Including Volunteer Work on Your Resume

Volunteer work can be a valuable addition to your resume, showcasing your skills, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact. Including volunteer experiences on your resume not only highlights your community involvement but also demonstrates transferable skills that can be relevant to your professional career. Here are some tips and strategies to effectively include volunteer work on your resume, brought to you by The Recruitment Org, where our expert recruiters support your career journey.

Why Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume?

1. Showcases Transferable Skills:

   • Skill Demonstration: Volunteer work allows you to demonstrate skills such as leadership, communication, project management, and teamwork.

   • Relevant Experience: Highlighting these skills can be particularly valuable if you lack professional experience in your desired field.

2. Demonstrates Commitment:

   • Dedication: Including volunteer work shows your commitment to giving back to the community and making a positive impact.

   • Initiative: It demonstrates that you take initiative and are willing to contribute your time and effort beyond paid work.

3. Fills Employment Gaps:

   • Consistent Activity: Volunteer work can help fill gaps in your employment history, showing that you remained active and engaged during periods of unemployment.

   • Continuous Learning: It indicates that you continued to develop skills and gain experiences even when not formally employed.

Steps to Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume

1. Identify Relevant Volunteer Work:

   • Alignment: Choose volunteer experiences that align with the job you are applying for and highlight relevant skills and accomplishments.

   • Impact: Focus on volunteer work where you made a significant impact or contributed to important projects.

2. Create a Dedicated Section:

   • Section Title: Create a dedicated section on your resume titled "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement."

   • Placement: Position this section after your professional experience or education sections, depending on its relevance.

3. Describe Your Volunteer Roles:

   • Position Title: Include a title for your volunteer role, similar to how you would list a job title.

   • Organization Name: Mention the name of the organization you volunteered with.

   • Dates of Involvement: Include the dates you were involved in the volunteer work.

4. Highlight Key Responsibilities and Achievements:

   • Responsibilities: List your key responsibilities and tasks in the volunteer role.

   • Achievements: Highlight any significant achievements, contributions, or projects you completed. Use quantifiable results where possible.

5. Use Action Verbs:

   • Dynamic Language: Use strong action verbs to describe your responsibilities and achievements, such as "coordinated," "led," "organized," "implemented," and "managed."

   • Engaging Descriptions: Make your descriptions engaging and impactful to showcase your contributions.

Example of Including Volunteer Work on a Resume

Volunteer Experience:

Volunteer Coordinator | Local Community Center | Jan 2020 – Present

• Coordinated and managed community outreach programs, resulting in a 30% increase in volunteer participation.

• Organized fundraising events, raising over $10,000 to support local community projects.

• Led a team of 20 volunteers to successfully implement a community clean-up initiative, improving neighborhood conditions.

• Developed and delivered training programs for new volunteers, enhancing their skills and effectiveness.

Event Planner | Habitat for Humanity | Jun 2018 – Dec 2019

• Planned and executed fundraising events, contributing to the construction of five new homes for families in need.

• Collaborated with local businesses and sponsors to secure donations and support for events.

• Managed event logistics, including venue selection, vendor coordination, and budget management.

• Promoted events through social media and community outreach, increasing attendance and engagement.

Tips for Effectively Showcasing Volunteer Work

1. Be Specific:

   • Detailed Descriptions: Provide specific details about your responsibilities and achievements in your volunteer roles.

   • Quantify Results: Use numbers and metrics to quantify your impact and contributions.

2. Tailor to the Job:

   • Relevant Skills: Focus on volunteer experiences that demonstrate skills relevant to the job you are applying for.

   • Job Alignment: Tailor the descriptions to align with the requirements and responsibilities of the job.

3. Highlight Leadership and Initiative:

   • Leadership Roles: Emphasize any leadership roles or initiatives you took on during your volunteer work.

   • Problem-Solving: Highlight instances where you identified and solved problems or improved processes.

4. Use Consistent Formatting:

   • Professional Format: Use the same formatting style for your volunteer experience as you do for your professional experience.

   • Clarity: Ensure your resume is easy to read and well-organized.

5. Include Relevant Keywords:

   • Industry Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description to increase the visibility of your resume in applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Conclusion

Including volunteer work on your resume is a valuable way to showcase your skills, experiences, and commitment to making a positive impact. By following these tips and strategies, you can effectively highlight your volunteer work and enhance your job application.

The Recruitment Org is here to support you in your job search journey. Our expert recruiters provide guidance and resources to help you create a compelling resume that stands out to employers. Contact us today to start your journey toward a successful and fulfilling career.