{"id":32117,"date":"2025-05-13T10:30:15","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/?p=32117"},"modified":"2025-06-10T10:56:32","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T08:56:32","slug":"from-volunteer-to-employee-this-is-mihaelas-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/news\/from-volunteer-to-employee-this-is-mihaelas-story\/","title":{"rendered":"From volunteer to employee: this is Mihaela’s story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Volunteering is often seen as an act of selfless giving, but for many it also represents a crucial step towards both professional and personal growth<\/strong>. According to Eurostat, 12.3% of adults in the EU participated in formal volunteering activities in 2022, and research shows that volunteers are up to 27% more likely to find employment than those who have never volunteered. Volunteering truly becomes a \u201cschool of life,\u201d where soft skills are developed, confidence is built, and invaluable networks are created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When working with non-profits and civil society organisations, one can acquire the competencies that today\u2019s employers prize most: communication and organization skills, teamwork and proactive problem-solving<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n

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One LinkedIn survey even found out that 41% of professionals value volunteer experience as much as paid work, and 20% of hiring managers admit that a candidate\u2019s volunteering was decisive in their recruitment. In rural areas with fewer opportunities to gain hands-on experience, volunteers are 55% more likely to land a job. Volunteering<\/a> doesn\u2019t just enrich communities; it opens doors to new careers – just as it did for Mihaela.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteering with a purpose <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mihaela Mladar<\/strong> first encountered Sunce at our Youth Seminar<\/a> in December 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I became interested in volunteering at Sunce two years ago, after attending the Youth Seminar. Over four weekends, we explored topics like environmental protection, marine conservation, and waste management. In our workshops on communication skills, advocacy, and project-proposal writing, we gained practical know-how for working in NGOs, \u2013 Mihaela recalls, who in 2024<\/a> was one of 59 volunteers at Sunce<\/strong>, contributing a total of 4,575 volunteer hours<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From day one, she felt that Sunce wasn\u2019t just another eco-initiative, but a credible organisation with years of expertise and a large number of skilled full-time staff, backed by tangible results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I was drawn to Sunce because it works on issues I care about. Advocating for the ban on plastic cups in kindergartens<\/a>, for example \u2013 that\u2019s not just an idea; it\u2019s tangible change, \u2013 she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An experience that taught her the power of community<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Soon after the seminar, Mihaela joined the team drafting a project proposal. That first real taste of NGO work inspired and motivated her deeply and once she saw that her efforts truly matter, she wanted to do even more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During her months of volunteering, Mihaela took part in a variety of activities from educational workshops and organizing smaller events (such as the traditional Swap Fair<\/a>) to participating in public campaigns. Each new experience brought her new knowledge and connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the moments that stood out most in her memory was participating in Quizos<\/a>, Sunce\u2019s pub quiz<\/strong>, organized on December 5th to mark International Volunteer Day<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 My team of volunteers, whom I met at Sunce, won third place! But it wasn\u2019t the victory that mattered to me \u2013 it was the feeling of belonging to a community. I never imagined that I would soon feel that way even more often \u2013 alongside 28 new colleagues<\/strong><\/a>, \u2013 she recalls with a smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From volunteer to staff member<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After several months of volunteering, Mihaela received a job offer<\/strong>. As she sasy, the move from volunteer to staff felt both exciting and natural. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I was already familiar with our projects and activities, and I had met so many of the team. That really helped me settle in quickly, \u2013 stated Mihaela, who officially joined Sunce in the spring, our busiest season for events and campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Every workday is different and interesting in its own way. I can honestly say I\u2019m enjoying this phase, when everything is new and uncharted, \u2013 she claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her new role, she manages our membership database, coordinates public events, and frequently collaborates with volunteers. She finds it unusual now to be on \u201cthe other side\u201d of volunteering, but sees it as a major advantage when working with our volunteer team<\/strong>, because mutual understanding runs deep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she hasn\u2019t yet had the chance to apply all the skills she learned as a volunteer, she\u2019s confident they\u2019ll come in very handy soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Team and values that are truly lived<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As someone who knows Sunce both as a volunteer and as an employe<\/strong>e, Mihaela notes that the team\u2019s warmth and support are just as strong in both roles. What surprised her most is how every Sunce staff member embodies the values we promote<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 As a Sunce employee, I\u2019ve had the chance to get to know my colleagues on a personal level. It\u2019s heartening to see how they care for nature in their own private lives too. It\u2019s not just a job, it\u2019s a lifestyle, \u2013 she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is Mihaela\u2019s first full-time position since graduating, and even though she\u2019s at the very start of her professional journey, she describes this role as her true calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 I\u2019m thrilled to do work I love and that aligns with my values and beliefs<\/strong>. I sincerely hope to stay in environmental and nature conservation for a long time. To anyone considering volunteering no matter the sector, don\u2019t hesitate. Volunteering has only brought good things into my life, and I believe most volunteers share that experience. You just need to find something you\u2019re passionate about, where you can make your contribution. No task is too small; every task has its purpose. \u2013 our interviewee concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mihaela isn\u2019t the only one at Sunce who made the transition from a volunteer to a staff member. While it\u2019s not a decisive factor, volunteering at Sunce is certainly a strong advantage when it comes to employment<\/strong>, and we\u2019re confident the same applies across much of the non-profit sector<\/strong>, and even beyond. So, if you\u2019re motivated and eager to contribute to real change, to work on something that inspires and energises you, don\u2019t wait for the perfect job ad to land in your lap. Take initiative and explore what the world of volunteering has to offer. Your first step towards employment might just be volunteering<\/a>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On our website you\u2019ll also find many other volunteer stories<\/a>, which we hope will inspire you as much as Mihaela\u2019s journey has inspired us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Volunteering builds both a career and a community \u2013 discover how Mihaela, through her involvement with Sunce, landed her first job.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":32101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,975],"tags":[741],"class_list":["post-32117","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-volunteers","tag-volunteering"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32117"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32117\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32553,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32117\/revisions\/32553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sunce-st.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}