Volunteering on Your Career Break: 4 Reasons Why You Should
If you are thinking of changing your career, traveling the world or you would just like a break from the nine to five, a career break can be a great way explore new opportunities and catch up on some of the things you want to see and do in your life.
While travel often tops the list of things people want to do on a career break, many also want to put the time to practical use by developing new skills and working in different locations and environments.
Volunteering on your career break offers the perfect opportunity to see the world while working on exciting projects all around the world. Here are five key reasons why you should:
Give Something Back
While work is an integral and important part of all our lives, there comes a time when many of us feel the need to give something back. After years, or even decades, in the professional world, taking time to help others can be a refreshing and rewarding experience. While leaving behind your stable monthly salary can be a daunting prospect, using your skills to help make the world a better place can outshine any kind of monetary rewards and will be an experience that will last with you for a lifetime.
Take Your Career in a New Direction
Volunteering abroad can be the ideal first step if you are looking for a change in career. Whether you want to try out a different area within your professional field, or you want to try out an entirely different career path, a volunteer project can be a great way to start. Volunteering allows you to try out all kinds of different organizations in countless different roles that you may never normally get to experience in your professional life. Any volunteer work will boost your job prospects in the future and will look great on your resume.
Experience Life in a Different Country
Many of us have dreamed of packing our bags and experiencing life in another country. Life changing decisions like this are not to be taken lightly and spending some time volunteering abroad is a good way to find out if it is for you. Not only will you immerse yourself in the culture of your chosen country, you will also get to experience first hand what it is like to work there. Even just a few weeks on a volunteer project can give you valuable insights into what living there will really be like.
Try out Your Skills in a New Environment
While volunteer abroad projects are often associated with school leavers, university students and new graduates, career breakers and mature volunteers can bring invaluable skills to projects. By bringing your know-how to a new environment, you will not only be building your own skills and improving the lives of local people, you will be in a position to help and guide younger volunteers who will be eager to learn from your years of experience.
Friends For Asia welcomes volunteers of all ages and from all walks of life. Whether you want to work with elephants in Thailand or teach Buddhist monks in Nepal, Friends For Asia offers a wide choice of unique and rewarding volunteer projects for career breakers everywhere.
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