Get involved as a volunteer: Why it’s so important

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Do you want more than just university, to-do lists and coffee breaks?

Volunteering could be exactly what you’re missing!

It not only offers you the chance to gain cool new experiences, but also to become part of something bigger.

Find out how volunteering can enrich your everyday life and why it’s worthwhile in our blog article!

#1 You are doing something meaningful

Many people have the desire to do something good and meaningful in their lives.

Do you too?

Then volunteering could be just the thing for you.

Help people or animals in their everyday lives and create an indispensable value that cannot be measured with any money in the world.

#2 You get variety in your life

Get out of university and experience something new: This is exactly what will happen if you get involved in voluntary work.

Your tasks will be completely different, perhaps you will get more exercise through volunteering or learn new, exciting skills. More on this under point #4.

In any case, volunteering will provide a practical contrast to university with its theoretical content and offer you the variety you may have been longing for.

#3 You get to know interesting people

In voluntary work, you will meet people who are just as committed as you are – but whose personalities are completely different!

People of all ages and social backgrounds work in voluntary sectors. This makes them social melting pots. Exciting encounters are guaranteed.

Perhaps new friendships will result? Or you might get to know a potential employer? Other fulfilling relationships can also develop in the course of volunteering. Who knows?

But we can already say that volunteering will bring a breath of fresh air into your social life.

#4 You develop your skills

No matter which volunteer position you ultimately choose: You will definitely develop your hard skills and, of course, your soft skills.

In a voluntary position, the people around you rely on principles such as punctuality, reliability and communication skills. The ability to work in a team is also an important factor, as is a sense of order and a willingness to take on responsibility.

You also develop your empathy when you come into contact with difficult situations in life, including strokes of fate.

If you prove yourself in your voluntary work, this can lead to you managing projects and thus acquiring leadership skills, which is also an invaluable asset in today’s working world.

#5 You gain practical experience

You won’t get paid for your voluntary work, but you will gain experience in an area of work that is also meaningful and important.

Of course, you can and should also include this practical experience in your CV.

Article tip: How to write applications that inspire

There are employers who expressly prefer applicants with voluntary work experience. The same applies to selected sponsorship programs.

Most decision-makers see and understand the value of voluntary work during your time at university. Therefore, you should not let rumors to the contrary deter you from volunteering.

#6 Your self-confidence grows

Working together with people for a better society will boost your self-confidence in the long term.

It is a wonderful feeling to receive a smile or a sincere thank you for your efforts. Such experiences have a deep impact and give you a sense of self-efficacy.

After all, volunteering means tackling things instead of just complaining about grievances. This automatically makes you a role model in your environment and inspires your fellow human beings.

Volunteering in your region

Are you interested in volunteering? There are countless opportunities to do charitable work. Here are three platforms where you can find volunteering opportunities:

Aktion Mensch: On this large platform, you can search regionally as well as nationwide and very specifically for a volunteer position that suits you. Whether at the food banks, rescue services or as a short-term commitment, there is a good chance that you will find a suitable volunteer position at Aktion Mensch.
FlexHero: Launched in 2020, this platform specializes in finding volunteer positions as quickly and easily as possible. If you don’t want to spend a long time searching for volunteer positions on a website, the FlexHero app is just the thing for you. Not only does the app make it easy for you to agree to a volunteer position, you also become part of the community there and can exchange ideas.
Mitwirk-O-Mat: Similar to a Wahl-O-Mat, hence the name: by answering questions in a playful way, you are suggested regional volunteering opportunities that suit you. We think this is great because it reduces the risk of making the wrong decision on both sides of a commitment.

How can I find time for a voluntary position?

This brings us back to the question in our introduction: How are you supposed to balance volunteering with your other areas of life?

The solution is time management: there are great methods that you can use to structure your days, weeks and months in such a way that no area of your life is neglected.

This doesn’t mean that you rush from one task to the next, but rather that you are given tools to help you learn to prioritize and set up appropriate “time budgets” for your different areas of life.

In our article on time management, we introduce you to methods that really work.