August 8, 2013
Many young professionals donate hundreds of hours each year providing assistance at nonprofits, but some don't realize the opportunity organizations have given them can make them look better in the eyes of employers. Today's job market makes it difficult to gain experience, which is why volunteering has recently become a more viable option. However, only 46 percent of college students that responded to a recent Deloitte survey feel that nonprofits are a good place to grow their skill sets.
Hiring managers value those who have volunteered
Whether young adults are putting in just a few hours per week or have an internship position at a nonprofit, hiring managers are more interested in professionals who have spent spare time volunteering at nonprofits. In fact, 81 percent of HR executives that took part in the "2013 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey" stated they take the skills acquired by volunteers into account, while the same percentage said they consider recent college graduates who have volunteered as more desirable than those who haven't. Nonprofits that want to benefit from the help of young professionals can use these statistics as a way to draw people into their organization.
"As passionate advocates of skilled volunteerism and pro bono service in our communities, we are excited about its benefits as a bridge to employment," said Joe Echevarria, CEO at Deloitte. "These findings align with our efforts to foster a college-going culture, support returning veterans and in the process make our communities and America stronger."
Volunteering provides valuable experience
When in college, it's often difficult for young professionals to gain the experience they need to be able to compete for entry-level positions. This is why nonprofits should open their doors to college students and provide a flexible environment for them to work in. Hiring managers like to see that candidates have had some type of experience at an organization before bringing them in. Lynn Taylor, a career expert, told Forbes that college students should always be looking for some type of part-time, temporary or volunteer work experience.
"If you can't find a job in your chosen field of study, any job is better than none, as long as you remain focused on your first priority: succeeding in your path of study and absorbing the knowledge you're there to gain," Taylor said.
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We first started using First Nonprofit’s Unemployment Savings Program when we were a small startup nonprofit. We didn’t have an HR department and needed expertise in the event that an unemployment claim was made. We knew we were eligible to be a reimbursing employer, but weren’t sure how to navigate that process. They made it easy to set things up, plan for, and then manage claims when they came at a very reasonable cost. The amount of time and stress they’ve saved us dealing with all this has been worth way more than the cost. We’ve now grown to a large nonprofit and do have an HR department but have no plans to stop using their services. I highly recommend them to every nonprofit I come into contact with!
Throughout our membership in the Unemployment Savings Program, First Nonprofit understood our demands, community dynamics, and the importance of seamless services; that allowed us to serve our constituents better.
Because INCS advocates for the operating conditions that allow charter public schools to provide high quality public education, partnering with First Nonprofit was an easy decision. First Nonprofit’s unemployment programs provide our member schools two operating elements crucial to their ability to provide high quality public education: savings and budget certainty. Capable, committed teachers are the key to student success. By participating in the unemployment insurance savings plan, charter public schools gain peace of mind and are able to invest more money in their teachers.
It has been our sincere pleasure to maintain a strong, vibrant business partnership with First Nonprofit. We greatly admire their strong industry knowledge, technical expertise, constant professionalism, knowledgeable and dedicated staff. They are always extremely responsive, personable and provide us with the necessary guidance and recommendations on a numerous variety of employment scenarios.
NYCON members who use First Nonprofit’s programs enjoy enduring savings and improved efficiency. Our association knows that success, because from the beginning, we achieved the same great benefits. Great savings, seamless technology, and responsive service. NYCON highly recommends First Nonprofit’s remarkable unemployment solutions.
Visually Impaired Preschool Services has been a client of First Non-Profit since it was first offered as a benefit of VisionServe Alliance. We completed a thorough evaluation of cash savings to our agency before taking advantage of this wonderful benefit and it has been a very wise decision. Our experience with the processes from accounting to claims have been professional, expeditious and easy.
Luckily for us, our interactions regarding any issues with staffing has been very minimal! I can say that all other interactions with regards to billing, 941 reporting, etc. have been extremely pleasant, accommodating and easy to work with. Kim Ghanayem is always prompt, professional and friendly. Thank you so much!
First Nonprofit has been easy to work with and makes the administrative process easier and smoother. We enjoy working with you.