Online volunteering: Level up your career skills and make a difference

If you are a job seeker looking to expand your skill set, there is a way you can do so while making a difference. Upskilling through online volunteering can help you build on your career skills in areas such as leadership, communication, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Online volunteers can contribute to organisations in various ways depending on your knowledge, skillset, and expertise.

There are many non-profit organisations, charities, and foundations that can benefit from an array of volunteering services that range from website building to digital marketing to online tutoring and data analysis.

Additionally, you can opt to work for a crisis hotline, offer pro-bono legal advice to the underprivileged, create educational content or even provide free online tutoring, conduct language training classes, or even carry out research and data analysis tasks for organisations that require support in these areas.

The benefits of online volunteering are plenty and can help you to build your reputation in your field of interest. 

Working with an organisation online can connect you with various experts, assist in advancing your current position, or help you discover possible career paths, all of which will support your professional advancement.

Volunteering experience adds credibility to your resume and these opportunities will help you gain a valuable network of professional contacts for future job recommendations.

The Corporation for National and Community Service issued a report stating that volunteers have a 27% higher likelihood of finding a job while unemployed than non-volunteers.

Volunteers without a high-school diploma have a 51% higher likelihood of finding employment.

Many organisations around the world conduct programmes that require online volunteers:

United Nations Volunteers

The United Nations Volunteers programme offers several virtual volunteering opportunities across the globe. The UN’s efforts have always been to boost human development, and their programmes were made to do the same.

Catchafire

Catchafire helps connect professionals with non-profits who are in need of their services. If you are looking to use your skills to contribute to meaning projects and initiatives, look here.

TechSoup

Volunteers for TechSoup are brought in to devote their time and knowledge with organisations, charities, and foundations in need of technology resources. Volunteers can share their expertise, write for TechSoup’s blog, or assist by answering tech-related questions on the online forums. 

Smithsonian Digital Volunteers

Even the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex could use some help sometimes. The Smithsonian Volunteers help make their collections more accessible by transcribing historical documents or editing Wikipedia articles related to their artifacts and research.

Translators Without Borders

Those fluent in more than one language can look into contributing to Translators Without Borders. This nonprofit combines language skills with humanitarian aid, providing over 10 million words a year to intonational organisations that focus on crisis relief, health, and education.

Distributed Proofreaders

With the help of volunteers, Distributed Proofreaders converts public domain books into eBooks. For those passionate about preserving literary history, with a great eye for detail, volunteering for Distributed Proofreaders would be a great way to spend your time.

Red Cross

The Red Cross utilises digital advocates especially in times of crisis. Volunteers assist in sharing important updates across all social media platforms and by monitoring online discussions to seek out people who are desperately in need of immediate help. If you are active on social media and constantly staying informed, this could be the opportunity for you.