Volunteer From Home: A Guide To Gaining Experience And Giving Back

Volunteering is no longer confined to soup kitchens and petting adorable puppies at animal shelters. In our world today, you can have a real and lasting impact by volunteering your skills and time remotely. Volunteering from home (aka remote volunteering) is a legitimate way to use your skills and experience to make a difference in the world, gain experience in a new field, and boost your career. All while drinking your coffee the way you like to make it.

In this guide, we'll dive into the world of remote volunteering, exploring its benefits, challenges, and the practical steps to getting started. So grab your laptop and a cup of coffee, and level up your impact and resume.

Why Volunteer Remotely? The Perks of Giving Back

You’ve heard the old adage, “Success, Social Life, Sleep; Pick 2”. So cramming volunteering in may not make sense on its surface, but there are many reasons why it actually does make sense, both personally and professionally, to volunteer from home:

• Join A Community: Joining a community and having a positive impact in the world is how we humans find meaning. Volunteering from home is a great way to do both of those things.
• Impacting Great Causes: There are many great ideas that never get off the ground because they don’t have the budget for someone to handle basic things like a website, graphics, accounting, etc. All of these can be done remotely, and volunteering your skills to a great cause may make the difference between a great idea fading away or flourishing.
• Flexibility: Set your own schedule and volunteer when it's convenient for you. No more rushing to make it to a physical location or feeling guilty about missing a shift.
• Convenience: No commute, no dress code, no problem! Volunteer in sweatpants, from your bed, or even from a coffee shop.
• Accessibility: Remote volunteering opens up opportunities for people with disabilities, those in remote locations, or anyone with limited mobility.
• Diverse Opportunities: From micro-volunteering tasks that take minutes to complete to long-term projects, there's something for everyone.
• Skill Development: Gain experience in a new field, hone your existing skills, or even learn something entirely new.

Level Up Your Career: How Volunteering Can Boost Your Resume

Thinking about switching careers but lack the experience? Or maybe you're a recent grad looking to build your resume? Remote volunteering is the secret sauce to getting real-world experience and getting glowing referrals:

• Gain Relevant Experience: Especially if you’re looking to break into a new field, you need to be able to talk the basics of the industry jargon and familiarize yourself with some of the common tools used in the field.
• Showcase Your Skills: Volunteering allows you to put your skills into practice and demonstrate your abilities to potential employers.
• Expand Your Network: Volunteering remotely allows you to connect with professionals in your target field, build relationships, and potentially open doors to new opportunities.
• Boost Your Confidence: Doing something repeatedly will build your confidence in your ability to do that thing. And confidence never hurts in an interview.
• Demonstrate Your Passion: Volunteering shows employers that you're not just about the paycheck; you're genuinely interested in making a difference.

Building Connections: Networking in the Virtual World

Remote volunteering isn't just about having an impact; it's also about the people you meet along the way. Here's how you can leverage remote volunteering to expand your professional network:

• Engage with Team Members: Actively participate in online meetings, contribute to discussions, and build relationships with your fellow volunteers.
• Connect with Leaders: Reach out to people in your organization with careers similar to what you’re pursuing and express your interest in their work and learn more about their career paths.
• Attend Virtual Events: Many organizations host online events, webinars, or workshops. These are great opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and industry professionals.
• Utilize Social Media: Follow organizations and fellow volunteers on social media, engage with their content, and participate in online communities.
• Ask for Informational Interviews: If you connect with someone who inspires you, don't be afraid to ask for an informational interview to learn more about their career journey.

The Challenges of Remote Volunteering: Navigating the Unstructured Waters

While remote volunteering offers incredible flexibility and convenience, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are a few things to be aware of:

• Lack of Structure: Remote volunteering often lacks the rigid structure of a traditional job, or even a traditional volunteering role. This can make it difficult to stay motivated and on track.
• Communication Barriers: Communicating solely through online platforms can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations, especially if there’s a culture/language barrier.
• Time Management: Balancing volunteering with other commitments requires excellent time management skills.
• Limited Feedback: In many cases, you’ll probably receive less direct feedback than you would in a traditional work environment, because providing structured and actionable feedback takes time.

Time Commitment: How Many Hours Should You Dedicate?

The time commitment for remote volunteering varies depending on the opportunity and your availability. Some micro-volunteering tasks can be completed in a few minutes, while long-term projects may require several hours per week.

On average, most remote volunteers dedicate between 5-10 hours per week. This also depends on their role and their personal commitments, and this can fluctuate substantially.

Remember, consistency is key! Even dedicating a few hours each week can make a significant impact.

Top 8 Websites to Find Remote Volunteer Opportunities

Ready to start your remote volunteering journey? Here are 8 websites where you can find a wide variety of remote volunteer opportunities:

1. VolunteerMatch: A comprehensive platform with thousands of virtual volunteer opportunities.
2. Catchafire: Connects professionals with nonprofits for skills-based volunteering projects.
3. UN Volunteers: Offers opportunities to contribute your skills online to support sustainable human development.
4. Smithsonian Digital Volunteers: Help transcribe historical documents, identify plants and animals in photos, and more.
5. Amnesty Decoders: Use your online research skills to uncover human rights abuses.
6. Translators Without Borders: Translate vital information for humanitarian organizations.
7. Zooniverse: Contribute to scientific research by classifying galaxies, identifying wildlife, and more.
8. Idealist: A platform with a wide range of volunteer opportunities, including many remote options.

Diverse Opportunities: Remote Volunteering for Every Skillset

• Developers: Build websites, create apps, or contribute to open-source projects.
• Project Managers: Help organizations plan and execute virtual events or online campaigns.
• Copywriters: Craft compelling content for websites, social media, or email campaigns.
• Graphic Designers: Create visuals for websites, social media, or marketing materials.
• Social Media Managers: Manage social media accounts, create content, and engage with followers.
• Translators: Translate documents or websites into different languages.
• Data Analysts: Analyze data to help organizations make informed decisions.
• Researchers: Conduct online research on various topics.
• Virtual Assistants: Provide administrative support, such as scheduling appointments or managing emails.

Remote Volunteering FAQ

Still have questions? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about remote volunteering:

Q: Do I need any special skills to volunteer remotely?
A: Not necessarily; organizations look for people with a wide range of skills and experience levels. If you can prove you can tackle the problems your role will face, you may be able to land a position in that organization.

Q: How do I find remote volunteer opportunities for specific skill fields?
A: Use the filters to online platforms like VolunteerMatch or Catchafire to search for opportunities based on your skills, interests, and cause areas.

Q: Can I volunteer remotely from anywhere in the world?
A: Yes: most remote volunteer opportunities are open to people from all over the world. Just keep time zones in mind, if that applies to your target role.

Q: What if I don't have a lot of time to dedicate to volunteering?
A: No problemo; many organizations offer micro-volunteering tasks that can be completed in a few minutes.

Q: Can remote volunteering lead to paid work?
A: Definitely; volunteering can help you build your skills, expand your network, and potentially open doors to paid opportunities.

Remote volunteering is a fantastic way for those with skills in a field, or those looking to break into a field, to make a difference, gain experience, and boost their careers—all while enjoying the flexibility and convenience of working from home.