Be part of the Amazon Stars scheme to boost your career by giving time as a volunteer
CHRISTMAS means giving – and giving time as a volunteer can also help your career.
About three in five of the Royal Voluntary Service’s youngest volunteers say the work has improved their job prospects, a study for the charity found. For 16- to 18-year-olds, that number rises to 73 percent.
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One in ten volunteers say the experience later helped them get off welfare and into the workforce, while a third of young people attribute it to finding their first paid job.
With many UK employers now offering paid volunteer days to their staff, it is estimated that employees are investing 11 million days a year – worth £2 billion – of their time.
The Amazon Stars program recognizes and rewards employees at the tech giant for outstanding contributions to their local community. Hundreds of Amazon employees in the UK are nominated each year.
Musical mentor Joseph Wilson won his award for providing free music and songwriting lessons to young people through his volunteer group Church Play.
Joseph, 32, a team leader at Amazon’s fulfillment center in Dartford, Kent, plays drums, bass and piano and also runs his own YouTube music channel.
He received a £1,000 donation for his group, as well as a speaker and tickets to an Amazon Music event.
Joseph said, “The most rewarding part of sharing my gifts with young people one-on-one and through Church Play is watching them grow into great people.
“I want to reach out to young people who are at risk of joining gangs, to show them there is a better way.”
Amazon UK Country Manager John Boumphrey said: “The Amazon Stars initiative was first conceived during the Covid pandemic to celebrate our employees who are doing everything they can to help others in their communities.
“We’ve had such an overwhelming response of incredible stories about employees using their talents and passions to help others and we’re thrilled to continue the program.
“I’m proud to have such dedicated colleagues who go the extra mile to help others.”
Volunteers do great work
PILOT Jack Moore, turned Amazon shift supervisor, was nominated for an Amazon Star after raising thousands for charity by completing aerobatic challenges.
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The 21-year-old from Birmingham also mentors young people from disadvantaged backgrounds hoping to break into the aviation industry.
Jack said, “The support I receive from Amazon to mentor young people is excellent and the ethos of local community engagement is incredible.”
KERRY Robinson has supported animal welfare organizations for 25 years while also caring for her own pets, including four horses, six cats and a dog.
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The Amazon receptionist volunteers at Hope Pastures horse, pony and donkey sanctuary in Leeds every Saturday and has raised a £1,000 donation for the centre.
Kerry, 47, of Wakefield, West Yorks, said: “I have a real passion for speaking up for those who don’t have a voice and can’t speak up for themselves.”
FESTIVE TIPS FOR THE NEW JOB
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WHILE many are planning some downtime until January, Christmas can be an opportunity to plan your next job change.
Here, Amanda Augustine, careers expert at TopCV, shares her top festive tips.
- SEND SEASONAL GREETINGS: Use the holidays as an excuse to reconnect with your personal and professional networks. Send a Christmas card or email.
- MAKE EVENTS INTO OPPORTUNITIES: Whether it’s a family reunion, a festive party or an open house, network.
- SHARE FESTIVE LOVE: Take advantage of the holiday season to promote your personal brand and network with colleagues you don’t normally cross paths with.
- FIND A MENTOR: If you have someone in mind to mentor, send a Christmas card or celebratory email.
- REMEMBER THE RECRUITERS: If you’ve dipped your toe in the job search pool over the past year and are still interested in exploring new opportunities, send holiday greetings to recruiters and employers. Let them know about your recent activities and reaffirm your interest in working with them in the future.
- MAKE YOURSELF A CHRISTMAS GIFT: Use the Boxing Day sales to upgrade your professional tools. Maybe you need networking outfits, a ring light, and noise-cancelling headphones for Zoom calls or an online class.
HUMANS BEAT AI
DESPITE fears that artificial intelligence is taking over the workforce, new research shows that the top five requirements made in job advertisements this year were exclusively human skills.
The Pearson Skills Outlook report found that communication, organization, and customer service were the most sought-after attributes, followed by attention to detail and teamwork. It predicts that collaboration, customer centricity, and personal learning will be most in demand through 2026.
Mike Howells, President of Pearson Workforce Skills, said: “While technical skills are important for many jobs, employers are now recognizing that human skills are the most important skills that really help people stay relevant and adaptable in a changing world. “
SHOW PAYMENT ON ADVERTISEMENTS
COMPANIES that don’t list salaries in job ads could be missing out on one in five potential applicants.
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Research shows that 57 percent of workers say they would be much less likely to apply for a job if the salary range was not given up front, with 20 percent rejecting an application altogether.
The Perspectus Global study found that nine out of ten people support companies that require salary information to be included in all job advertisements.
Perspectus’ Jon Horsley said: “With several states in the US making it compulsory for employers to publish salaries in job advertisements by law, a backlash against the phrase ‘competitive salary’ is gaining momentum in the UK. If your salary is so competitive, why not post it?”
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ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY apprenticeships can be applied for at www.rhs.org.uk/.
