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Volunteer work

Volunteer work

Volunteering is a great way to get settled in Denmark and to get know new people. Many Danish employers look for candidates with a global mindset, experience and leadership skills – not just a university diploma. And these are things you can gain from volunteering. But how do you find volunteer work? And can it affect unemployment benefits when you graduate?

Volunteer work

Volunteering is a great way to get settled in Denmark and to get know new people. Many Danish employers look for candidates with a global mindset, experience and leadership skills – not just a university diploma. And these are things you can gain from volunteering. But how do you find volunteer work? And can it affect unemployment benefits when you graduate?

How does volunteering improve my career opportunities?

Volunteer work is great to add to your cv. If you have a hard time getting a student job, this could give you the experience you need. And it’s most often fun and inspirational!

When you volunteer you:

  • Broaden your network
  • Obtain experience – maybe even study relevant
  • Learn a lot about yourself
  • Make an impact on the people and the world around you
  • Practice your language skills
  • Increase your employability
     

Though your volunteer work you could gain relevant experience in e.g.:

  • Project management
  • Organising events
  • Marketing

The sky is the limit – you just have to find the right place to volunteer. Often, you might even get the chance to specialise and do tasks that you find exciting.

How is volunteering a part of Danish culture?

Associations play a major role in the Danish culture. Almost all Danes are part of an association in order to promote and pursue their interest.

It could e.g. be:

  • Coaching kids playing handball
  • Organising a music festival
  • Helping a humanitarian secondhand shop with branding strategy

Does my volunteer work inflict on my benefits when I graduate?

Make sure to read the rules and what you need to be aware of when graduating. Ask the jobcentre or your unemployment insurance fund.

As a rule, time spent working – paid or unpaid – will be deducted from your benefits.

The only exception is voluntary unpaid work in NGOs, associations or clubs that do not exist primarily to generate a profit, e.g.

  • Helping in a soup kitchen
  • Volunteering at the local archives
  • Taking part in amateur theatre

Your unemployment insurance fund has different rules about how many hours you can work – ask them.

Get a guidance session with AAU Career

Throughout your time as a student at AAU, you can get free career guidance on everything to do with your career. You may be in doubt about what you can do with your education, how you can put your competencies into words, or perhaps you need professional eyes on your CV.

Contact the career counsellors and have a chat about exactly what you need.

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