Recently over 400 Hyatt employees spent the day volunteering at the Pulaski International School of Chicago. This event is just one example of the many projects and causes Hyatt’s employees support each year to benefit their local and global communities.
Similar to Hyatt, most companies have an established social platform and perhaps an ongoing commitment to various charitable organizations. A company that places a high value on community involvement may consider a candidate who volunteers within their community as more attractive than a candidate that has no volunteer activity at all.
As a result, your decision to volunteer within your own community, may bring you not only personal satisfaction, it may bring professional rewards as well. Your prospective company may view your personal community efforts as affirmation that you’re a good “fit” within their organization and will support their social platform if you’re hired.
Choose your passion.
Although volunteering may make you more attractive to potential employers, I’m a big believer that you have to support a cause that you find personally rewarding.
Last semester, I was asked by a student for tips on how she could be even more competitive to ensure her acceptance into our management training program. I reviewed our requirementsleadership ability, grade point average, community service; she then asked which organizations our company supported so she could start supporting them as well.
Although I appreciated her wanting to align her efforts with ours, I encouraged her to support organizations that she felt passionate about and causes that were important to her. It’s more authentic and easier for you to articulate the reasons you support a particular organization if you feel a personal connection to the work they do. For example, my Grandmother is a breast cancer survivor so I support organizations that are related to that cause.
Leadership opportunities
You may also want to build upon personal practices you already have in place. If you regularly donate your gently used clothing to a particular organization, perhaps you can expand your efforts by organizing a clothing drive for the organization or if you give blood regularly, perhaps organizing a blood drive in your neighborhood. Not only will you make an even stronger impact, you also will have a great example of your leadership, organization, and perhaps marketing skills the next time you’re in an interview with a prospective employer.
Keep your commitment.
Lastly, summer is a great time to increase your community service involvement, but I encourage you to be consistent and not overcommit. Organizations depend on the efforts of volunteers and it’s important that you’re able to uphold your commitment. Also consider if you can continue your community service efforts during the school year. It’s easy to say you believe in giving back to others, it’s even more fulfilling and credible when your efforts support your words.
Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Woodland Hills facility recently hosted a student engineering competition to mark the conclusion of the sixth year of its WORTHY mentoring and scholarship program.