5 Reasons to Explore Volunteer Opportunities During Periods of Unemployment
Periods without paid employment can feel uncertain and challenging. Engaging in volunteer work during these times can offer structure, skill-building opportunities, community engagement, and meaningful experiences that can support your readiness for future career path steps.
1. Maintaining a Structured Daily Routine
When you engage in volunteer activities, you can establish a consistent schedule that encourages productivity and intentional use of your time. This routine can help support mental well-being and provide a sense of purpose while you continue pursuing your career path goals.
2. Building and Refreshing Relevant Skills
The training and hands-on experience you can gain while volunteering can help you learn new skills as well as build upon ones you already have,1 These experiences can be important additions to your professional portfolio and can provide opportunities for new experiences in a new field.
3. Demonstrating Continuous Growth
Including volunteer experiences in your professional narrative can illustrate that you remained active, engaged, and purposeful during times of unemployment. Working in your community, without a profit motive, can also look great to potential employers who’d like to see that you have not let time out of the workforce equate to actual time off.2
4. Expanding Your Professional Network
Volunteering creates opportunities to connect with diverse individuals — from community members to organizational staff. These interactions can help broaden your professional network and introduce you to people who may share insights about your field or spark new career interests. If you choose to pursue a career in the field you’re volunteering in, the connections you can make may also help increase potential job prospects.1
5. Supporting Personal Well-Being
Participating in meaningful volunteer work can contribute to emotional well-being and satisfaction. Contributing to causes you care about, helping others, and engaging in purposeful activities can help renew your sense of motivation and ultimately make you happier.1
Volunteering during periods of unemployment can be a purposeful way to stay engaged, strengthen your skills, connect with community and professional networks, and maintain a positive routine. These benefits can help support your readiness for the next steps in your academic or professional journey.
If you’re a current AIU student or alumnus looking for more career advice, please contact us at careerservices@aiuonline.edu.
1 Buttel, Stacey & Krosel, Amber. (2025, December 11). Benefits of Volunteering: 10 Reasons to Volunteer. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-are-benefits-of-volunteering
2 Ast, Sam. Volunteerism: Why workers and the unemployed alike should take part in community service. Goodwill Industries International Blog. Retrieved January 22, 2026, from https://www.goodwill.org/blog/career-and-financial-advice/volunteerism-why-workers-and-the-unemployed-alike-should-take-part-in-community-service
AIU cannot guarantee employment, salary or career advancement.
REQ2192028 01/2026