You must give some time to your fellow men. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for others — something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. — Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

Now that the holiday season is a wrap, you might think that the time of giving is over. But why not make giving a habit all year and see what benefits it can bring? The most valuable gift you can give is to volunteer your time. Give time to your industry or the community and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes — to others and to yourself.

Volunteering rewards you while you help others.

Whether you’re bored at work, freelancing, or looking for work, volunteering can lift your spirits and provide new opportunities. There are countless places and ways to help. Whether you volunteer within your industry or outside it, with industry-related organizations or schools, or in the community at large, you will reap unexpected benefits while making a contribution.

Volunteering is not only good for the soul, but can be good for your career. Volunteering will introduce you to other professionals, experience gained through volunteer work can be invaluable and volunteering can help you stay current if you are unemployed. Volunteer work shows future employers you’ve got drive and initiative. Volunteers have to be organized and manage their time well. But for volunteering to be a career boost, you have to view it as a job, not a hobby.

Volunteering expands your network.

Volunteering inside or outside your company brings personal exposure. A lot of people get better jobs because their names get out through volunteering. Volunteering can help you develop new contacts and job leads.

Volunteer work with an industry-related organization expands your network of job-related contacts. Volunteer to organize panels and invite speakers to participate. Contacting potential panelists is a great way to introduce yourself to industry people you admire. If you don’t know where to begin or who to invite for the panel, ask leaders of the organization for a few names to get started.

Volunteering with an industry related organization like Women in Animation or SIGGRAPH can have tremendous benefits. Here is an example: A reserved young man volunteered to help produce and organize a career boot camp hosted by SIGGRAPH. His quiet determination and tremendous follow-through showed everyone he worked with that he was a dynamo. A producer from Sony asked SIGGRAPH for a recommendation of a junior producer and everyone at that meeting simultaneously called out this young man’s name. (That man was not at the meeting, or he would have been keenly embarrassed) He had proven he could do the job in a volunteer situation, and it opened the door to a new job and new career for him.