Joe's experience of office volunteering

Joe McMillan, a third-year university student, has spent the past nine months volunteering with our internal communications team, gaining real work experience.

Joe McMillan, a third-year university student, has spent the past nine months volunteering with our internal communications team, gaining real work experience.

“Starting my volunteering journey with the BHF was a very relaxed experience, being asked what sort of things I would like to help with or learn about, and then having the opportunities to pursue those. The BHF is such a vast charity that whether you’re interested in social media or medicine, there is something for everyone".

Joe shares the top five things he has learnt through his experience volunteering with the BHF:

1. The BHF is a place to grow: The BHF is an organisation which covers almost every form of experience you would need. Whether it be honing your interviewing skills or learning the basics of teamwork, the BHF has opportunities to learn and grow at your own pace. In my personal experience, everyone within the BHF has been kind, helpful and patient. As for me personally, I know nothing about the sciences behind the charity, but anyone I asked would take their time to explain the work of the BHF which helped to enhance my own knowledge and understanding.

2. Volunteering boosts the CV: I have volunteered for just under a year, managing to split my time with my studies and the BHF. It’s not uncommon to see job applications requesting a certain amount of work experience, I have certainly found that, but with the BHF role on my CV, it has really enhanced my future career prospects. For instance, this volunteering role gave me something to reference during job interviews and has helped me to achieve my goals in securing a role in the world of media.

3. The benefit of gaining work experience: What I found frustrating at university was the lack of opportunities to test myself and learn in an actual workplace. I’ve found that reading and listening to how a job works is nothing in comparison to being part of a team in a hugely worthwhile organisation.

4. The importance of people: For me the thing that made the BHF so special was the people. Being part of a great team has taught me so much more about a workplace than a book ever could. You come across so many different characters, but everyone has the same goal: ensuring that the BHF can continue saving lives and powering science. I felt I wasn’t just a university student helping out, I was a small part of a great organisation surrounded by likeminded and driven individuals.

5. The opportunities that volunteering brings: My role within the BHF is within the Internal Communications sector, a part of media I had no real prior knowledge about before I began volunteering. I quickly noticed that permanent job opportunities are always appearing at the BHF, alongside a clear career progression if you were to take those opportunities. I would describe the BHF as a place you can grow alongside your role, it’s a charity that has a role for everyone and the cause is so worthwhile that I experienced motivation is all around me.