Good for you, for giving back to the community! Volunteering can be a rewarding experience for all concerned. You can choose issues that matter to you and volunteer work on resume is a great way of supplementing your career story. Plus, you may get the opportunity to learn new skills or showcase the skills you already have in new ways. This shows employers that you care about the world around you.
However, there is more to listing volunteer work on your resume than meets the eye. Here, we explore:
Volunteering is a valid part of anyone's career. Just because you were not paid does not mean that the experiences did not add to your career progression. Let's explore the nuances.
Volunteer work on a resume can be a wonderful way to feature a variety of valuable skills such as fundraising, community planning, patient care, or event management. Knowing how to properly integrate volunteering on resume into your work experience section is key.
Volunteer experience on a resume is especially important if you have noticeable employment gaps in your resume due to the economy or personal circumstances. It shows that you are a passionate and driven individual with a lot to give. With proper placement, volunteering on resume can prove to be beneficial to the overall impact.
Volunteering can also be a way to change careers. If you are looking to make a lateral move in a field related to the one you are in or want to try something completely new, offering your services as a volunteer is a great way to broaden your experience. Organizations seeking volunteers may be more willing to train you or to allow you the freedom to expand your skillset. Documenting volunteer experience on a resume can lead to a paying job within the organization, but you will still need a stellar resume.
Can you list volunteer work as employment?
Yes, you can describe your volunteer work in the employment history section of your resume if:
While volunteer work on your resume should always be indicated as such, without being mistaken for paid employment, it is still valid to include in the your career history section of your resume.
If you spent a significant amount of time doing volunteer work alongside paid work, you might decide to include it in the employment history section. But if there are a number of different volunteer roles, then putting them in making a separate section — at least the unrelated volunteer work — will certainly enhance add to your job application.
Now that you have added volunteering on your resume, how do you show it off? There is more than one way to handle it, and a lot depends on what you did and what your goal is. Let’s take a look at the options.
As stated above, if a volunteer position is relevant to your job search, then you can certainly mix it right into your employment history section. Whether or not you are paid for a position is not the impressive part. What matters is the substance of the position and what it entails, whether it is a paid or volunteer position. So if you are in business management or finance, you might add a volunteer section on your resume that looks something like the one below.
Volunteer Fundraiser, Citizens for a Cause, New York, New York, May 2013-June 2015
If the volunteer work you want to list is unrelated to your job, it is best to create a separate resume section for volunteer work or community involvement below your employment history section. Even if the volunteer experience is not closely related to your industry or the skills needed for the type of position you are seeking, it still shows you are a well-rounded person with varying interests and a dedication to community involvement. The heading might be “Volunteer Experience” or “Additional Activities,” depending on what's listed...
Here is an example of a separate resume section for volunteer work unrelated to the job you are seeking.
Volunteer Experience
Choose the volunteer roles carefully to take advantage of your limited resume space. There is no need to list jobs from more than 10 years ago, or even five years ago, unless they have a bearing on the job you are applying for now. Make them recent as well as relevant. There is no need to list jobs from more than 10 years ago, or even five years back. An exception might be if a volunteer role is directly related to the job you are applying for now, and you haven’t acquired much paid work experience in the meantime.
Can I lie about volunteer work on resume? Can I fake volunteer hours?
No. Never lie about anything during your job search, including volunteer work. Apart from it simply being dishonest, you never quite know who has certain connections. If hiring manager happens to know someone at the place where you claim to have "volunteered," kiss goodbye to any chance of you getting the job.
Lying about your employment history can get you the sack at a later date, and lying about volunteer experience is equally morally wrong. I feel a little silly even mentioning it. Of course, you wouldn't do this.
If you are trying to accomplish a career change, the volunteer work that directly relates to your desired career should appear on your resume first. Employers want to see that you have the skills necessary to do the job and the best way to do that is to show that you have already done many of the tasks associated with the position. In this case, you may choose to create a separate resume section or incorporate your volunteer experience into the employment history.
Volunteering experience on a resume can also help explain an employment gap. If you were volunteering when between jobs, consider placing your unpaid work in your employment history — where it fits, in reverse chronological order —to eliminate the appearance of inaction.
A volunteer listing covering an employment history gap could look something like the one below.
Teacher Assistant, Rhinebeck Elementary School, Rhinbeck, NY, September 2021 to present
Volunteer, Children's Art Council, Rhinebeck, NY, March 2018 to August 2021
Illustrator, Drawn to It Creative Services, Rhinebeck, NY, August 2017 to February 2018
Your resume summary (or profile or personal statement) is the perfect place to explain your volunteering experience and how it has helped prepare you for your next challenge. Try to do it in one sentence since your space here is limited to about 100 words. Below is an example.
Dedicated, licensed clinical social worker and case manager with 7+ years of experience in both residential and care home settings, collaborating with nursing teams to coordinate 150+ personal treatment plans. Deep understanding of the needs of dementia patients and caregivers has been reinforced while volunteering as a family support group coordinator and workshop leader with the University of Michigan's Dementia Education Project.
Don’t neglect volunteer experience on your resume's skills list either, especially rare or higher-level skills that give you an advantage over other candidates. Just a few examples:
As always, make sure you personalize and prioritize your skills list for each application, using resume keywords and phrases that you take from the job listing.
How do I show proof of volunteer work? How do I write a volunteer verification letter?
Sometimes, future employers might ask for proof of the volunteer experience listed on your resume. As you may not have had a formal employment contract, it is often a good idea to ask for a volunteer verification letter or community service letter from the place where you volunteered. You may not have considered this important at the time, but it is perfectly acceptable to contact the volunteer coordinator there and ask for a confirmation to provide during your job search. To save time, you can even write a volunteer letter yourself and ask an officer of the organization to sign it.
Putting volunteering on resume is becoming increasingly commonplace, it can easily sit alongside your paid experience and there is equal value in terms of the experience that you offer your future employer. In your bid to present yourself as a well-rounded applicant, it might even be considered an essential addition.
Below is an example of a resume that seamlessly combines employment and volunteer experience
Summary
Dedicated and energetic Digital Marketing Specialist with over six years of experience creating compelling multimedia web platforms, including actionable content for a nonprofit group. A passion for detail-oriented and creative writing, geared to specific target audiences. Accustomed to high levels of responsibility — sometimes with budget constraints — and collaborating with others outside the sphere of marketing. Passionate about delivering entertaining and captivating content with an unobstructed path toward achievement.
Employment history
April. 2021 – Present
Web Content Assistant, Growing Seasons Quarterly, Columbus, Ohio
Digital Marketing Experience
March 2017 — December 2020
HopeFull Food Bank, Columbus Ohio
Volunteer Experience
January 2008 — Present
Katonah Community Shepherds
Skills
Listing volunteer work on your resume can only make your job application stronger. Does volunteering increase employability? Yes, absolutely! Do employers look for volunteering experience? Quite possibly.
As resume real estate is at a premium, it is important that this volunteer work complements and enhances your job application. Even if it is not relevant to the position in question, there can be multiple benefits — space permitting — to any job application.
It is easy to list volunteer work on your resume when you use one of our resume templates. Have a go! You might be surprised at just how easy and intuitive it is to create a powerful and inspirational resume.