Here's how you can gain new job search skills through volunteering or internships.

I agree 100%, for the past years I have not been able to network with most of my colleagues due to fear that am way below their league but now that I know it's about time I reconnect with them let them know of what's going on in my life, what I am capable of and so on maybe that way one of them could be a way through out of my current situation.

Volunteering or interning can boost your job search skills big time. You learn hands-on stuff that looks great on your resume—like teamwork, problem-solving, and project management. Plus, you can network with folks who might know about job openings. It shows you're proactive and committed to learning. And sometimes, these gigs can lead directly to paid jobs—they're like a sneak peek into the industry. So, go for it—it's a win-win!

Networking through volunteering is nice if you have energy & time, as well as the income/financing to afford it. But it is unrealistic to expect unemployed or underemployed people, who are already exhausted from what they normally do, to devote hours of travel time & effort to "network." All you get for that are beggars begging from beggars. Your "colleagues" aren't there to answer insightful questions, and all you show with enthusiasm is that you'll work hard for nothing. Paying someone well & not overworking them earns you their enthusiasm.

I have always tried to learn something new, recently I just learnt IT support a free course on Coursera by Google, I've gained new skills different from what I studied at University and I feel so good about it and I feel like it could land me into some great opportunity

The notion that the skills volunteering at a nonprofit are transferrable is valid, but not how hiring-personnel see it. They see it as you lacking any real skills, rather than the skillsets required for a position. I attended a job fair at a hospital where the people in charge were mid-level administrators. The target group was LGBTQIA+ folks, and every person running it was cis/het & white. They didn't plan it well: parking signage, inviting enough guests, planning the opening panel, telling guests to bring higher-level positions, catering with quality food. The result was a disaster & they kept saying "We know that for next time." this was the 8th year of the job fair! I doubted they could run a cake walk.

When I interned abroad, the hosting university made sure we had housing, transportation, etc. I never went hungry or had to deal with squalor. The reality of interning in the USA is far worse. The real-world challenges & problem-solving are suffering from severe infection & homelessness while working on a project with a deadline. If the organization wants interns, they need to provide adequately for their basic needs, instead of leaving it to rich kids whose parents can float the bill.

Communication is my greatest soft skill, I know what, when and how to speak depending on the situation while I work on other skills but in most cases these are considered last while recruiting and they look more at the level of experience relevant for the job.