Volunteering your time and efforts is a noble pursuit, no matter the cause. There is a lot to be said for being selfless – giving without thought of getting anything back in return gives us a warm feeling inside. Nothing in return, that is, until it comes to writing a CV for a potential new job. Then, your volunteering experience may well prove beneficial.
Your curriculum vitae is not just the story of your career. Future employers want to understand your personality, motivations, and wider skills. Including any volunteer work relevant to the role in question is a great way of showing the hiring manager that there is more to you than your work experience. What you get up to in your free time also helps to shape you as a person – and may bring incremental benefits for the workplace.
With CV space at a premium, how to incorporate volunteer work into your career sales pitch is no simple matter. Are there transferable skills for the role in question? Are you sending the right message in terms of your personality? Could you be using that space for something else? In this blog, we explore the underlying issues and offer some examples:
- What is the value of volunteer work?
- How to list volunteer work on a CV
- What types of volunteering could you include?
- Volunteer work examples
- Transferable skills from your volunteering work
While it is normal to be paid well for a good job done, these extra roles often give a candidate a unique advantage in the eyes of a hiring manager. Might your volunteer work help you to stand out?
What is the value of volunteer work?
Volunteer work demonstrates a candidate's commitment, initiative, and ability to work in diverse environments, which are valuable to future employers. You do not have to be paid to add value.
Volunteer work shows dedication to contributing positively to the community and indicates strong ethical values. Skills developed through volunteer work, such as teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving, are transferable to any professional setting and are often no less valuable than those learned in a paid position.
Volunteering also highlights a candidate’s ability to manage time effectively while balancing multiple responsibilities. Employers value these experiences as they suggest the candidate is well-rounded, proactive, and capable of handling various challenges, making them a desirable addition to any team.
If you have been job searching longer than anticipated, you should consider finding a volunteer position that can help to bridge the gap. This helps when an employer notices you have been looking for a while—volunteering is a fantastic stop-gap measure that demonstrates your drive and passion.
How to list volunteer work on a CV
It is a myth that volunteer work has no place on a CV. Any activity contributing to your personal and professional development should interest a hiring manager. They want to understand the nuts and bolts of your career story. If a volunteering activity has contributed to a certain (relevant) skill or ability, it has every right to be on your CV.
Where to list volunteer work
Volunteer work should either be listed on your CV in a dedicated "volunteer experience" section or incorporated into the "work experience" section, especially if it is relevant to the job you are applying for. Here’s how to decide where to place it:
Dedicated section
If you have substantial volunteer experience or if the volunteer work is highly relevant to the job, create a separate "volunteer experience" section. This highlights your commitment and the skills gained through unpaid work, demonstrating your well-rounded character and dedication.
Work experience section
If your volunteer work involved responsibilities similar to paid positions, or if it aligns closely with the job you're seeking, include it in the " work experience" section. This approach emphasises the relevance of your volunteer activities to the potential employer.
Regardless of where you list it, detail your roles, responsibilities, and achievements just as you would for paid work. This ensures that potential employers recognise the value and skills you developed through your volunteer efforts.
Should you list volunteer work as employment?
Listing volunteer work as employment can be appropriate if the roles and responsibilities closely resemble those of paid positions, demonstrating relevant skills and experience to potential employers.
However, it's crucial to clearly label it as "volunteer work" to maintain transparency and avoid misleading potential employers. This honesty ensures that the experience is valued for its contributions and the skills gained without misrepresentation.
Volunteer work shows dedication, initiative, and a willingness to contribute, which are highly regarded traits in any professional setting, but clarity about the nature of the work is essential for maintaining credibility.
It is important to list volunteer work in such a way that although your responsibilities may be the same as those of paid work, your accountability to the employer is undeniably different as you are not in a salaried employee relationship.
Listing unrelated volunteer work on your CV
Including unrelated volunteer work on your CV can be a bad idea because it may distract from your relevant qualifications and experience.
Employers often spend only a few seconds scanning each CV, so making every word count is crucial. Listing unrelated volunteer work can take up space that could be better used to highlight your directly applicable skills, experiences, and achievements.
Moreover, irrelevant information might give the impression that you lack focus or understanding of the role's requirements. By omitting unrelated volunteer work, you ensure that your CV remains concise, targeted, and highly relevant to the job you are applying for.
What types of volunteering could you include?
There will be plenty of organisations that will be happy for you to offer your assistance for free. Your future employer will likely not be too judgmental about where you have worked. What you learned from the experience is more important – make it clear in your CV how your volunteering experience benefited you.
Here are some of the most common activities for volunteers:
Healthcare volunteer: Assisting in hospitals or clinics, helping with patient care, administrative tasks, and supporting healthcare professionals.
Environmental volunteer: Participating in activities like tree planting, beach cleanups, and conservation projects to protect and preserve the environment.
Educational volunteer: Tutoring students, assisting teachers in classrooms, or providing educational workshops and programs in various subjects.
Animal shelter volunteer: Caring for animals, cleaning shelters, assisting with adoptions, and promoting animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Community outreach volunteer: Working with local organisations to support community events, food banks, and services for vulnerable populations.
Fundraising volunteer: Organising and running fundraising events, campaigns, and activities to raise money for charitable causes and non-profit organisations.
Mentoring volunteer: Providing guidance, support, and advice to young people or individuals in need, helping them achieve personal and professional goals.
Disaster relief volunteer: Assisting in emergency response efforts, providing aid and support to affected communities during natural disasters and crises.
Volunteer work examples
There are a myriad of volunteer work examples. Depending on space constraints, you may include fewer bullet points (and even compress the title and date onto one line). While your volunteer assignments may take up less space than your paid work (and rightly so), it doesn’t mean they could make less of an impact.
Healthcare Assistant Volunteer
St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK
January 2022 - December 2022
- Assisted nurses and doctors in providing patient care, including monitoring vital signs and administering basic treatments.
- Supported patients with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and mobility, ensuring their comfort and safety.
- Organised and maintained medical supplies, ensuring the availability of necessary equipment.
Volunteer Conservation Coordinator
Green Earth Initiative, Edinburgh, Scotland
March 2018 - August 2020
- Participated in environmental conservation projects, increasing community participation by 40% and funding by 35%.
- Led successful initiatives such as tree planting drives, beach clean-up events, and educational workshops, raising over £15,000 for conservation efforts.
- Collaborated with local schools and businesses to promote sustainable practices and environmental awareness.
Volunteer Event Organiser
Helping Hands Charity, Manchester, UK
February 2019 - April 2021
- Organised fundraising events to support local homeless shelters, increasing donor participation by 25% and donations by 30%.
- Ran successful events, including charity runs, bake sales, and gala dinners, raising over £20,000 for various charity programs.
- Worked with local businesses and media to secure sponsorships and promote events, enhancing community engagement and visibility.
Animal Shelter Volunteer
Paws and Whiskers Rescue, Manchester, UK
June 2022 – Present
- Assisted in the daily care of animals, including feeding, grooming, and administering medications, ensuring a healthy and clean environment.
- Supported the adoption process by conducting interviews, home checks, and matching potential adopters with suitable pets, resulting in a 20% increase in successful adoptions.
- Maintained accurate records of animal health, behaviour, and adoption status, improving the shelter’s operational efficiency.
Useful skills from volunteer work
When contemplating the skills section on your CV, do not underestimate the skills you may have acquired from your volunteer work. These will likely more commonly be soft skills, but you may also acquire various more technical hard skills in certain industry sectors. Here are a few examples of volunteering skills to consider:
Teamwork: Volunteering often involves collaborating with others, which enhances the ability to work effectively in team-oriented environments.
Leadership: Leading projects or teams during volunteer work demonstrates the ability to guide and motivate others, a valuable trait for managerial positions.
Communication: Engaging with diverse groups improves communication skills, which is essential for clear and effective interaction with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders.
Time Management: Balancing volunteer duties with other commitments showcases strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks efficiently.
Problem-Solving: Addressing challenges during volunteer activities enhances critical thinking and the ability to develop innovative solutions.
Adaptability: Exposure to various situations in volunteer roles fosters flexibility and the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances.
Empathy: Working closely with different communities builds empathy and understanding, which is beneficial for creating a positive and inclusive workplace.
Project Management: Planning and executing volunteer projects hones project management skills, including setting goals, organising resources, and meeting deadlines.
Volunteer work can provide candidates with a range of hard skills valuable to future employers. Through organising events and coordinating activities, individuals can develop strong project management skills. Many volunteer roles involve data analysis, requiring the collection and interpretation of data to measure the effectiveness of programs.
Additionally, proficiency in software such as Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and CRM systems can be gained through managing volunteer databases and communications. Creating newsletters, social media content, and detailed reports enhances communication skills. These experiences collectively offer a robust skill set that can be effectively applied in various professional environments.
Key takeaways
While much of the interview process will still be dedicated to your permanent (paid) work experience, volunteer work adds that extra dimension. After all, not everyone is passionate about doing something for others. Ensure you include it in the right way.
Highlight transferable skills gained through volunteer work to impress potential employers. Ensure volunteer roles are clearly labelled to maintain transparency and credibility. Include only relevant volunteer work to keep your CV concise and focused.
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