Volunteering grows skills

Volunteering creates many opportunities for you to grow, personally and professionally. It gives you the chance to give back while doing something you really enjoy or believe in, such as conservation, arts or sporting activities, helping kids or working with food. But it also provides the opportunity for you to develop new skills, improve communication skills and create networks. It’s a win-win.

When heading reluctantly off for her first afternoon of volunteering at the Cromwell Care Home, Michelle Daniel was grumpy about the long, slow bus ride and the wasted afternoon stretching out in front of her.

“I kept reminding myself that it would look good on my CV, and I needed it for the AUT Edge Award, but it seemed like a lot of effort for nothing,” admitted Michelle, who is studying HR management and criminology at AUT.

But surprisingly, Michelle had a wonderful afternoon, spending time with several residents who reminded her of her grandma.

“My grandma used to live in the same house as me, cook all my meals, and accompany me around town when I had no company. These lovely residents would talk about their families and their journey, where they were born, and what they do day to day. Though they couldn’t remember much due to their dementia, I learned a lot from their stories.”

Hearing the stories of the old people made Michelle miss her own family and realise how grateful she was to have them in her life. She believes she has become more open to her family and more kind to her friends because of her experience at Cromwell Care Home.

“Being with the elderly residents felt like I was giving back to my grandma. It’s a feeling of satisfaction that I would not have felt if I were expecting anything in return.”

Making NZ connections

Anish George says volunteering has equipped him with valuable skills that have positively influenced other aspects of his life, including his ability to adapt to new situations. When Anish first arrived at AUT to do a Master of Engineering, he was uncomfortable around other people and avoided engaging with others to hide his lack of communication skills.

“Then I realised I needed to challenge myself, so I joined the Beyond AUT Award because it involved volunteering activities, which meant I had to engage more with other people.”

Anish’s first volunteering role was as a retail assistant volunteer at the Red Cross op-shop in Panmure. Although very nervous on the first day, he was quickly made to feel comfortable by more experienced volunteers who shared that interacting with diverse customers had improved their communication skills and confidence.

“Inspired by their stories, I started to approach my role with a new perspective and pushed myself to engage more with shoppers.”

As he became more comfortable in the role, he began to take on additional responsibilities, including cash handling and visual merchandising.

“This not only boosted my confidence but also improved my ability to communicate effectively with people from various cultural backgrounds.”

Encouraged by his growing confidence and communication skills, Anish decided to also volunteer for Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ). Although he was in a new environment and group of people, he found himself much more confident.

“I started actively contributing ideas during project planning sessions and forming connections with like-minded individuals – things I would have found challenging before I started volunteering. It has made a huge difference to my time here.”

Following passions

Volunteering at a Climate Action Conference and then as the National Equity Officer for the United Nations Youth Association of New Zealand were huge experiences for Lauryn Maxwell (left of banner), experiences that taught her the value of engaging with her community in areas she was passionate about.

“I originally thought volunteering was a waste of opportunity, but it really isn’t. Initially I only did it for the award, but I have found that I not only got to give back to my community, but I also gained a lot of experience and skills, including getting better at working in a team setting.”

Lauryn says she particularly loved supporting rangatahi, engaging with leaders and helping raise awareness about the environmental space. She found volunteering helped her gain a balance that ensured her hauora and her wellbeing were looked after. This year she has two internships lined up through the Prime Ministers.

“I would say to anyone, especially a student who feels like work may consume their life, that balancing that out with engaging in community initiatives like volunteering will enhance more areas in your life than you may realise.”

This year Lauryn is spending six weeks in Mumbai and six weeks in Tokyo through Prime Minister Scholarship internships.

Seeing the value

Despite initial trepidation, Anish, Michelle and Lauryn are huge advocates now of the value of volunteering. They have all gained new experiences and skills that look great on their CV but also learned the power of giving back. And it doesn’t have to be too onerous. Michelle, for example, spent about two hours, 2-3 days a week over a six-month period. While doing the AUT Edge Award, Lauryn was doing a certificate in Māori and Indigenous development at AUT part-time and studying psychology full-time at the University of Auckland.

Want to know more?

If you’re keen to try volunteering, have a look at the AUT Employability Awards – AUT Edge Award (undergraduate option) or Beyond AUT Award (postgraduate option). Run by Employability and Careers, these awards include volunteering and leadership activities. Some are done as a group making it a nice way to get started.

Find out more about general volunteering opportunities here.