by the laws of attraction, good things will surely flow your way, too.It can help you reassess your career goals. Before your layoff, you might have been so mired in the day-to-day of your job that you never really got to ask yourself if you really liked what you were doing. In this way, a layoff can be a blessing in disguise. Why? Well, most likely youll volunteer doing something that you like to do, be it volunteering at your childs school or for a n on-profit that youre passionate about. Tapping into that side of yourself can show you if you really want to continue on in your career- or not.You might find that the work that you do volunteering is something youd like to do for a job. If thats the case, then you should consider a career change, which can be a very exciting prospect indeedIt can add new skills to your resume. Volunteering is just like a job, except without the pay. But if you view volunteering as a job, then youll know that you can learn a lot from your gig. You might learn new skills such as fundraising, marketing, social media- the list goes on and on. These skills are a great way to flesh out your resume and make you even mora marketable as a potential job candidateIt can help close an employment gap. If your layoff was unexpected, chances are that you didnt have a second gig lined up to help pad your pocket. And a layoff can leave a big empty space on your resume- that is, unless you volunteer. As a volunteer, you can (and should) list your volunteering experience in the job section, because it counts as a job. Dont make a separate section for it or think of it just as a volunteer gig. Work is work, whether you get paid for it or not, and your volunteering job counts as just that, a job. And your job can help you handle a gap in your resume like a proIts a great way to network. Its important to network during your job search, so take advantage of the time you spend volunteering to create new connections and establish potential job leads. Let people know that you were laid off from your previous job (you dont have to go into the details if you dont want to), and then let them know what type of job youre looking for. And if youre volunteering in a new field, youll most likely be working alongside like-minded individuals who can offer fresh new contacts in your intended industryVolunteering is a wonderful way to make the most of your time after your layoff. Not only will it give you purpose , but it can help you get new education, skills, and who knows, maybe even your next job.Looking for even more help recovering from your layoff? partnered with LinkedIn Learning to create a whole course for you. Get a 30 day free trial with unlimited access to LinkedIn Learnings full course catalog Heres an overview on Recovering from a Layoff to learn more about the course.