Many people don’t realize the benefits volunteering offers and how it can help boost your career. Most people think about volunteering as spending a day helping feed poor people or senior citizens. There are many other volunteer opportunities which can help you progress ahead in life.

One benefit of volunteering is learning new skills. If you’re volunteering in a museum, you’ll learn about the importance of the items placed in the museum, and their history. You’ll gain insights which might not be in any books. This can help you teach better or even write a bestselling book. Similarly, if you work in an art museum, you’ll understand what makes a good painting. This can help you become a top salesperson or even enable you to open a business and sell paintings. If you volunteer in a shelter for domestic abused woman or children, you’ll gain firsthand experience about their psychology. This will help you become a good psychologist.

Another benefit of volunteering is making new contacts. When you’re volunteering, you meet new people and make friendships. The people you’re helping might know someone in your profession. It’s highly likely they’ll introduce that person to you and this will help you network yourself. Maybe, your new network might help you get a job. Having a bigger network is always beneficial, as you never know who might help you find your next job.

Volunteering also increases your confidence. Meeting and helping new people improves your communication skills. Good communication skills are the basic criteria for many jobs. Many people get jobs because of their communication skills. You’ll confidently give an interview, which will impress the interviewer and help you get a job.

Since volunteering is spending your time helping people, you’re going a good deed, and you will be rewarded for it. The reward may not be apparent right away, like in the form of money, but you’ll receive it. In a survey conducted by a non-government organization, it was found that 27% of the people who volunteered found a job much faster than a person who didn’t volunteer. If you’ve time, you should volunteer and help out in your community.