Marketing Your Volunteer Abroad Experience

Thu, 01/20/2011 - 08:00 | Sarah Palmer

Originally posted at GO! Overseas.

What you need to know:

Volunteering abroad is a great way to improve your marketable skills
Consider this process before, during, and after your trip
Utilize the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result

One of my favorite topics in international volunteering is an often overlooked one—that marketing your service trip can directly impact your future. It’s not surprising that even short-term volunteers find the experience both memorable and powerful. Volunteering abroad is something you choose to do; you pick the country to visit, and devote time and hands-on effort to a project that you personally support and directly sought out.

To that end, I’ve found that both short- and long-term volunteer trips often tie in to something bigger. Many volunteers return home with a more solid idea of where they want to go—whether it’s with education, career, or even just hobbies.