Category: Resume Writing FAQ
Should I include volunteer work on my resume?
Absolutely! Including volunteer work on your resume can be a powerful strategy, especially when approached thoughtfully and strategically. Far from just “filling space,” well-chosen volunteer experience can significantly strengthen your application by demonstrating valuable skills, initiative, commitment, and alignment with company values. The key is understanding when and how to present it most effectively, ensuring it complements your professional narrative rather than overshadowing it.
When to Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume:
- You’re Entry-Level or a Recent Graduate: With limited professional experience, volunteer roles can provide crucial “experience” that showcases your work ethic, transferable skills, and ability to contribute. It fills gaps and demonstrates proactive engagement.
- Developing Relevant Skills: If your volunteer role involves skills directly applicable to your target job (e.g., managing budgets as a volunteer treasurer, organizing events as a community coordinator, or coding for a non-profit website), it’s highly valuable.
- Leadership and Responsibility: Holding a leadership position, even in a volunteer capacity (e.g., project lead, board member, team captain), highlights your ability to guide, manage, and take initiative.
- Career Change: When pivoting to a new industry or role, volunteer experience in your target field can bridge the gap, demonstrating foundational knowledge and genuine interest where paid experience may be lacking.
- Explaining Employment Gaps: Volunteer work can effectively account for periods of unemployment, showing you remained active, engaged, and developed new skills during those times.
- Prestigious or Well-Known Organizations: Volunteering for a globally recognized charity or a highly respected local organization can add credibility and positive association to your resume.
- Alignment with Company Values: Many companies prioritize candidates who demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility, community engagement, or causes aligned with their corporate values. Showcasing such involvement can make you a more attractive candidate.
How to Effectively Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide
The placement and formatting of your volunteer experience depend largely on your overall career stage and the relevance of the role. Here’s how to approach it:
- Assess Relevance and Impact: Before adding anything, ask yourself: Does this volunteer role highlight skills relevant to the job I’m applying for? Did I achieve something significant? Did I take on leadership? If the answer is yes, it’s a strong contender.
- Choose the Right Section:
- For Entry-Level & Career Changers: Consider creating a combined ‘Relevant Experience,’ ‘Professional & Volunteer Experience,’ or ‘Work Experience’ section that integrates volunteer roles alongside paid positions. This elevates its importance and makes your resume appear more robust.
- For Experienced Professionals: A separate ‘Volunteer Experience,’ ‘Community Involvement,’ or ‘Leadership & Service’ section placed after your professional experience is usually best. Keep descriptions concise unless the role is exceptionally relevant to your target job. Board positions, however, often warrant more prominent placement, sometimes even within a ‘Leadership’ section near the top.
- Format Like a Professional Job: Treat your volunteer roles with the same respect as paid positions. Include:
- Organization Name: (e.g., “Habitat for Humanity”)
- Your Title/Role: (e.g., “Project Coordinator,” “Social Media Volunteer,” “Board Member”)
- Location: (City, State)
- Dates of Involvement: (Month/Year – Month/Year)
- Achievement-Oriented Bullet Points: Use strong action verbs and quantify your impact whenever possible.
- Quantify Your Achievements: This is crucial. Instead of just saying “Helped organize events,” say “Coordinated 5 fundraising events, contributing to a 20% increase in annual donations and engaging over 500 community members.” Use numbers, percentages, and specific outcomes to demonstrate your value. (Learn more about quantifying achievements in our guide: How to Write Quantifiable Resume Bullets).
- Tailor to the Job Description: Just like with paid work, customize your volunteer descriptions to align with the keywords and requirements of each job you apply for. Highlight skills and experiences that directly match what the employer is seeking.
Volunteer Experience Placement Guide
| Your Experience Level | When to Include Volunteer Work | Recommended Section Placement | Description Length & Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level / Recent Grad | Always, especially if relevant skills or leadership are demonstrated. Essential for filling gaps. | ‘Relevant Experience’ or ‘Professional & Volunteer Experience’ (integrated with paid roles) | Detailed, 3-5 bullet points. Focus on transferable skills, responsibilities, and impact. |
| Career Changer | Highly recommended if in target industry or demonstrates transferable skills. | ‘Relevant Experience’ or ‘Professional & Volunteer Experience’ (if direct relevance). Otherwise, ‘Community Involvement.’ | Detailed (3-5 bullets) if highly relevant, otherwise 1-2 focused bullets. Emphasize new industry skills. |
| Mid-Career Professional | Include if highly relevant to target role, demonstrates leadership, or fills an employment gap. | ‘Volunteer Experience’ or ‘Community Involvement’ (separate section, after Professional Experience). Board positions may go in ‘Leadership.’ | Concise (1-2 bullets). Focus on leadership, strategic impact, and high-level achievements. |
| Senior Executive | Include board memberships, strategic advisory roles, or high-impact community leadership. | ‘Board Memberships,’ ‘Leadership & Service,’ or within your Professional Experience for highly strategic roles. | Very concise, highlighting strategic contributions, governance, and organizational impact. |
Best Practices for Maximizing the Impact of Volunteer Work
- Focus on Transferable Skills: Even if the industry isn’t a direct match, identify skills like project management, communication, fundraising, team leadership, problem-solving, marketing, or technical abilities developed through your volunteer efforts.
- Use Strong Action Verbs: Start each bullet point with a powerful action verb that conveys your contribution. (See our table below for examples!)
- Showcase Leadership: If you led a team, managed a project, trained others, or sat on a board, make sure this is clear.
- Quantify, Quantify, Quantify: Numbers speak volumes. How many people did you serve? How much money did you raise? What percentage increase did you achieve?
- Tailor to Each Application: Always customize your resume, including your volunteer section, to align with the specific job description and company culture.
Powerful Action Verbs for Volunteer Resumes
| Category | Action Verbs |
|---|---|
| Leadership & Management | Managed, Led, Coordinated, Supervised, Chaired, Directed, Organized, Guided, Mentored, Oversaw |
| Communication & Outreach | Communicated, Presented, Wrote, Edited, Promoted, Advertised, Recruited, Engaged, Collaborated, Advocated |
| Problem-Solving & Strategy | Analyzed, Developed, Implemented, Solved, Optimized, Researched, Planned, Assessed, Resolved, Initiated |
| Technical & Data | Coded, Designed, Programmed, Maintained, Operated, Analyzed, Compiled, Processed, Built, Configured |
| Financial & Fundraising | Fundraised, Budgeted, Processed, Reconciled, Secured, Administered, Allocated, Managed (funds), Generated (revenue) |
| Support & Service | Assisted, Supported, Aided, Counseled, Facilitated, Provided, Served, Guided, Trained, Educated |
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Volunteer Work
- Over-Emphasizing Volunteer Work: If you have extensive professional experience, don’t let volunteer roles overshadow your paid career history. They should complement, not replace, your core professional narrative.
- Including Irrelevant Activities: A one-off afternoon helping at a bake sale, while commendable, rarely adds value to a professional resume unless it directly showcases a highly sought-after skill (e.g., event logistics for an event planner role). Be selective.
- Lack of Detail or Quantification: Vague descriptions like “Helped out at a local charity” do nothing to demonstrate your skills or impact. Always provide specifics and quantifiable achievements.
- Listing Controversial Causes: Be cautious when including involvement with highly political, religious, or controversial organizations. While your commitment is admirable, it can sometimes alienate employers with differing views. If in doubt, focus on non-controversial community service.
- Poor Formatting: Treat volunteer entries with the same professional formatting as paid jobs. Inconsistent formatting can make your resume look unprofessional.
- Excluding Dates: Always include start and end dates for your volunteer roles, just as you would for professional positions.
Industry-Specific Tips for Volunteer Experience
- Tech & IT: Highlight open-source contributions, pro-bono web development for non-profits, or teaching coding to underserved communities. Focus on specific technologies used and problem-solving.
- Healthcare: Patient interaction, administrative support in clinics, health education, or crisis counseling demonstrate empathy, organizational skills, and commitment.
- Non-Profit & Social Services: Directly relevant! Showcase fundraising, grant writing, program development, community outreach, advocacy, and direct service delivery.
- Education & Academia: Tutoring, mentoring, curriculum development, youth program coordination, or organizing educational workshops are excellent additions.
- Marketing & Communications: Managing social media for a non-profit, writing newsletters, designing promotional materials, or organizing awareness campaigns are highly valuable.
- Creative & Design: Pro-bono graphic design, photography, video editing, or event décor for community organizations can build a portfolio and showcase skills.
Real-World Examples: Good vs. Bad Volunteer Entries
Bad Example (Vague & Unquantified):
Volunteer Assistant
Local Animal Shelter – 2020-2021
Helped with daily tasks at the shelter.
Good Example (Detailed & Quantified):
Animal Care & Adoption Assistant | Local Animal Shelter | Springfield, IL | May 2020 – August 2021
- Managed daily care for an average of 30+ animals, including feeding, exercising, and administering medication.
- Facilitated 70+ successful animal adoptions by conducting interviews, processing paperwork, and educating new owners on pet care.
- Trained 5 new volunteers on shelter protocols and animal handling
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