In honor of the holiday season and the speaking engagement I recently did with Chicago Cares, an organization that creates unique volunteer experiences for individuals, businesses and organizations to help combat many of our community’s most urgent needs, this begins a two-part post on the benefits of volunteering, and how to balance volunteering with other obligations.

The obvious benefit of volunteering is that it makes you feel good about yourself and gives back to society.  But there are some less talked-about advantages as well, including:

• A say over your destiny and a sense of purpose:  So much of what happens in life we can’t control, but volunteering allows us to choose how and where we spend our time and efforts, and allows us to make a tangible difference in the world.  This especially comes in handy if you work in a situation where the means in which you help others is a little murky – for example, in a corporate law firm or a consumer goods company.

• The opportunity to pursue your passion: Volunteering allows you to try out a new and exciting field that you may not have enough experience to get a paid position in, and do work that you consider personally meaningful.  It may also provide critical skills training in that field so that you are better prepared for a future career change.

• The ability to try out a leadership role:  Volunteer organizations need people to coordinate projects, and they usually aren’t picky about how old you are, your background, or your experience.  You may find yourself in a position to achieve more than you ever dreamed possible.

• Resume material to increase your competitiveness as a well-rounded job candidate:  Potential employers want to see candidates who have a life outside of work, and are also on the lookout for people who can help the organization sustain and grow internal social responsibility programs.

• Better health: Last but not least, research has demonstrated that a satisfying volunteer gig improves self-esteem, lowers blood pressure, and reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. 

• Access to great networking contacts:  The informal conversations that result during volunteer situations are wonderful for getting to know potential clients, or senior-level executives, who you might not have the chance to interact with otherwise. 

Stay tuned for next week’s post on balancing volunteering with work and life.