Should WeAll Be Following Their Lead? by Alison Dorsey, Social Impact Manager At LinkedIn (NAPSA)—Forcollege sophomore Rutha Nuguse, giving back has always been core to who she is. “Aside from my work experience, including my volunteer Top U.S.locations* 2 #9 FORT COLLINS, CO MINNEAPOLIS.ST.PAUL, MN. OOD or CO . Lawrence, Kan. . Madison, Wis. . Corvallis, Ore. . State College, Pa. . Austin, Tex. . Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. 10. Raleigh-Durham,N.C. If youre still leaving yourvolunteer experience out of the equa- tion, you’re missing out—42 percent of hiring managers surveyed say 3 LAFAYETTE, IN #6 CORVALLIS, OR experience on my rsumor pro- file allows me to proudly show the contribution I’ve made to my community and share more about my character,” said Nuguse. “It’s a core part of who I am as a person and professional in myoff-line life, so why wouldn’t I includeit in myonline profiles?” Nuguse isn’t alone. While millennials often find themselves portrayed as overly self-absorbed or entitled, the reality is that they are makinga positive impact on the world around them, andthey are leading the trend of makingsocial impact work a core part of their identity, both personally and professionally. LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, recently took a closer look at the 10 million members who have added their social impact to their profiles and found that millennials, students in particular, set the precedent. As a result, the top 10 cities in the U.S. that lead the way with giving back, andletting the world know,areall cities with universities or young workforces. The top 10 cities with the most LinkedIn members who have includedtheir volunteer experience and causes they care aboutare: 1. Bloomington, Ind. 2. Fort Collins, Colo. . Lafayette, Ind. #5 MADISON, WI 5 @ G STATE COLLEGE, PA #10 RALEIGH-DURHAM, NC LAWRENCE, KS “8 AUSTIN TK 1 BLOOMINGTON,IN @ Volunteering can be good for you and good for the community. they view volunteer experience as equivalent to paid work experience. Volunteer experience can be especially important for new graduates andfirst-time job seekers who have not amassed years of formal work experience. Including your volunteer experience as a part of your professional profile lets a potential employer know more of whoyouare, what you care about and how you work. It’s also often a tiebreaker between two candidates—especially if your passions align with your new team’s interests. Professional identities are no longer just about what you do from 9-5, but what you're passionate about outside of work as well, and few things are better than making an important and positive impact in your community, while also advancing your career. For Nuguse, that has included work with a local youth leadership organization—experience that will no doubt help her as she moves forwardin her career. LinkedIn for Good is LinkedIn’s social impact arm, focused on connecting professionals (including our employees) with opportunities to impact the world. To learn more, visit www.linkedinforgood.linked in.com or go to www.volunteer. linkedin.com to find a skilled volunteering opportunity nearby.
