according to 86 percent of hiring influencers. It's a good chance you'll get noticed if you add volunteer experience.
It's not just about listing where you helped. It's about showcasing the impact you've made, the skills you've utilized, and the results you've achieved.
To simplify things, we'll tell you how to List Volunteer Experience on a Resume to Impress Employers.
Be sure to list it effectively to attract employers, showcase your strengths, and capture their attention!
Let’s jump in!
Does My Resume Need to Include Volunteer Experience?
Yes, you should include volunteer work on your resume.
Volunteer work not only showcases your skills, commitment, and values beyond paid work but also highlights leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities.
Even if unrelated to your field, unpaid work experience resume entries can showcase transferable skills and a strong work ethic. For students or career changers, it can fill gaps and strengthen your profile.
So, always list volunteer experience on a resume, include measurable impact, and describe responsibilities. As a result, it makes your resume the best and adds depth to your professional story.
Buy, Why Is It So Important?
Well, based on real research and surveys, here are some impressive statistics about including volunteer experience.
It shows how important it is to add volunteer experience to your resume.
82% of hiring managers are more likely to pick a candidate with volunteer experience on their resume, while only 30% of resumes actually include it. It means many people are missing out on a strong point.
85% of employers say they are willing to overlook minor weaknesses on resumes when candidates showcase volunteer work, recognizing its value.
41% of professionals regard volunteer experience as equally valuable to paid work, and 20% of hiring managers have made hiring decisions based on volunteering.
For young people (ages 16–25), volunteering at least once a week boosts the likelihood of paid employment by 17.1%.
Volunteering is associated with 27% higher odds of employment overall, and for rural volunteers, that jump is even larger55% higher than non-volunteers
Quick Note: You can increase your resume impact by pairing volunteer experience on a resume with AI-powered tools like an AI job search application. It helps identify job matches where your volunteer skills make you a strong candidate.
How to List Volunteer Experience on Your Resume: Full Guide
Many job seekers underestimate volunteer experience. But when presented correctly, it can make your resume more attractive, even if your paid work experience is limited.
Here’s a detailed step-by-step approach to include volunteer work effectively.
Step 1. Decide Where to Place Volunteer Experience
Usually, the placement depends on how relevant it is to the job.
If your volunteer work aligns closely with your career goals, include it under your main “Work Experience” section.
For instance, volunteering as a content writer or social media manager can go under professional experience for a marketing or communications role.
But, if your volunteer work is less related, create a dedicated section titled “Volunteer Experience” or “Community Involvement.”
It keeps your resume organized while emphasizing your commitment to helping others.
Step 2. Provide Complete and Clear Details
Always include your title, the organization’s-
Name
Location,
And dates of involvement.
For lesser-known organizations, add a brief description.
For instance, “XYZ Food Bank, a local nonprofit providing meals to families in need.” This context aids in grasping the importance of your work.
Step 3. Showcase Skills and Achievements
Use a results-oriented approach for highlighting your work. Do not simply mention responsibilities. Achieve adumbrate results using metrics. For instance:
“Organized 6 fundraising events, raising over $15,000 for local shelters.”
“Trained and managed a team of 12 volunteers for community outreach programs.”
Volunteer work in this manner provides tangible outcomes and impact.
Step 4. Use Strong Action Words
Every bullet point must begin with powerful verbs that denote activity, authority, and accountability.
“Led,” “coordinated,” “designed,” “implemented,” and “trained” are much more powerful than “assisted with” or “helped,” as stated.
Your work is framed positively with action verbs and portrays effort and impact on the outcomes.
Step 5. Match Your Volunteer Experience to Your Career Objectives
Explain your volunteer work specifically for the position you want. If the job requires teamwork as an essential skill, mention how you cooperated with others.
For leadership roles, highlight particular initiatives where you led work groups or held leadership roles in activities. Employers notice how your volunteer work relates to the job.
Step 6. Be Honest and Concise
It’s essential to be truthful about your responsibilities and achievements.
Short, clear sentences are easier to read and look more professional. Avoid exaggerating your role.
Almost all employers appreciate timelines and honesty in general, and it makes one more trustworthy.
So, that's all! If you follow these steps correctly, you will see the results as well.
However, one thing to note is that this is a basic guideline. But if you want to make your resume more unique, add more points (attached below). It’ll make your resume 10x better than others and attract recruiters' attention easily.
Unique Sections to Include for Volunteer Experience (Must Check)
By following these, volunteer experience can become one of the strongest parts of your resume.
Employers will see you as someone willing to contribute, learn, and lead, which sets you apart from other applicants.
Projects & Initiatives
Instead of only listing your role, highlight specific projects you led or contributed to. It shows your ability to take initiative and drive results.
Example:
“Led a community clean-up initiative, coordinating 50 volunteers and reducing local litter by 30% in three months.”
Recognition & Awards
If you received any awards, honors, or certificates for your volunteer work, include them. This demonstrates excellence and dedication.
Such as:
“Volunteer of the Month, Red Cross, 2023”
“Certificate of Appreciation for organizing community literacy programs”
Skills Gained Through Volunteering
Add a dedicated “Skills from Volunteering” section to show soft and hard skills. Employers value skills like teamwork, leadership, event management, fundraising, or public speaking.
Example:
Leadership: Managed a team of 15 volunteers
Communication: Presented awareness campaigns to community members
Highlight any leadership roles, even informal ones. It shows responsibility and initiative beyond regular volunteer work.
You can add like- “Team Lead – Coordinated weekly food drives and volunteer schedules”
Long-Term Commitments & Consistency
Employers like consistency. Mention how long you’ve volunteered to show dedication and reliability.
Community Projects Portfolio (Optional for Creative Roles)
For roles like marketing, social work, or project management, consider including a mini-portfolio of volunteer projects with images, links, or descriptions.
Volunteer Testimonials (Optional)
Short quotes from supervisors or beneficiaries can add credibility.
Example:
“John’s leadership in organizing the charity fundraiser was exceptional.”
Volunteer Experience Example: Where to Include It on a Resume
Volunteer experience can be categorized into different sections based on its relevance to the job you want.
1. In the Professional Experience Section
If your volunteer work aligns closely with the job, include it alongside paid roles.
Use “Experience” as the section title to cover both paid and volunteer work.
Clearly mark volunteer roles so they are distinct from paid positions.
Developed internal tools that improved team efficiency by 20%.
Implemented new coding standards, reducing bugs by 15%.
Collaborated with product managers to launch three major features on schedule.
2. In a Separate Volunteer Experience Section
If your paid work is strong but you want to highlight volunteer work, create a separate section.
Keep it concise and tailored to the job.
Include keywords that match the role.
Example:
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Event Coordinator – Local Animal Shelter, Austin, TX | Jun 2022 – Present
Organized adoption events, finding homes for 150+ animals.
Managed a team of 20 volunteers to ensure smooth event operations.
Developed social media campaigns, increasing event attendance by 30%.
When is the Right Time to Add Volunteer Experience to My Resume?
Volunteer experience, in fact, can be a great way to increase your resume and help you get a job. Here's when it's best:
Early Career or Limited Experience
For recent graduates or individuals launching their careers, volunteer jobs can demonstrate skills and commitment when a paid work history is thin.
Showcasing Transferable Skills
Volunteering requires teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills. These skills apply to all jobs and make you a stronger candidate.
Relevance to the Role
Add it where your volunteer work parallels the job. For instance, managing events for a charity is a great project management job.
Filling Career Gaps
If you've been out of work for some time, volunteering demonstrates a continued stay-fit routine in the gym, known as "skill development."
But, When Not to Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume
The truth is, volunteer work can look great on a resume. But there are situations when it's better to have it out.
Here are key situations:
Work Experience: If you want to pass your professional experience, focus on it rather than your academic achievements. For volunteer experience, include it only if you can draw uniquely from it.
Non-Role-Relevant: Don’t include volunteer experience that doesn't highlight skills or knowledge pertinent to the role.
Too dated: Volunteer work from a decade ago can feel obsolete. Try to concentrate on events in the past 5–10 years.
Takes Up Valuable Space: If your resume is packed with substantial accomplishments, consider omitting sections that don't further strengthen your application.
Potential Bias or Controversy: Volunteering for roles associated with sensitive or controversial political, religious, or social causes can detract from your professional credentials.
Final Note
So, we have discussed the essential tips and tricks about listing volunteer experience on your resume. Now, it's clear that volunteer work can strengthen your resume. It shows skills, dedication, and real achievements. You can fill in gaps in your work history and highlight leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
Choosing experiences that match the job makes your application even better. Also, present your roles, with numbers or results, to stand out to employers. Don't forget, a thoughtful cover letter can increase your chances even more.
Tools like Placed today help you create a professional cover letter in just minutes. Plus, it'll make your application look polished and professional.
How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume [Beginner’s Guide]
Step-by-step tips to create resumes that pass Applicant Tracking Systems and get noticed by recruiters.
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