How to put volunteer experience on resumes. When to add volunteer resume work to work experience. How to list volunteer work on a resume to make employers notice.
Career Expert
You’re in a pickle. You’ve got Gandhi-level achievements. But, they didn’t pay you. Don’t panic. Volunteer experience on resumes still counts as professional experience.I'll show you how to put volunteer work on resumes.
I’ll show you:
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The volunteer experience section is an element of your resume where you list the work experiences you performed freely and voluntarily. It's an excellent way to showcase your key skills, interests, and motivation.
And the most important thing: Volunteer experience on resumes can get you hired. Deloitte surveyed 2,500+ hiring managers. Fully 82% said they prefer candidates with resume volunteering experience.
And as per a study conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service, individuals with volunteer experience are 27% more likely to secure employment compared to those without volunteer backgrounds.
Why do volunteering resume achievements matter? Just like regular work, they prove your skills. But how to list volunteer experience on resumes? And where to put volunteer experience on resumes?
By assessing over 500,000 resumes produced via our platform, we identified that*:
- Volunteers on average report having 62.78 months of work experience across all their jobs.
- The median time to build a volunteering resume on ResumeLab is just 12.1 minutes.
- Most common key skills added to volunteer resumes are Team collaboration, Public speaking, Operations support, and Interpersonal communication.
* The data comes from the last 12 months (August 2023-August 2024).
Put volunteer experiences on resumes in two places:
You can put volunteer work under work experience on one condition: if it fits the job you’re applying for. Does your resume volunteer work prove valuable skills the job ad wants? Then put it in your work history like a job description and add relevant resume keywords if possible.
This is also a valid strategy for job seekers creating resumes with no experience, or entry-level resumes. Volunteering allows them to show valuable, relevant experience, despite their lack of previous employements. Any teenager resume with volunteering experience will be more enticing than the same resume, without this section.
To describe major volunteer work on resumes, list it like a job. Add strong resume bullet points stuffed with professional achievements that show skills. Add numbers to prove just how powerful that resume volunteer experience was.
These volunteering resume examples show how:
Job ad wants skills in patient education, health screening, and patient interaction.
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Anything you do for free counts as volunteer resume experience. That includes work for blood drives and soup kitchens. It also means pro bono work or helping an ailing parent. The better the cause, the better the resume volunteer experience. Use it to show accomplishments that fit the job offer.
These how to list volunteer work on resumes examples show how:
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Here’s a recap of how to volunteer experience should be included on resumes:
Still not sure how to put volunteer work on resumes? Need more tips for showing volunteer experience on resumes? Leave a comment. We’re happy to reply!
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The amount of volunteer experience to include on a resume can vary based on your career stage. If you have limited experience, you can showcase a significant amount of volunteer work. As you gain more relevant experience, you should rank paid work experience over volunteer work on your resume.
Volunteering can be included in the "Experience" section of a resume if it proves multiple skills the job ad wants. But most of the time, it should go under a separate "Volunteering" subsection. There, mention the organization, your role, the dates you volunteered, and your professional achievements.
Provide details for each volunteer position: the organization's name, your role, and the duration of your work. Outline your achievements using bullet points. Quantify your impact wherever possible. Tailor your volunteer experiences to align with the job you're applying for.
Volunteering is beneficial for your resume for several compelling reasons:
If your volunteer experience is relevant to the job you're applying for, create a separate section for it. Title it "Volunteer Experience," "Additional Activities," or "Community Involvement." This section typically follows your work experience section.
Here are some volunteer positions that will boost your resume:
Focus on relevance and impact when determining which volunteer experiences to include on your resume. Pick experiences that enhance your qualifications and align with the job you're applying for. Consider the resume skills the employer seeks and identify volunteer roles that prove them.
When crafting a resume with no experience, creating a targeted resume that aligns with the specific job you're applying for is crucial. Volunteer work can play a crucial role in this context, showcasing your transferable skills and dedication to gaining relevant experiences.
Written by Tom GerencerHaving published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.
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