Tag: volunteer work

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Why Employers Want to See Volunteerism on Your Resume

two people discussing a resume

Companies receive countless amounts of resumes a year and it’s easy to start to blend everyone together. One way that interviewees can stand out above the rest is through volunteer experience. Although volunteerism may not seem as important to include on a resume as employment or education, here’s some reasons why you may want to consider putting this on your resume.

Shows Desirable Personality Traits

If you are someone who thinks volunteerism is important, then chances are that you have personality traits that are valuable to a company. Personality traits such as compassion, patience, enthusiasm, and devotion show companies that you have the ingredients of a good employee.

Hard and Soft Skills

Like job experience, volunteerism can give you many hard and soft skills. Skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership are all positive attributes in the eyes of an employer and can be acquired through volunteerism.

Globalization/Culture

Volunteering allows you to interact with a wide variety of people from many different backgrounds, especially if you volunteer abroad. Volunteering abroad shows that you are open to new culture and can adapt well to different environments. These are important skills that employers like to see.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact your local humane society, food bank, or retirement home to see if they are accepting volunteers. You can also search online for local or abroad volunteer opportunities.

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

Source: Her Campus

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Calling All Volunteers in Princeton, NJ!

Volunteering your time to help and give back to others is always a great decision. Not only do others benefit from your kindness, but volunteering positively impacts your physical and mental health, as many studies have shown. Volunteering has been proven to improve your mood and decrease the chances of feeling lonely because it provides a sense of purpose. Other benefits of volunteering include gaining experience and skills you wouldn’t otherwise learn, earning community service hours, and it is a great way to meet new people and network.

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Why Volunteer?

Volunteer work includes a wide variety of different tasks. Whether you enjoy being outside, playing with animals or working on a computer, volunteers are always welcome and needed in all areas. Often our lives are busy between work, family and other duties and it seems difficult to find time to fit volunteering into your schedule. Actually, organizations that are looking for volunteers often offer flexible hours, and they will be grateful for any time that you can put aside for their cause.

Princeton Volunteer Opportunities

1. Penn Medicine Princeton Health

Love the medical field or looking to pursue a career in it? Volunteering your time at Penn Medicine Princeton Health is a great way to gain experience, meet other professionals in the industry, and give back to the community. A wide variety of jobs and tasks are available for volunteers, so find your fit today by contacting the Penn Medicine Princeton Health volunteer department.

2. Princeton Family YMCA

Volunteers are always welcome at the Princeton Family YMCA and play a vital role in the success of programs and events at the YMCA. Volunteers can be responsible for helping at events, coaching and mentoring children, and assisting children with disabilities. Each year volunteers invest hundreds of hours at the Princeton YMCA to serve and give back to their community. Learn more about the Princeton YMCA volunteer opportunities here.

These are just a few examples of volunteer opportunities in the Princeton area, discover more here.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area – practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

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Volunteer Opportunities in the Princeton Area

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By volunteering, you will discover all the benefits, both for the volunteer and for the community. Being a volunteer has personal benefits which include skill development, improved quality of life and making contacts for future possible employment. The list goes on, but volunteering can also be overwhelming if you don’t manage your time effectively. Some go overseas to volunteer in other countries and stay for weeks, but if it’s your first time volunteering it can be better to start off a few days at a time, for just a few hours. That’s why volunteering locally is a perfect way to start giving back. Since I practice near Princeton, NJ, here are some ideas of places to volunteer in the Princeton area:

The Watershed
The Watershed is an organization in central New Jersey with a mission of keeping water clean, safe and healthy. They are constantly looking for people who are willing to volunteer. By volunteering at The Watershed, you could help by clearing brush, feeding their animals, helping out with office work, staffing the front desk or assisting at one of their events. No matter if you enjoy the great outdoors, or to be in an office, there is a wide range of opportunities to choose from.

TASK – Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
TASK is a non-profit organization with a mission to feed the hungry in the Trenton area. TASK truly depends on the help from volunteers. They have volunteer opportunities both on-site and off-site. By being an on-site volunteer, you get to help prepare and serve food. Since offers different programs for all ages, families can find ways to give back to the Princeton community. If you don’t have the ability to be on-site, you can still prepare and drop off lunch and dinner.

Arm in Arm
Arm in Arm is a non-profit organization which welcomes more than 4,000 families to their food pantries. Families in the Princeton area turn to Arm in Arm for food and financial support, and they also work with prevention of homelessness with on-the-job training and job search mentoring. Depending on your interests and goals, there are different areas in which you can help. Help out in the pantry by providing healthy food for families or working in the garden. You could also help the families find work and financial stability by being a Job Trainee Mentor, or conduct mock job interviews. If you feel like you have a special skill you think would benefit the families, feel free to contact them.

Everything you can do is highly appreciated, whether it’s donating a pair of socks to a shelter or serving food in a soup kitchen for a couple of hours. It’s important work like this that will keep these valuable non-profit organizations going.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton doctor internal medicine practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

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4 Best Days of the Year to Volunteer

Dr. Barbara Edwards - Volunteer

If you’ve been searching for a pocket of time to give back, it can be difficult given all the commitments you need to tend to in your day-to-day life. However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are times throughout the year when volunteer days are celebrated and encouraged. In order to plan ahead, here are some holidays to circle on your calendar that make setting aside time for volunteering a little bit easier:

Martin Luther King Day (Third Monday in January)

To honor Dr. King’s legacy, the third Monday in January has been set aside as a day of service for all Americans. Many employers observe this holiday by offering employees the day off, giving them the opportunity to be of service to their communities. This day was established as a day of service in an official capacity in 1996, and many presidents since then have carried out the tradition of volunteering in underserved communities on that day.

Spring Break (Mid-March)

Many families take advantage of the fact that kids get a week off in Spring by taking a family vacation. Plan to do something different this year by taking the family on a mission trip! This way, you can get away from the buzz of everyday life while still learning valuable lessons about giving back to others who are less fortunate. There are countless organizations that organize trips around Spring Break to take advantage of this.

Thanksgiving (Fourth Thursday in November)

Starting a tradition of volunteering on Thanksgiving Day, or even the night before, is a great way to practice gratitude and provide a meal for those in need at a time that is especially meaningful. The holidays should be a time of love and generosity, and getting the whole family involved can multiply your impact. Donating some of the ingredients you’re using in your thanksgiving dinner to a food bank is a great way to give back as well.

National Day of Service and Remembrance (September 11th)

Launched in 2002, the nonprofit established to remember and honor the fallen on 9/11/2001 announced that 9/11 would be used not just as a day of reflection, but also to be of service. It celebrates the memory of those selfless first responders who stepped up in response to the attacks. Visit 9/11day.org to explore volunteer opportunities near you.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton doctor internal medicine practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

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Volunteering with Babies in the Hospital

Volunteer “baby cuddlers” are starting to be recruited by hospitals all over America. In an effort to help calm babies in the neonatal intensive care unit, volunteers are able to hold, cuddle, feed and change diapers of the hospital’s tiniest patients. When a baby is born premature, parents face one of the most difficult situations imaginable—having their baby stay in the hospital, sometimes for months on end. Often, parents cannot be there every moment of everyday to hold their newborn, which is where volunteer cuddlers come in.

Babies need human contact to help their brains develop. A 1998 study showed a program similar to volunteer cuddling helped babies form better sleep habits, focus, and coping mechanisms for anxiety later in life. Maternal contact has been studied as an important instinct throughout the mammalian class in the animal kingdom.

To volunteer with babies in the hospital, there is a lengthy application process, a background check, and required vaccinations. Every hospital is different, and you’ll need to follow their requirements in order to be considered. However, these programs are extremely rewarding and make an immense impact on the life of the newborn, as well as their family. To find baby cuddling programs in New Jersey, see a compiled list here.

If you are not able to volunteer with babies in the hospital, but still want to find ways you can help, you can always participate in hat making programs with a local knit or crochet club. Gifting hats to newborns in the hospital, especially when temperatures drop, is great way to offer a baby a warm welcome to the world. Softer “baby” yarns are available at many craft stores.

I compiled more information about this topic with more baby cuddling volunteer opportunities in the New Jersey area at my blog post entitled, “Benefits of Being a Baby Cuddler“.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area – practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.