Volunteer: It’s Networking with a Purpose

I’m often surprised at the number of individuals who hide in their cubical when it comes to being a part of a corporate event. Whether it be a Diversity Fair or a United Way Charity event, these aren’t just opportunities to meet other people, they are often the best way to get noticed for skills that your current job doesn’t highlight.

Perhaps you are extremely creative but you currently work on budgets. You created a poster for an event that got noticed by the communications department. Soon people start seeing you as not just a numbers person, but as a creative person who happens to work in budgets.

Maybe you aren’t creative but you are a born leader. Step up and show those skills or improve on others. Planning events is really just management on a small level. You lead people, you make decisions, you delegate and often times you have to work within a budget. Sounds like management to me.

Working with other individuals allows you to meet other people that could later be assets to your team if you do get promoted to a managerial role. Good volunteers often make excellent employees.

Of all the networking that I have done I have found that volunteering is not only productive, but it is also the best investment of your time.  Next time a group asks for volunteers be the first one to raise your hand. Do whatever is asked of you, work hard, and people will take notice and they will remember you and what you did, which is much more memorable than a happy hour and a business card transaction.