Would employers rather see internships/jobs or volunteer work?

Hi Tiffanie!

The recruiters we work with care less about where the experience came from and more about a) what you did on a regular basis and b) what skills and knowledge you gained. Take the example of a volunteer who might help plan an annual fundraiser for a nonprofit. There is no pay and there may be little "formal" structure to the position, yet as a student they were able to be involved in planning, soliciting donations, fundraising from corporate sponsors, running a silent auction, or maintaining the guest list/donor log. This experience actually mirrors what many people do for a living in the world of fundraising, so even though it was unpaid and likely not as involved as a staff member would be, a prospective employer has a feel for what you can do and the responsibility level you were given as a volunteer.

At our institution, many of our students have some combination of both, so don't count out this possibility as well! Many times a first year student will get involved in community service, whereas they may not seek internships or jobs until they have a better feel for the direction they're looking to go.

Hello Tiffanie,

I think that this a really good question. Having experience in recruitment I would say that a good mix between the two would be 70% internships and 30% volunteer. The reason I say this is that internships give you a vision into the corporate world and they give you tools to use on different jobs. Whereas volunteer work, although shows your personality and compassion, often has to do with particular sectors and departments. I.e. if you volunteer for a food shelter for example, you would more than likely be designated a single task that you will carry out. Whereas in the internship you would be designated many tasks to do with different departments.

Good luck!

Tiffanie --

I agree with Ken that both or either are good.

It is important that you are able to articulate what you learned through these experiences and how they may benefit your potential employer. Every experience teaches us something and helps to develop our skills.

As a hiring manager, I look for people who have chosen to actively pursue developing their skills outside of their college education.

I would encourage you to use these experiences to understand what you are good at as well as what you like/don't like doing.

Picking a job is both about your potential employer deciding you are right for them and you deciding the job is one in which you will be happy, challenged and right for you.

Best of luck!

Tiffanie,

The key difference between the two, in my opinion, is that internship and/or full-time work experience is a requirement to career advancement, whereas volunteer work is a differentiator but is not required. Volunteering will help you stand out above your peers, provided you have the necessary professional experience. Volunteer work alone will not land you the job you're looking for, but it shows genuine selflessness and compassion that will be admired by hiring managers.

Best,
Chris

Hi Tiffanie!

All are good. What the employer is looking for is that you have had experience on the inside of a job and know what it is all about . The most important thing for you to do is to make sure that you do the best that you can in all situations to guarantee that you get the best recommendation possible.

Best of luck! Please keep me informed. I would like to follow your progress!