If you’ve been involved in volunteer work, you already know that it can be deeply rewarding. What you may not realize is that listing volunteer experience on your resume can help you stand out during the application process. Whether you’re looking for your very first job, changing careers, or re-entering the workforce, showcasing your volunteer experience can demonstrate important skills that employers are looking for.
Here’s everything you need to know about featuring your volunteer experience on your resume.
Why volunteer experience matters on your resume
Volunteer experience is more than just an “extra” activity to fill dead space on your resume. Including it can be smart for several reasons:
- Demonstrates Initiative: Volunteer work shows that you do more than the bare minimum and have a genuine interest in making a difference
- Showcases Transferable Skills: Many of the skills gained through volunteering — like communication and teamwork — apply to various roles
- Fills Employment Gaps: If you’ve had a break in your work history, volunteer experience can show that you stayed busy and productive
With the right approach, you can make your volunteer experience an impactful part of your resume.
How to list volunteer experience
Here are some tips to help you list volunteer activities in a way that stands out:
Identify relevant volunteer work
Be selective about what you include on your resume. You want to highlight volunteer experience that aligns most closely with the job you’re applying for. Start by making a list of any major volunteer activities you’ve engaged in, such as organizing neighborhood clean-ups or donating your skills to a local non-profit.
After you’ve composed your list, think about which experiences are most relevant to the position you’re applying for. If you volunteered as a team lead for a charity event, and you’re applying for a management role, that experience will carry weight.
If you’ve spent a lot of time volunteering, narrowing down your list to a few experiences can be tricky. Don’t feel like you need to list everything, though. Focus on two to four most relevant experiences.
Choose the right location
There’s more than one “right” place on your resume to list your volunteer experience. Where you mention your volunteer work will depend on how much experience you have and how relevant it is to the job. Here are some different options:
- If It’s Highly Relevant: Include it in your main “Work Experience” section and label it as “Volunteer Work”
- If It’s Additional Experience: Create a separate section titled “Volunteer Experience” or “Community Involvement” to differentiate from work experience
- For Recent Graduates or Career Changers: Consider placing it near the top of your resume, especially if you have little to no work experience
If you aren’t sure where or how to place volunteer experience on your resume, consider using a template from a platform like Jobseeker.com. You should also check out some different examples of resumes that list volunteer work to get inspiration for creating your resume.
Describe your volunteer experience effectively
Once you’ve decided where to place your volunteer experience, you need to describe it in a way that resonates with hiring managers. You know that the volunteer experience was relevant to your professional and personal growth. You have to relay that value to your audience.
While you need to be brief, you should also explain what you gained from your volunteer work. Limit your explanation to a few sentences, or use bullet points to make the section skimmable. You could use phrases like “Enhanced communication skills” or “Facilitated networking opportunities with industry professionals.”
Highlight transferable skills
Volunteer work often involves using valuable skills that translate well to professional roles. Make sure to highlight these in your descriptions. Some skills you may be able to mention include:
- Teamwork: Discuss collaboration with other volunteers
- Problem-Solving: Explain any challenges you encountered and how you creatively solved those problems
- Leadership: Mention any activities where you led or organized a group of volunteers
Focus on skills that are mentioned in the job description. Tying your volunteer experience to the role you are applying for helps hiring managers understand the relevance of your volunteer activities.
Use specifics when possible
Hiring managers prefer specifics to vague terms. Using hard numbers can showcase the depth of your impact while also helping your audience understand the scale of the project you were involved with.
Suppose that you planned and organized a community clean-up event in your hometown. Providing hiring managers with information about the project’s scale can greatly impact their perception of your leadership skills. Organizing an event that spans 1,000 homes requires a lot more effort and leadership than planning a clean-up that includes 100 homes.
Incorporate action verbs
Start each bullet point with an action verb to make your achievements stand out. These words put you at the center of the action. Examples include “coordinated,” “facilitated,” and “mentored.”
Try to mix things up and avoid repeating the same action verbs on back-to-back bullet points. You don’t want to start consecutive bullets with a phrase like “Facilitated.” If you have to reuse a specific verb, put a different point in between to make your resume less redundant.
Examples of how to showcase volunteer work on your resume
Here are a couple of simple examples of how you might structure volunteer experience on a resume:
Community event volunteer (relevant to project management)
- Volunteer event coordinator, local food bank
Dates: January 2021–Present
- Organized monthly food drives
- Coordinated with a team of 12 volunteers
- Distributed over 1,000 pounds of food each month
- Developed a scheduling system to improve volunteer attendance
Animal shelter volunteer (relevant to customer service)
- Volunteer coordinator, city animal shelter
Dates: June 2020–December 2022
- Assisted with client adoption processes
- Provided excellent customer service to prospective pet owners
- Trained new volunteers in shelter procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include volunteer work even if I have plenty of professional experience?
Yes! If your volunteer experience highlights valuable skills or personal qualities relevant to the job, it’s worth including. Employers value well-rounded candidates who contribute to their communities and do more than the bare minimum.
How far back should I go when listing volunteer work?
Generally, include volunteer experiences from the last 5 to 10 years, especially if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for. Older experience can be included if you participated in particularly significant activities. For example, if you volunteered for events organized and hosted by the company you are applying to, definitely include those experiences.
What if my volunteer experience doesn’t directly relate to the job?
That’s okay! Highlight transferable skills like leadership and communication. These abilities will help you thrive in just about any role. Even unrelated volunteer work can show that you’re proactive and adaptable.
Make your volunteer experience work for you
By thoughtfully highlighting the skills and achievements you’ve gained through volunteer experiences, you can stand out from other job seekers and show employers what you bring to the table.
Use this experience to tell a compelling story about who you are and what you value. Remember, volunteer experience represents an important part of your professional story and helps shape you into the person you are today.
