Helping homeless animals is reward enough, but volunteering can provide unexpected benefits, especially if you are job hunting.

5 Great Reasons to Volunteer With Animals:

1. Gain confidence “Working with animals allows for opportunities to overcome things that make you uncomfortable,” says Teresa Shisk-Saling, executive director of Reptile Hospice and Sanctuary of Texas in Snook, Texas. “Once you’ve had a snake wrapped around you, a job interview seems a lot less intimidating.”
2. Fill the gap Volunteering is a vital service even though it is unpaid work experience. “If you are searching for a position and can show on your resume that you have been volunteering in animal welfare during gaps of employment, that will send a positive message to prospective employers,” says Cathi Drinkard, senior manager for visitors and volunteers for Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah.
3. Learn new skills “From administrative and customer service skills to hands-on animal care, our volunteers gain valuable experience that can open doors in a wide range of employment environments, from corporations to veterinary clinics,” says Maura Davies, vice president of communications for the SPCA of Texas.
4. Network “People love to recommend people who share their passion,” Shisk-Saling says. “There is an amazing cross-section of reptile enthusiasts, from Wall Street brokers and cowboys to veterinarians, and somebody always knows somebody else.”
5. Unwind “Connecting with animals is a great way to forget one’s own troubles,” says Ellen Felsenthal, founder and director of New Moon Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary in Arlington, Wash. “We feel that we’re helping them, but they’re also providing peace and healing for us especially during stressful times.”