What Motivates Someone to Do Volunteer Work?
Volunteer work does not have any monetary benefits for participants, but this does not discourage approximately 63 million Americans from serving their community, according to data by the Corporation for National and Community Service for 2009. Motivation for volunteers comes in a variety of forms, and apart from the obvious desire to help others, research studies have identified less apparent -- but common -- factors of inspiration.
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Perception of Society
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In their study "Developing the Volunteer Motivation Inventory," Dr. Judi Esmond and Patrick Dunlop identified the "personal growth" factor as one of the main reasons volunteers begin or continue their service. The researchers define personal growth as desire to learn about the world around them, how community works, its problems and the ways to tackle them. For volunteers, this work is seen as part of their personal development into active and responsible citizens.
Exploring New Opportunities
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Researchers Dr. Janet Fox, Dr. Krisanna Machtmes, Dr. Mark Tassin, and Lanette Heber examined motivations among youth participating in service-learning projects, and one of the most common answers to their questionnaire is that youth took up volunteer work to explore new career possibilities. Volunteering in a press office, as an elderly care giver, or as a charity events coordinator can act like an internship for people who have an interest in this particular occupation but are not sure if they can cope.
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Social Interaction
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Interaction with the people you are helping as a volunteer, but especially the people you work with, is a driving force for volunteers. Maria Bakatsa and Stephen E.G. Lea of the University of Exeter presented satisfaction with the people volunteers work with as a key motivational factor in their research "Measuring job satisfaction in voluntary workers." The social atmosphere of volunteering as motivation was also stressed by Dr. Judi Esmond and Patrick Dunlop.
Volunteer Work on Resume
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Volunteer work is a way to show your dedication in a particular area, as you willingly provide your services with no monetary benefits in return. As Susan J. Ellis from the Volunteer Guide website reports, highlighting your duties and achievements during volunteer service can show employers what you are capable of doing, which is especially helpful when the job's duties are similar. Students looking for their first job can also cover up for the lack of formal job experience with their volunteer work.
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References
- Corporation for National and Community Service: Volunteering in America 2010
- MoreVolunteers: "Developing the Volunteer Motivation Inventory"; Dr. Judi Esmond and Patrick Dunlop
- National Service-Learning Partnership: "An Analysis of Volunteer Motivations Among Youth Participating in Service-Learning Projects"; Dr. Janet Fox et al
- University of Exeter: "Measuring Job Satisfaction in Voluntary Workers"; Maria Bakatsa, Stephen E.G. Lea
- Volunteer Guide: "Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume"; Susan J. Ellis
Resources
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