1. Volunteering:
How can it
benefit your
career?
So the million dollar question – why volunteer?
Career Savvy spoke to The Great Projects,
who offer award-winning volunteering projects
worldwide for those who want a truly enriching
and rewarding experience. They gave us a
rundown of why they feel volunteering is so
important, as well as a brief explanation of
what you can really gain from it.
School/university is out and you’re wondering what
on earth to do. As the inevitable scramble to apply
to universities or graduate jobs begins, it can be wise
to consider all of your options. If you want to take
a break from the stress caused by your A-levels or
Gain a real sense of adventure and fun
With 37 projects in 16 countries, including Bolivia, Uganda
and Zimbabwe, joining The Great Projects provides you
with the chance to explore parts of the world you otherwise
may not have the opportunity to see. You’ll make new
friends (both with humans and wildlife!), have enormous
fun and spend quality time away from the norm in the
process.
Become independent
Immersing yourself into a completely new and unknown
culture can be intimidating to begin with. But adapting to
your often rustic surroundings, gaining confidence through
your experiences and coming out on top is something that
really says something about you as a person – particularly to
potential employers.
If you would like to join ‘The Great Projects’
on one of their once in a lifetime adventures,
please don’t hesitate to get in contact via their
website here (www.thegreatprojects.com).
Alternatively, you can contact them via email
(info@thegreatprojects.com), phone (+44(0)208
885 4987) or Facebook (www.facebook.com/
thegreatprojects).
‘This summer I spent four weeks volunteering
in Sarawak, Borneo.
I was part of a
fantastic team
and we worked hard – you name it, we did
it. Though it was hard, the reward was seeing
projects progressing and, in some cases,
completed. Watching the animals benefit
from our work and witnessing the dedication
of the full-time project staff made me feel
very privileged to be a part of the team –
even for a short time. I have already booked
to go back!’ Sinead, 2013.
Help make a difference and give back
All of our projects offer volunteers the opportunity to
really help in integral wildlife conservation for some
of the globe’s most endangered animals – including
orangutans, whale sharks, tigers and cheetahs – as well
as help many local communities. What’s more, you
will be able to work under the guidance of renowned
wildlife charities on many of the projects, including
International Animal Rescue, Born Free and Wildlife
SOS. You will see how they are run and how they
tackle head on the ever current issues of poaching,
deforestation and hunting.
Learn valuable life and leadership skills
As Karren Brady, Vice-Chairman of West Ham United
says: ‘Not only does volunteering give you invaluable
experience that you wouldn’t otherwise get, but it
also makes you eminently more employable. I would
seriously consider a candidate for interview if they had
committed to volunteering’. Sound advice there Karren!
With projects offering volunteers the chance to tackle a
range of issues, including human-animal conflict, coral
reef conservation and animal rehabilitation, the life
skills that you can learn and use to your advantage in
your CV and during interviews are endless!
Being able to be near, feed, and help
look after such magnificent animals –
including cheetahs, lions and baboons
– was something I will never forget.
What’s more, you really feel as if you
are benefiting the local people as well
as supporting vital wildlife conservation
of endangered species. For anyone
questioning going – just do it!
You certainly
won’t regret it!’
Catherine, 2014.
‘Truly a once
in a lifetime
experience…
if you want to give back to wildlife
conservation, get off the beaten track and
do and see things that you never would as a
regular tourist, then these are the people to
book your experience with.’ Kirsty, 2013.
degree, then a gap year could be just what you need.
Aside from the excitement of travel opportunities
and having extensive ‘time off’, gap years offer
students and graduates the opportunity to learn new
beneficial skills for your CV and have incredible life
experiences – all whilst having a lot of fun of course!