Volunteering abroad with CCS may be just what your resumé needs to distinguish you from the pack and showcase your character, interests, and “soft skills.” Your hands-on experience in the fields of health, social services, or education is invaluable, and you can leverage your CCS experience as a stepping stone to international development work, a career in the non-profit sector, or to solidify plans of volunteering abroad with the Peace Corps. But there are countless additional ways to apply this experience to your professional development, such as communicating with people from different cultures, teambuilding, adapting to dynamic environments, critical thinking, and more.
Even before the experience overseas, volunteers begin an important learning process—about their skills and interests, motivations for volunteering abroad, and understanding of global issues. Research into the country and important cultural do’s and don’ts can be just as essential as learning a new language or navigating travel logistics. Fundraising volunteers also become educators on global issues and help foster cross-cultural understanding among their network of supporters.
Among over 25,000 CCS volunteers, here are just some ways that former volunteers reflect on the career benefits of a CCS program:
Developing insight into the non-profit sector and international development:
- Broadening and deepening one’s awareness of global issues
- Identifying educational or professional goals
- Learning about the vast array of careers in the non-profit sector
- Gaining hands-on experience in international development (health, education, social services)
- Preparing for longer volunteer abroad programs, such as the Peace Corps
- Generating an international network of friends, fellow volunteers, NGO/local organization staff, CCS in-country staff, and local people met in-country
Showcasing their personal character and professional development skills (soft skills):
- Deepening one’s awareness of different cultures and nations
- Learning and exercising new language skills
- Collaborating and communicating with people from different backgrounds and worldviews
- Adapting to unfamiliar roles and responsibilities, and dynamic environments
- Being creative in problem-solving with very limited resources
- Handling new, increased responsibilities and emotions
- Accepting challenges outside of one’s comfort zone and thinking quickly
- Building relationships and working as a team
- Managing cross-cultural adjustment and challenges involved in living in another country, and returning home
- Developing new skills related to fundraising, including marketing, communications, and personal networking
Read what CCS volunteers have had to say about how their experiences have impacted their academic and professional careers.
Whether you plan to leverage your CCS program for professional growth, or simply to enjoy the personal reflection it offers, your volunteer abroad experience with CCS can offer a lifetime of benefits.
