Did you know Employers admit that volunteering increases a graduate’s chances of finding a job, according to a new study? Is volunteering the best way to find employment in the current market?

A large number of unemployed Brits are choosing volunteering as the first stepping stone to paid employment, recent research by volunteering platform Orange RockCorps revealed.

The study revealed that out of the current number of unemployed people, 25% are actively involved in volunteering projects.

Citing their reasons for volunteering, 45% admitted that they have taken part in projects in the last 12 months aiming to gain work experience and boost their CVs. Four in ten (43%) believed that this would increase their chances of getting a job in the near future.

Recent graduates volunteer more
In fact over half of employers (55%) taking part in the report recognised that volunteering improves a candidates job prospects and over six in ten (61%) actively look for the skills gained from volunteering projects in potential candidates.

Of the total number of volunteers who had found a job in the last 12 months, 47% said their volunteer work had helped them secure the role, with 11% considering that it had played a major role.

Younger job seekers are among the first to take up volunteering as part of a longer term career plan. School leavers aged 16 to 18 and graduates aged 19 to 24 who are currently volunteering said they are doing so to boost their employment prospects.

With one in five people aged between 16 and 24 out of work and an average of 83 people applying for each job vacancy, any experience gained can only aid students’ chances of finding a graduate job.

Volunteering can help you to find a job in the future and to enjoy your time in the present. Would you people consider this as an option?