Volunteering — learning the value of experience only with experience
When it comes to landing that job you’ve been dreaming of, soft skills can be the game-changer that sets you apart from the competition. And while most interviewers won’t straight up ask you about your soft skills, they’re paying attention to how you showcase them.
It’s fine to talk about what you did but focusing on the ‘how’ behind it all reveals your skills with problem-solving, perseverance, collaboration, and creativity (to name a few). Most of all you will be demonstrating the skill of persuasion — which is your role in the interview!
Soft skills develop while you’re doing life, not necessarily in the classroom.
Volunteering is a surefire way to supercharge your soft skills and take your self-understanding and abilities to the next level.
When Caleb started working as a Student Ambassador for Succeed@Adelaide at the beginning of 2023, he realised his talent and passion for helping students. He also discovered that he enjoyed the idea of being considered dependable.
Now, a few months later, Caleb is serving in a volunteer position for the PASS program, helping students succeed in their studies and honing his skills in leadership and management.
Caleb’s Story
This year, I've been proud to serve as the Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) Leader for the first-year course: Analog Electronics! Volunteering with PASS has truly been one of my favourite experiences so far at the University and I have had the opportunity to help fellow students succeed in their studies, while also developing my own leadership and communication skills.
One of the greatest benefits of being a PASS Leader is the sense of fulfilment that comes from helping others. It is incredibly rewarding to see students who are going through a challenging course (experiencing the same challenges that I was only a year ago), make significant improvements in their understanding of course content, and their confidence. I love making PASS sessions fun, hands-on and interactive!
In addition to helping others, being a PASS Leader has also helped me develop my own skills. Through leading group sessions, I have improved my communication skills, as well as my ability to work with diverse groups of people. I have also gained valuable experience in time management and organisation, as I have had to balance my responsibilities as a PASS Leader with my own coursework and other commitments.
Overall, being a PASS Leader has been an incredibly enriching experience. It has allowed me to make a positive impact on the success of my peers, while also growing personally and professionally. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as a PASS Leader, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to make a difference in their community while also gaining valuable skills and experience!
Caleb is a second-year student and volunteers in PASS to help others gain momentum and succeed with their studies.
There are opportunities everywhere for volunteering, especially at our University. So if you want to test your soft skills, there are plenty of people out there waiting to meet you.