How can volunteering help me on the way to my dream job?

What’s on offer?

An interactive workshop to inspire young people about how volunteering can be an important step in achieving a dream job. In an attractive and convenient space for students, the in-person event will be delivered in Southampton’s Cultural Quarter. Attendees will come away with a new perspective and a developed employability plan.

What’s it about?

This event draws together diverse stories about volunteering during the pandemic, inspiring young people to utilise volunteering as a principle step in achieving their dream job.

Commencing with storytelling from our recent research on volunteering during the extraordinary periods of national lockdown, we will provide evidence of the value that local volunteering opportunities offered young people at a time when the pandemic otherwise threatened to slow their career progress.

This research will be brought to life through introductions to young volunteers talking candidly about their experiences (e.g. from Saints Foundation, University Hospitals, and No Limits, tbc). We will challenge the audience to think about how volunteering can help build their skills and employability, as well as being personally rewarding.

Experts from the University’s careers service and the local voluntary sector will provide support on how to access volunteering, achieve personal goals, and make a difference. The session will be highly interactive, and attendees can expect: 

• To come away feeling energised and thinking differently about volunteering
• To receive practical top tips about what to do next
• To have developed an individualised employability plan

Who’s leading the event?

Dr Jane Parry (Associate Professor in Work and Employment, University of Southampton), Professor Peter Rodgers (MBA Director, University of Southampton) and the University of Southampton Business School research team.

Open to

The event is open to all of a post-compulsory education age, and will be particularly relevant to young people whoare thinking about how they can make the next successful step into desired careers, and have some time to spare that they could commit to volunteering and building inter-transferable skills.

Of particular interest to

Young people of post-compulsory education age, particularly university students who have capacity to integrate some volunteering in with their studies.