York university students urged to volunteer

Students at a university in North Yorkshire are being urged to undertake voluntary work locally in a bid to help them improve their CVs and stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

New undergraduates at York St John University are being given the chance to volunteer for charities in the city, which not only helps them support the local community but may also boost their career prospects, the York Press reports.

Rachel Earnshaw, senior youth and community project officer at BTCV, which coordinates environmental projects in and around York, said the aim is to get students working in teams with people who have disabilities.

"The experience is so valuable for their CVs, even if the work is not directly related to the career they want to pursue. It shows commitment, teamworking, communication skills, good character and so much more," she added.

Earlier this month, Jen Horsely, 30, from East Yorkshire, told the York Press she was so moved by what she experienced as a volunteer in Asia that she is now planning to return for a second time.

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