Volunteering for Women Who Are Tired of Bad Advice

Okay, sis. Let’s talk about something I never thought I’d say out loud: volunteering changed my entire life. Not in a cheesy, “I found myself in a soup kitchen” way. I mean it literally shifted how I see money, people, and my own future.

I know what you’re thinking. “I have zero time. I’m drowning in tuition, a part-time job, and a roommate who leaves her hair in the shower drain. How am I supposed to add volunteering to that list?” Girl, I felt that in my bones. But hear me out, because this is the hack nobody told you about.

Why I Almost Skipped Volunteering (And Why You Shouldn’t)

Back in college, I was broke. Like, “eating instant ramen for the third night in a row” broke. The idea of volunteering felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford. I thought, “I need to be making money, not giving my time away for free.” Sound familiar?

But here’s the thing I didn’t understand: volunteering was actually an investment in my future. A 2023 study from LinkedIn found that 82% of hiring managers prefer candidates with volunteering experience on their resume. Yeah, that’s wild, right? Let that sink in. While I was stressing about a $12/hour job, I was ignoring a free way to build my career.

I started small. I found a local animal shelter that needed weekend help. I love dogs, so it didn’t feel like work. But what I didn’t expect was how it would change my perspective on everything—my anxiety, my money stress, even my relationships.

The Moment Everything Clicked

There was this one day at the shelter. A dog named Max had been there for six months. He was scared, wouldn’t let anyone touch him. I spent three hours just sitting on the floor, reading a book out loud so he could get used to my voice. By the end, he rested his head on my knee.

I cried in my car afterward. Not because of the dog—okay, maybe a little—but because I realized something. I had spent so much time obsessing over my own problems. My student loans. My body image. The fact that I hadn’t heard back from that internship. But sitting on that cold concrete floor, I wasn’t thinking about any of that. I was just present.

That’s the thing about volunteering. It forces you to get out of your own head. And for a 20-year-old girl drowning in social media pressure and comparison, that is medicine.

That stat is from a Harvard study, by the way. And I believe it because I lived it. When I was volunteering, I wasn’t doom-scrolling on TikTok. I wasn’t comparing my life to some influencer’s highlight reel. I was doing something real.

What Volunteering Actually Does for Your Resume (Real Talk)

Okay, let’s get practical because I know you’re busy. Volunteering isn’t just a feel-good activity. It’s a strategic move. Here’s what I learned:

• ✅ It fills the “experience gap.” You don’t have a 3-month internship? Fine. 100 hours of volunteering at a nonprofit shows you’re reliable, teachable, and proactive. That’s gold.
• ✅ It gives you stories for interviews. Hiring managers love hearing about the time you organized a food drive or mentored a kid. It shows soft skills—communication, leadership, empathy—that they can’t teach.
• ✅ It builds your network. I got my first real job because the director of the nonprofit I volunteered at recommended me. She didn’t have to. She wanted to.

And listen, I know you might be thinking, “But I need money NOW.” I get it. I was there. But volunteering can actually lead to paid opportunities. A lot of nonprofits hire from within. Plus, you can put it on scholarship applications. There are literally scholarships specifically for students who volunteer. You didn’t know that? Neither did I until I started digging.

The Truth Nobody Tells You About Volunteering

Here’s the part that messed me up the most. When I started volunteering, I thought I was supposed to feel good all the time. Like, “I’m a good person, look at me helping.” But that’s not real. Some days, I felt angry. I’d see kids who didn’t have enough to eat, and I’d think, “This isn’t fair. Why do I get to go home to a warm bed?”

That guilt is normal. Don’t run from it. Sit with it. It’s what makes you human. And it’s what makes you want to do something bigger with your life.

The other truth? Volunteering will show you what you don’t want. I volunteered at a corporate fundraising event once and hated it. All those suits and small talk. That’s when I realized I wanted a career where I could work with people, not just spreadsheets. Sometimes you need to try things to know what fits.

How to Start Volunteering Without Overwhelming Yourself

I know you’re thinking, “Okay, fine, but where do I even start?” Girl, I got you. Here’s exactly what I did, step-by-step:

Step 1: Pick something that aligns with YOUR interests. Don’t volunteer at a hospital if you hate blood. Love reading? Volunteer at a literacy program. Obsessed with fashion? Help with clothing drives. You’re more likely to stick with it if it doesn’t feel like a chore.

Step 2: Start small. Commit to 2 hours a week. That’s it. You can always do more later. But if you start with 10 hours and burn out, you’ll quit entirely.

Step 3: Use websites that make it easy. VolunteerMatch.org and Idealist.org are my go-tos. You can filter by cause, location, and time commitment. Some are even virtual now, so you can do it from your dorm room.

Step 4: Bring a friend. My roommate came with me to the shelter once. She ended up loving it and we made it a weekly thing. It’s way less intimidating when you’re not alone.

And here’s a pro tip: if you’re worried about transportation or money, look for virtual volunteering opportunities. You can tutor kids online, transcribe historical documents, or even design graphics for a nonprofit’s social media. No car? No problem.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me at 19

I wish someone had told me that volunteering wasn’t about being perfect. I showed up to my first shift with this idea that I was going to save the world. But the world doesn’t need saving. It needs people who show up, do the work, and keep showing up even when it’s hard.

I also wish someone had told me that it’s okay to take breaks. I volunteered every weekend for a year straight. Then I got burnt out and stopped for six months. I felt guilty. But the shelter welcomed me back with open arms. You’re not a bad person if you need a break. You’re a human.

And finally, I wish someone had told me that volunteering would teach me more about myself than any class ever did. I learned that I’m patient. I learned that I’m a good listener. I learned that I have more to give than I ever thought possible.

This is the kind of stuff women talk about inside TechMae every single day. No judgment, just real ones keeping it real.

Related: This post is a must-read for women on their journey.

Start Here

Your first step is simple. Open your phone right now. Go to VolunteerMatch.org and browse for 5 minutes. Find ONE opportunity that excites you. Sign up for a single shift. That’s it. No pressure to commit forever. Just one day.

And when you go, leave your phone in your bag. Don’t post about it. Don’t look for validation. Just be there. See how it feels. I promise you, the feeling you get from volunteering is nothing like a like on Instagram. It’s deeper. It stays with you.

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