LinkedIn Makes It Easy To Showcase Volunteering Efforts-click here http://bit.ly/mRSoQo for full article

LinkedIn Makes It Easy To Showcase Volunteering Efforts-click here http://bit.ly/mRSoQo for full article

Business and academic professionals who volunteer their time and skills to their community or for charity are more likely to land a job, according to research conducted by LinkedIn. Based on information gathered from a survey of two thousand professionals, the social networking giant determined that unpaid work experience can have a positive connotation when it comes to hiring.

Many of the professionals surveyed by LinkedIn were hiring managers. Twenty percent of them indicated that volunteer work could be a deciding factor in hiring a job applicant.

Not surprisingly, a majority of the polled professionals reported having volunteered in the past. Community service requirements are growing in colleges and universities. Many professionals also find great freedom in honing their skills by volunteering their expertise or performing unpaid work. And in this current period of extended unemployment, unpaid internships are an alternative for professionals who prefer not to stagnate until a suitable job offer becomes available.

What is surprisingly revealed by the LinkedIn survey is the low number of professionals who actually list their volunteer and charitable experience on their resumes. More than half of the LinkedIn members pointed out that they do not regularly include such information on their resumes.

Ever the proactive social network, LinkedIn has reacted to the survey results by adding a new field to member profiles. LinkedIn members will now see a "Volunteer Experience & Causes" section which they can use to demonstrate their charitable attributes. The social network believes that showcasing volunteer experience is a powerful way for professionals to nurture meaningful connections; not to mention the fact that it can help someone's resume stand out among a sea of others.

When it comes to disclosing volunteer experience during a job search, there are a couple of common misconceptions professionals may fall into. For some people, charitable endeavors are very personal. They may feel that informing their potential employers of their past benevolent efforts may be tantamount to plain braggadocio. Yet other professionals fear that some employers may see them as "easy prey" who will accept low-paying or even unpaid assignments.

LinkedIn members can now search for other individuals who share similar volunteering interests. For charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Make A Wish Foundation, LinkedIn's latest move can help to bolster their volunteer ranks by boosting awareness among LinkedIn members.