Community service can bolster skills, impact job hiring

Valley High School sophomore and welding student Brandon Stankiewicz hoped to sow some career seeds while volunteering at an ATI tree-planting event Wednesday in Harrison.

“I’m really hoping to meet up with some other tech students and people from ATI,” said Stankiewicz, 15, who is enrolled at the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center in New Kensington.

While volunteerism doesn’t outweigh skill during the hiring process, it could be the deciding factor among two equally qualified candidates, local business leaders said. It’s a good chance for potential employees to stand out, they said.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal group that promotes volunteerism, people with community service on their resume have a 27% better chance of finding a job.

A Deloitte survey of human resource executives showed 81% of responders felt skilled volunteering should be considered in hiring; 76% said volunteering made a candidate more desirable.

That’s because skills learned through volunteerism can be parlayed at work, increasing productivity. Especially for people new to the workforce, volunteer projects can help develop skills such as communication, problem-solving, leadership and teamwork. These are strengths for a job in any field, according to LinkedIn.com.

Daniel Mochnaly, vice president of human resources for ATI Specialty Rolled Products, said the company values go-getters who put themselves into roles as community helpers.

“We welcome candidates who share a commitment to serving the communities in which we work and live,” Mochnaly said. “The most successful candidates are eager to learn and build a career as part of our team.”

At Oberg Industries in Buffalo Township, recruiter Melissa Cushey said she looks for volunteerism on resumes of potential hires.

For students just out of school who don’t have work experience, or for people who are reentering the job force, community service stands out for Cushey.

It shows they are taking initiative to stay busy and trying to be involved in the community, she said.

Kiski Area junior Henry Winning, an HVAC student at Northern Westmoreland, expects the ATI tree-planting event to educate him in ways the classroom doesn’t.

He hopes to boost his public speaking skills and confidence, and he doesn’t mind doing a little heavy lifting to help the cause.

“It’s good for the community,” the 16-year-old said. “I’m excited to network and rub shoulders with business people, and I think it’s a win altogether.”

Patrick Bundy, park president and technology education coordinator at Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center, said he spearheaded the idea to involve kids in the tree planting effort because it’s a good way to build relations.

“I figured, ‘Why not get some local students involved who may potentially have the skills to work at ATI or other businesses, and have these business people see these reputable young kids that are willing to help their community?’ ”