Tax Tips Volunteer When Job Hunting Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam Published Dec 14, 2009 3 min read While this past year has been one to forget, with the economy going through one of the most difficult times in a century, we shouldn’t forget those who are less fortunate than we are. Since the economy has hit all of us squarely in the wallet (or purse), you may tempted to cut back on your charitable giving, despite the financial tax benefits. I’m here to say that if that is your plan, consider volunteering some of your time to an organization in your neighborhood. If you’re out of work, it’s even more important that you try to volunteer in your local neighborhood because it can pay huge emotional and spiritual dividends. You don’t have to volunteer each and every day, just a few hours a week can make an impact towards a cause you believe in. It Boosts Morale Searching for a job can be a very emotional exhausting experience. My wife looked for a job for six months before she found one and I saw the roller coaster of emotions she dealt with. You send out resumes day in and day out, hearing back from only a couple, and there’s a feeling like you’re fighting a forest fire with a spray bottle. By volunteering, you get to claim small wins each time you volunteer because you are helping out an organization that desperately needs your support. Satisfies Social Needs The job hunt can also be very lonely. There’s very little human contact when you submit resumes for hours at a time, so it’s important to keep your social needs fulfilled by interacting with other volunteers. Volunteers are almost always very kind and inviting, because they know how valuable other volunteers are! By working with other people, you don’t feel like you’re on an island all by yourself. If you feel open to it you can discuss your frustrations and difficulties with other volunteers. Maybe they’re in the same boat, maybe they’ve gone through it before, it’s like a support group you can learn to lean on as you build relationships with them. Resume Builder Employers are always looking for gaps in resumes and being able to say that you volunteered when you were out of work sounds better than saying all you did was submit resume and go to job fairs. While I argue that you should job hunt full throttle at first, there will come a time when you won’t be able to fill many hours of the day with resume submissions. When that happens, consider volunteering and it gives you something positive to say during your time off. Networking Potential Anytime you can get out and meet new people, you increase the chances that you’ll find a job through networking. While I wouldn’t expect it to happen, you never know who you will meet. Perhaps you meet someone who has a friend who works at the company you’ve had your eye on? Maybe someone is married to an HR generalist at a company in your industry? By getting out of your house, or the library, you meet more people and increase the chances you’ll find a job through word of mouth. They Might Hire You! Most organizations have paid staff to perform some of the more arduous tasks or to fill in when the volunteer ranks are looking thin. Meals on Wheels occasionally hired paid drivers to drive certain routes when there were fewer volunteers. If you have specific and specialized skills the organization is looking for, you might find yourself a part-time job to help make ends meet. In the end, the big value in volunteering is in boosting your morale and filling up hours in the day with something productive. After days of job searching, taking a break can refresh your mind and give you renewed energy. If you take a break by volunteer, you’ll boost both even more! Previous Post Remember IRA Contributions Next Post Get on This Gift List, if You Can Written by TurboTaxBlogTeam More from TurboTaxBlogTeam Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Tax Deductions and Credits Save with a New Tax Relief Donation Law and Holiday Giv… Tax Deductions and Credits Donating to Charity & Taxes: An Intro Guide Tax Deductions and Credits Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Donations and Tax Deduct… Tax Deductions and Credits How Does Volunteering for a Charity Affect My Taxes? Tax Deductions and Credits How to Track Your Charitable Contributions Tax Deductions and Credits Volunteering This Summer? Find Out if Your Work is Tax … Tax Deductions and Credits Deducting Travel Expenses When Doing Charitable Work Self-Employed Tax Tips for Coaches Tax Deductions and Credits Are You a PTA Parent? That Volunteering May Just Pay Of… Tax Tips Charitable Work Helps Your Bottom Line