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It's true: volunteering boosts job prospects

By Sarah Townsend, Third Sector, 24 March 2009

CSV research finding coincides with new recruitment campaign

Almost 90 per cent of volunteers believe volunteering has helped to boost their job prospects, according to a Community Service Volunteers survey expected to be released in the next week.

Eighty-nine per cent of people who had volunteered with CSV between 2000 and 2009 said their employment prospects had improved as a result.

CSV asked 261 participants whether volunteering had improved their employability or helped them develop skills, and whether volunteering could help unemployed people during the recession and distinguish them from other jobseekers.

Jason Jones, full-time volunteer national manager at CSV, said: "In the current economic climate, volunteering is more important than ever as a route back to work.

"The experiences of former volunteers have shown us how giving up time to make a difference to the lives of others can help a person's CV stand out from the crowd and improve their chances of landing a dream job."

Last week, CSV launched a new volunteer recruitment drive that uses the survey's findings. It features a poster campaign that is running in Birmingham and London.