What makes a day of giving back truly impactful?

What makes a day of giving back truly impactful?

Last Friday, I was happy to be part of something special: 𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘆, a day for wellbeing and community work. I was glad to host a workshop in our Zürich office to help people get into the job market, and we welcomed former members of Capacity.

Capacity is an organization I care a lot about. I have spoken at their events before and I know they do great work. They help talented people who have moved to Switzerland or have a refugee background find good jobs here. You could feel the hope and drive in the room, and maybe a bit of nervousness too, as they got ready to share their goals.

And that’s when the best part of the day happened: our EY volunteers had lively speed coaching sessions with the people from Capacity. It was a great way to share ideas, experiences, and encouragement, all to help these talented individuals succeed.

When the day ended, the participants talked about what they learned. Their key points were so helpful and reminded me of my own work experiences:

↳ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹: Don't try to do everything. It's better to know what unique skills you offer a company and be able to talk about that.

↳ 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲: Online networking is good, but meeting people in person is also really important. Look for local events – your community or places like Eventbrite have many free or low-cost options.

↳ 𝗧𝗿𝘆, 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Every conversation is a chance to learn. Ask for feedback, be open to trying new ways, and keep improving how you present yourself. This idea of trying new things has really helped me grow and solve problems.

I felt really touched by the openness and the stories shared in the room. Everyone was so willing to learn from each other - which is so important to grow, both in our jobs and as people. The energy and desire to learn made the day truly special.

A big thank you to Andrea Mau Alena D. Adrienn Győry, PhD and the whole EY Switzerland and Capacity team for organizing such a great day, and to everyone who came and made it so lively!

It was a wonderful reminder that when we help each other, everyone benefits.

What's one tip that has really helped you in your career? Share your thoughts below! 👇

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