Set Yourself Apart with Volunteer Leadership

By: Chris Lowe, Graduate Research Fellow, Rutgers University, AIChE Young Professionals Committee Advisor

The formal training to become a doctoral level scientist or engineer takes the better part of a decade, if not more, counting bachelors, doctoral, and sometimes post-doctoral studies. In that time, the curriculum imparts an impressive array of technical expertise, no matter the specific discipline or subfield you pursue. Despite the technical rigor involved, there is always a great deal of on the job learning and adjustment as PhDs transition into the workforce, particularly in industrial pursuits. Further, PhDs leaving academia often face stiff preconceptions before they walk through the door. While characterizations like antisocial “lab-rats” or book smart “know-it-alls” are certainly extreme, there are real concerns about how PhDs will be able to integrate into a non-academic environment.If a PhD is on your career path, how can you address these concerns? An excellent way to hone your interpersonal, communication, leadership, and logistical acumen and demonstrate that you have experience with these skillsets to future employers, is through volunteer leadership.

Volunteer leadership is exactly what it sounds like: volunteering your time in a leadership role with different groups and organizations. Put another way: it’s all those extracurricular activities you thought you were probably done with when you mailed in your college applications. Being a volunteer leader presents you with an invaluable outlet for “soft” skills.

I’ve been a volunteer leader for the past eight years, both while an undergraduate and now through my PhD studies. In that time, I’ve managed a $13,000 budget while hosting a conference, presented over a dozen (non-technical) sessions at local and national conferences, presented in business meetings to senior engineers and executives, helped to launch new initiatives, and run countless meetings and teleconferences of my own, among many other activities. Through all of these experiences I’ve discovered things about myself and been a part of projects and collaborations far from the laboratory.

Hands-on lessons in communicating with various audiences, leading diverse teams, guiding projects forward, collaborating across great distances, budgeting expenses, and creating schedules for large groups, have given me the chance to exercise new skills and have greatly expanded my professional development. Having the opportunity to test drive interpersonal and professional skills, before entering into a full-time professional position, is an invaluable experience that can put you several steps ahead when you’re launching your career.

What’s better is the ability to demonstrate deliverables from these experiences to potential employers, both on a resume and in interviews. You can eliminate questions these hiring managers may have about how you’ll adjust to life outside the lab or how you’ll integrate into their team, by showing them that you’ve been able to do this already. I’m beyond thrilled with the transformation I’ve seen in myself as a result of my volunteer leadership experiences, and I’m excited to continue reaping their rewards. All it took was a small amount of time, and a few good experiences to convince me to continue to commit my time to these endeavors.

It’s never too late to start setting yourself apart with as a volunteer leader. The possible places or organizations that offer volunteer leadership opportunities are endless. Professional societies are a great way to leverage your technical interests as a graduate student or post-doc with your volunteer activities. Almost all societies have volunteer opportunities in local chapters, young professionals groups, special interest groups, and more. More often than not these groups are happy to have help and fresh perspectives.

If technical groups don’t grab your interest, consider a cause or organization you’re passionate about; many of the same options exist for these groups as well. With any of these choices, you’ll meet new people with similar interests who will grow your network, further enhancing the benefits you stand to gain. No matter where you consider volunteering, the benefits are really endless and completely up to you. All it requires is you setting aside a little of your time to try something new.

[Editor’s note: Check out AIChE’s Volunteer Central for a variety of leadership opportunities.]