Leiden University Career Zone
For students
Would you like to build up more practical experience? To develop yourself further, beyond the confines of the curriculum of your degree programme? Have you ever considered volunteering?
Volunteer work offers a wide range of possibilities, in various sectors, for different target groups, with flexible working hours. Mentors, for instance, or coaches, committee members, marketing assistants... Read more here .
And the need is great: volunteer organisations are crying out for extra hands.
Why do volunteer work? Reasons might be:
- You contribute to society; you do something meaningful to help others;
- You build up practical experience, in terms of the tasks you perform and/or experience with the target groups;
- You can put your knowledge and skills into practice and also develop yourself personally and professionally;
- It's a good way to get your bearings in the labour market and/or to obtain a better overview of the work environment and your own career wishes;
- It's a good way to meet new people and expand your network;
- You build up your cv!
- Employers usually place high value on the skills you have built up in a voluntary capacity, because they believe it is not only paid employment that contributes to your skill set: voluntary work also has an important place in your development as a young professional.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICE (CES)
The CES provides:
- Individual advice
- Tests
- Workshops/training courses
- Advertised positions
1. Individual advice
Make an appointment with one of the CES careers advisor if you don't yet really know what you want to do during or after your studies and how best to go about this.
During this interview you can:
- discuss your wishes for your study and career path , including extra-curricular activities.
- fill in questionnaires to assess your interests and/or competences.
- get help with searching for suitable positions.
- have someone check your cv and letter of motivation.
- prepare for job interviews.
> To make an appointment - see contact details!
2. (Volunteering) assessment / talent scan
Still no idea what to do with your life? A volunteering assessment or talent scan may help.
- Volunteer The Hague talent scan
3. Workshops and training courses
The Community Engagement Service, a.o. in cooperation with Volunteer the Hague, often organises workshops, such as:
- Getting your bearings regarding volunteer work
- Getting your bearings regarding committee work
Further workshops are organised in cooperation with the FSW Career Service:
- LinkedIn profile, cv, and letter of application
- Job interviews
- What do I have to offer an employer?
- How do I find my dream job?
> Schedule of workshops run by the Community Engagement Service and the FSW Career Service:
For the range of other workshops and training courses for volunteer work, see the websites:
This organisation offers courses and workshops, many of them free, that can help you develop yourself further in your volunteer work and beyond.
4. Vacancies
There are various places where you can find vacancies for volunteer positions.
Incluzio Leiden and Den Haag Doet have an extensive vacancy database with various possibilities in a wide range of diverse organisations.
Handy vacancy sites include:
- Incluzio Leiden vacancy database (in Dutch)
- Volunteer the Hague vacancy database
- Leiden University Career Zone's job portal (log in with ULCN).
