What do you do if your resume needs to highlight your volunteer work?
If you have a lot of volunteer work on your resume, you might wonder how to make it stand out and showcase your skills and values. Volunteering can be a great way to gain experience, network, and demonstrate your passion for a cause. However, not all employers or recruiters will appreciate or understand the value of your volunteer work. Here are some tips on how to highlight your volunteer work on your resume and make it relevant for your career goals.
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Brenda MenineHumanitarian Action | Direitos Humanos, Diversidade e Voluntariado - Mestra em comunicação (UFRGS), especialista em…
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SUCHISMITA DEBNATH𝗛𝗥 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 at 𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗜𝗡 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗣𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 || 850K+ POST IMPRESSIONS ||UPDATES…
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Hussain HamzahMission Ambassador to Nigeria at Federation of International Gender and Human Rights (FIGHR)
Depending on your level of experience and the type of job you are applying for, you might want to use different formats to present your volunteer work on your resume. For example, if you have limited or no paid work experience, you might want to use a functional or combination resume that emphasizes your skills and achievements rather than your chronological work history. In this case, you can list your volunteer work under a section called "Relevant Experience" or "Professional Experience" and include the same details as you would for a paid job, such as the organization name, location, dates, title, and responsibilities. Alternatively, if you have a lot of paid work experience and your volunteer work is not directly related to your target job, you might want to use a chronological resume that lists your volunteer work under a separate section called "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement" at the end of your resume. This way, you can still show your involvement in the community and your transferable skills without overshadowing your paid work experience.
One of the most important things to do when highlighting your volunteer work on your resume is to tailor it to the specific job you are applying for. This means that you should use keywords and phrases that match the job description and the employer's expectations. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, you might want to highlight how you helped create and distribute flyers, newsletters, or social media posts for your volunteer organization. Or, if you are applying for a teaching job, you might want to highlight how you tutored, mentored, or coached students or adults in your volunteer role. You should also quantify your achievements and results whenever possible, using numbers, percentages, or other metrics to show the impact of your volunteer work. For example, you might say that you increased the attendance of an event by 50%, raised $10,000 for a charity, or improved the test scores of your students by 20%.
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When spotlighting volunteer work on my resume, I first do a deep dive into the company's core values. It's like being a detective, where each clue uncovers the company's essence. Armed with this knowledge, I tailor my volunteer experiences to resonate with their values. If global diversity is their anthem, I bring my volunteer stories with people from varied cultures to the forefront, painting a picture of my ability to thrive in a multicultural environment. It's about reflecting their identity through my experiences, showing them I'm not just a candidate—I'm a kindred spirit committed to their mission.
Another way to highlight your volunteer work on your resume is to showcase the skills and values that you developed or demonstrated through your volunteer role. Volunteering can help you gain or improve various skills, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, creativity, or adaptability. You can list these skills under a section called "Skills" or "Key Qualifications" on your resume and provide examples of how you used them in your volunteer work. For example, you might say that you communicated effectively with diverse audiences, led a team of volunteers, solved conflicts, or came up with innovative ideas for your volunteer project. You can also showcase the values that you share with your volunteer organization, such as compassion, empathy, social justice, or environmental awareness. These values can help you connect with the employer and show that you are a good fit for their culture and mission. You can mention these values in your resume summary, objective, or cover letter and explain how they motivated you to volunteer or how they align with your career goals.
The last tip on how to highlight your volunteer work on your resume is to be honest and professional. You should never lie or exaggerate about your volunteer work, as this can damage your reputation and credibility. You should also avoid using slang, jargon, or acronyms that might confuse or alienate the employer or recruiter. Instead, use clear, concise, and formal language that reflects your professionalism and respect. You should also proofread and edit your resume for any spelling, grammar, or formatting errors that might undermine your quality and attention to detail. Finally, you should always ask for permission and provide contact information for your volunteer references, as some employers might want to verify or learn more about your volunteer work.
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