Exploring volunteering career path, sustained calling, and the impact on personal life

In this article, we address the dearth of literature on non-profit careers by presenting volunteering careers as a distinct form of individual career trajectory. Utilizing narrative inquiry in Indonesia, we examine the interplay between the concept of calling and the characteristics of volunteers to illustrate how individuals navigate their careers within the non-profit sector. Drawing upon participants' narratives, we trace the evolution of volunteering trajectories throughout individuals' professional lives. We identify four contextual factors—environmental, transcendental, personal, and the responsibility as volunteer ambassador—that enable volunteers to sustain their commitment across multiple non-profit organizations. While volunteers derive satisfaction from their involvement, we also acknowledge the challenges they encounter, including the impact on their personal lives.