To ask if volunteering helps get a new job?

[Gardengloves12]

I’m currently working but searching for a job closer to home. In the past, where I have got an interview, I’ve usually got the job. However my applications so far have not got me interviews. I’m mid 40s and wondering if age puts employers off.
Even if age is blanked out, they would be able to make a guess by seeing work history.
Racking my brains to think what could help. I would enjoy volunteering so I’m wondering to give that a shot even for a few hours a week to add to my CV.
Any thoughts?
Any other ideas to help get interviews?
Thanks

My experience of volunteering then setting up a charity definitely gave me the experience & confidence to get a better job. It depends what kind of work you’re looking to do?

Well it helped me. I’d left a job after raising a grievance and realising I couldn’t stay. It was a bad time. From volunteering I got different experience, a reference and a friend.

i think it helps

From my own experience I can't recommend this approach highly enough. I was in a corporate job that slowly sucked my soul from me and ended up leaving after being pushed to the point of Ill health. Volunteered in different areas including gardening, community support and employability. This experience helped me finally uncover a passion for working with young people and gave me evidence of my skills for an application to work at a local college. I subsequently qualified to work as a professional in a new industry 3 years ago at the age of 47. If you have the time to do it, volunteering shows initiative amongst other valuable transferable skills and can also help you work out what really makes you tick. Go for it! From a cv perspective, maybe look at a skills based cv, focusing on all the amazing skills you bring to a role and minimise work history to the last 10-15 years. I wish you every success.

I'm currently hiring and going through lots of cvs and applications.
I do question in my head unexplained gaps in history, not a problem if explanation is there (childcare, traveling or whatever) so for this reason it's good to fill the gap.

The biggest problem I'm finding is that the role I'm hiring for has a specific job/person spec. The number of people who have just attached their generic cv that doesn't answer specifics about the job spec means that even if they sound lovely, I can't grade their application highly enough to give them an interview.

No problem with a generic cv as long as it's with a cover letter that is specific to the job being applied for and explains how the candidate meets the spec.

I work for a big organisation and we have to show that applicants are all judged the same so if the info isn't there, I can't give the points.

So yes some voluntary work could help fill a space, and I know it's not what you asked, but just want to advise for when you apply for new jobs.

Yes it definitely helped me, especially if you volunteer somewhere that's keen on training courses as the skills are often transferable.

I volunteered for 10 years as a school governor and went into work straight after 15 years as a SAHM.

Thanks so much for these replies. That’s spurred me on to enquire about volunteering!
I guess luckily I have no gaps in my CV but I think I must need something extra to start getting some interviews!

@scruffydogstinks majes a really good point, make sure your cv or application clearly shows how you meet the person spec. So many jobs are scored against the person spec at shortlisting that if you’ve not shown how you meet it, you simply won’t make the sift. So if you’re looking at volunteering, think about how it will add skills and experience in the area you want to work in and explicitly explain how doing x gave you y skill that they’re looking for.

Volunteering almost certainly got me my last job with a charity which I loved. There’s nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain from volunteering - go for it xx

It can do. I know a few people close to me that got paid work in an organisation after spending some time volunteering there, in public and third sectors, me included.

i think it probably depends on how long it's been since you were last in work - if you feel you don't have any current-ish work experience, volunteering might be useful - otherwise focus your time on job applications.

Get someone impartial to take a look at your CV
You don't have to include your age on the CV anymore - and as you get older, what you did when you were 18 gets less important.
My CV only has jobs from the last 20 years or so.

I'm in my early 60s - When I was job hunting last year, I was interviewed for just over 80% of the roles I applied for, and had second interviews for most of those (or was offered 2nd interviews, I pulled out of several).

Depends where you live really and the jobs locally available; everywhere needs 'care' workers so that rather skews the vacancy 'stats. The HR professional above does say it fills a 'gap' if you have no 'better' explanation and as many employers utilize 'portals' to 'sift' applicants, each with various parameters, before any HR worker even looks, it's probably helpful to do something rather than nothing. At least to keep the software happy.

But, beware, if you live somewher a bit scarce on decent jobs, being a voluntary worker could mean you get royally taken the piss out of.

I got my current (and best ever) job by volunteering and then being taken on as paid staff by the charity. I would always recommend this route.

Jellycat- thank you!- very good advice!
Thanks Nadine, going to start making some enquiries!

One bit of advice though OP.

I wouldn't volunteer somewhere that I actually wanted to work, thinking that it might get me a job there in the future.

Because a lot of companies are reluctant to give paid jobs to volunteers, as they're harder to replace than staff if that makes sense?

It's how I got my first job in a brand new sector with no qualifications or previous experience. I would recommend if you've the time and the means.

Thanks WeightoftheWorld, that’s really encouraging!
Again, I am currently working and no gaps on my CV- just want something closer and don’t seem to be getting the interviews so hopefully this will help!

Also just to say I was taken on by the charity I volunteered for and I've since employed most volunteers/placement students we've had since who have shown themselves to be good at the work. Because what you don't want is to lose talented people. Not just lose volunteers. This doesn't ring true for my experience at all infact that would automatically put me off an organisation that cares so little for the development and wellbeing of its workforce.

Of course I'm not saying it's impossible to get a job once you're a volunteer, but I have witnessed companies being very reluctant.

So just something for the OP to consider.

I was volunteering (12 years ago) and then got a paid job there. So, yes, it's a good idea!

Thanks Lightspeeds!

I think it will depend on the job, and on the volunteering.

It will also need to to link (highlight) how the skills you have learned or are putting in to practice at the volunteering match the job spec.

That can be 'soft skills' like just being used to dealing with the public, which are really, really useful transferable skills.

I worked with volunteers for years and our organisation would routinely employ people who volunteered for us. We knew them, and their work ethic, we knew their skills and abilities. It was much less risky than employing an unknown quantity. They needed to go through the recruitment process but often did well because they already knew the organisation and the job role.

Hi, you should only include the last 10-15 years of work history on your CV unless there is something extremely relevant earlier than that. Yes volunteering will help you to fill this current gap and give you valuable experience to discuss but make sure that it is relevant to the roles that you are applying for so that you can demonstrate transferable skills. Good luck!

You are already working currently, so it depends whether the volunteering adds anything to your skill set and experience that is relevant to the jobs you're applying for.

I'd always recommend volunteering to someone who's not working at all, but for you, it depends.

If you are worried about age, you can blank out dates on your CV and only include the most relevant jobs. But really they should not be discriminating on those grounds. Mid-40's is not old, you could have 20+ years left in your career.