Build Confidence, Skills, and Proof Before You Get Hired

When you have been out of the workforce for several years, applying for a job can feel like an enormous first step. 

You may worry that your skills are outdated.  You may wonder whether you can still keep up in a professional environment.  You may look at a job description and think, “I used to be able to do that. I’m just not sure I can anymore.”

That voice is a liar. But it's a persuasive one. And you're not going to be able to ignore it very easily.  The only thing that shuts it up is evidence.  And one of the best ways to convince yourself that you're more capable than you think is by volunteering.

Volunteering is not a substitute for paid employment, and you shouldn't work for free forever.  But the right volunteer opportunity can give you something that is difficult to build by sitting at home and preparing:

Recent proof.

Proof that you can learn something new. Proof that you can contribute. Proof that people can count on you. And perhaps most importantly, proof to yourself that you still have something valuable to offer. 

Volunteering can become a bridge between the experience you already have and the work you want to do next.  It gives you a place to practice using your skills before the pressure of a full-time job.  It can help you rebuild a routine, meet new people, explore possible career paths, and discover strengths you may have forgotten you had.  It can also give you recent experience to include on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

The key is to volunteer strategically.

You do not need another responsibility that drains your time without helping you move forward. Look for an opportunity that allows you to contribute, learn, and build relationships. 

Seven Things You Can Do Today

1. Choose an opportunity connected to the work you want. 

Think about the skills you want to use or develop.  Are you interested in marketing? Offer to help a nonprofit with social media, email campaigns, event promotion, or website content.

Interested in project management? Help organize a fundraiser, community event, conference, or service project.  Interested in finance? Volunteer with budgeting, bookkeeping, sponsorships, or donor tracking.  Interested in technology? Help an organization improve its systems, organize its data, or learn a new platform.

You do not have to find a perfect match. Look for an opportunity that moves you closer to the type of work you want.

2. Be clear about what you can realistically give.

You do not need to volunteer 20 hours a week to make the experience valuable.  A few focused hours each week can be enough.

Before committing, decide how much time you have, how long you are willing to volunteer, and what kind of responsibilities you can manage.  It's okay to say, “I can help five hours a week for the next three months."

Clear boundaries protect your time and help the organization understand what it can expect from you.

3. Ask for real responsibility.

Look for opportunities where you can own a project, solve a problem, or create something measurable.  Instead of only offering to “help where needed,” ask whether you could manage a specific assignment.

You might create a newsletter, recruit volunteers, organize a database, coordinate an event, develop a training guide, or improve a process.  Real responsibility gives you stronger experience to discuss in interviews.

It allows you to say, “I created,” “I managed,” “I increased,” or “I improved,” rather than simply saying, “I volunteered.”  

4. Learn the tools people use now.

Volunteering can give you a low-risk way to become familiar with current workplace tools.  You might use Canva, Google Workspace, Slack, Zoom, Salesforce, Asana, Mailchimp, Microsoft Teams, or an AI tool.

You do not need to master everything.  Learning one or two relevant tools can help you feel less rusty and give you something current to add to your resume.  Pay attention to the way the organization communicates, manages projects, shares files, and tracks results. Those experiences will make returning to a workplace feel less unfamiliar. 

5. Keep track of what you accomplish.

Do not wait until the experience is over to remember what you did.  Write down your projects, responsibilities, results, and new skills as you go. 

How many people attended the event you helped organize? How much money did the fundraiser bring in?  Did social media engagement increase  Did you create a system that saved time?  Did you recruit, train, or manage other volunteers?

Numbers are helpful, but not every accomplishment needs one. You can also describe a problem you helped solve or a process you improved.  This information can later become resume bullet points, LinkedIn content, and interview examples.

6. Build relationships while you work.

One of the greatest benefits of volunteering is the opportunity to work alongside people who can see your abilities firsthand.  These relationships may lead to job information, introductions, references, or recommendations.

But don't approach every person as someone who might get you a job.  Be helpful. Be dependable. Ask questions. Show interest in the people around you.

At the appropriate time, let them know you are preparing to return to paid work and what kinds of opportunities interest you.  People are much more likely to recommend someone whose work they have personally observed.

7. Know when it's time to move on.

Volunteering should help you build confidence and experience, not become a hiding place.  It can feel safer to keep volunteering than to begin applying for paid positions. You may convince yourself that you need one more project, one more skill, or one more month before you are ready. 

Set a goal when you begin. Maybe you will volunteer for three months and then begin applying for jobs.  Maybe you will complete one major project, update your resume, and ask two people for references.  Volunteering is the bridge. It is not meant to become your permanent destination.

And remember: volunteer work is still work.  You can include relevant volunteer experience on your resume. Give yourself an appropriate title, list the organization, describe your responsibilities, and explain what you accomplished.  Do not minimize the experience just because you were not paid.

 
You contributed your time, judgment, skills, and effort. You solved problems and helped an organization move forward.  That counts.  When you've been out of the workforce, it's easy to believe you need someone to hire you before you can prove yourself again.

Sometimes, however, the first proof comes from somewhere else.  It comes from leading the project.  From learning the software.  Solving the problem.  Meeting the deadline.

You are still capable. You are still learning. You are still someone people can count on.  And you have more to offer than your employment gap could ever show.


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