Article 2025

Enhancing Career Development Through Skill Acquisition Among Volunteers at a Major Sporting Event

KA
Kanar, Adam M.
 OA
Oliver, Arica
 BD
Bouckenooghe, Dave
Voluntas
Journal · Vol. 36 · Issue 5 · pp. 629-641
Abstract

Volunteering can be a catalyst for career development, yet little is known about the specific skills event volunteers acquire or the personal and situational factors that shape these outcomes. This research assessed skill development in 545 volunteers at a major sporting event in North America. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed qualitative and quantitative survey data. Qualitative analyses identified 12 skill themes divided equally into ‘soft skills’ (adaptability, communication, thinking, relationship building, work ethic/professionalism, and work management) and ‘hard skills’ (professional expertise, specific language and communication proficiency, knowledge of sport, management and operations, innovation and technology, and manual labor). Quantitative analyses revealed the total number of skills developed depended on volunteers' motives and levels of supervisor support. High supervisor support offset the effects of low motives on volunteer skill development. © International Society for Third-Sector Research 2025.

Keywords

Author Keywords

motivation career development Skill development informal learning Mixed methods Supervisor support Volunteering

Index Keywords

learning ethics qualitative analysis working conditions social behavior quantitative analysis management practice sport North America
Author Affiliations
Goodman School of Business, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Funding & Acknowledgements
Brock University
The authors would like to acknowledge Brock University\u2019s VPR Canada Games Research Grant for support of this research.
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