Have you ever thought about using LinkedIn to find new volunteers for your club?

It’s a well-known recruiting ‘secret’ that resumes which include volunteer work look good to employers. That, along with people these days striving for a well-rounded existence means there is an ever increasing desire among professionals to spend some time off the clock for something greater than themselves.

LinkedIn, the social networking site that displays and connects people through their professional profiles, is aware of this trend, and has designed their site to reflect it.

LinkedIn is now not only useful for business and corporate recruiting. It is a powerful tool to find people willing to work towards community projects and take on volunteer roles. Not only is there a portion of each profile open to the inclusion of volunteer work history, there is also a  portion of the site, Volunteer Marketplace, which is devoted to matching potential volunteers to volunteer positions. Volunteer Marketplace is an ideal place for non profit organisations to search for potential volunteers.

There is bound to be a different calibre of volunteers in the Volunteer Marketplace, which at present is over one million members strong, and growing. It is not only possible to find people looking for the opportunities your NFP is offering, but it is also possible to advertise the opportunities themselves, allowing new potential recruits to approach you, offering their services and talents. Social media is indispensable when seeking to connect with real people in the modern world, and it is inadvisable to overlook LinkedIn, where many professionals are looking to lend a hand while boosting their resume.