Here's something most job seekers overlook:
Volunteer work isn't just nice to include. It's strategically powerful.
That weekend you spent building houses with Habitat for Humanity? It proves teamwork and physical stamina.
Those months tutoring kids at the local library? Leadership and communication.
The annual fundraiser you chair? Project management and stakeholder coordination.
The difference between volunteering that helps your resume and volunteering that wastes space? How you present it.
TL;DR
- Volunteer experience increases hiring odds by 27%
- 41% of hiring managers view it as equal to paid work
- Format like a job: title, organization, dates, achievements
- Best for: entry-level, career changers, gaps, mission-driven roles
- Quantify impact: people helped, funds raised, hours contributed
Why Volunteering Matters to Employers
higher hiring odds
For candidates who include volunteer experience on their resume
Source: University of North Carolina Study
of HR executives
Say they value skilled volunteering when evaluating candidates
Source: Deloitte Impact Survey
But why? What does volunteering actually prove?
What Employers See in Volunteer Experience
| Trait | What Volunteering Demonstrates |
|---|---|
| Initiative | You do things without being paid to do them |
| Values Alignment | You care about community and impact beyond yourself |
| Leadership | Many volunteers take on coordination roles |
| Soft Skills | Communication, teamwork, adaptability |
| Work Ethic | You give up free time to contribute |
| Curiosity | You're willing to learn outside your comfort zone |
When two candidates have similar qualifications, the one with meaningful volunteer work usually wins. It shows character, not just competence.
When to Include Volunteer Work
Include Volunteering When...
These situations make volunteer experience valuable resume real estate.
1. You're Entry-Level or a Recent Graduate
Limited paid experience? Volunteering fills the gap and proves you've done something beyond classes.
For entry-level resumes, your volunteer leadership role might be your strongest qualification.
2. You're Changing Careers
Volunteering in your target field proves interest and builds relevant skills before you have paid experience.
"I volunteered as a marketing coordinator for a nonprofit before transitioning from teaching to marketing full-time."
3. You Have Employment Gaps
Volunteer work during gaps shows you stayed active and productive:
- "During a career break, I volunteered 20 hours/week as a program coordinator for Habitat for Humanity"
4. Volunteering Is Directly Relevant to the Role
Applying to a nonprofit? Social impact company? Healthcare system? Mission-driven organization?
Your volunteer work isn't just filler—it's proof you care about the same things they do.
5. You Want to Show Values and Culture Fit
For companies that emphasize culture and values, volunteering reveals who you are as a person.
Where to Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume
It depends on your situation:
Option 1: Dedicated Section (Most Common)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Board Member | Local Food Bank January 2022 – Present • [Bullet points] Event Coordinator | Community Arts Festival March 2020 – December 2021 • [Bullet points]
Placement: After Work Experience, before or after Skills
Option 2: Within Work Experience (When Very Relevant)
If your volunteering is directly relevant to the job and demonstrates key skills, include it alongside paid work:
EXPERIENCE Marketing Manager | TechCorp Inc. 2022 – Present • [Paid work bullets] Marketing Volunteer | Nonprofit XYZ 2020 – 2022 • [Volunteer bullets—clearly labeled]
Option 3: Combined "Experience & Leadership" Section
For entry-level candidates mixing work, volunteering, and extracurriculars:
EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP IT Help Desk Technician | University of Texas | 2023 – Present • [Work bullets] Vice President | Computer Science Student Association | 2022 – 2024 • [Volunteer/leadership bullets] Tech Mentor | Code.org | 2021 – 2023 • [Volunteer bullets]
How to Format Volunteer Entries
Treat volunteering like a job—because it is one (just unpaid).
The Structure
[Role/Title] | [Organization Name] [City, State or Remote] | [Date Range] • [Achievement bullet with quantified impact] • [Achievement bullet with skills demonstrated] • [Achievement bullet with scope/responsibility]
Example Entries
Nonprofit Program Coordinator:
Program Coordinator | Big Brothers Big Sisters
Austin, TX | March 2022 – Present
- Matched and onboarded 45 mentor-mentee pairs, achieving 92% relationship retention rate
- Organized 6 community events with 200+ attendees, raising $18K in annual funding
- Trained 20+ new volunteers on organization protocols and child safety procedures
Community Tutor:
Volunteer Math Tutor | Austin Public Library
Austin, TX | September 2021 – May 2023
- Tutored 15 middle school students weekly in algebra and geometry
- Developed custom curriculum that improved average student grades by one letter grade
- Created 25+ study guides now used by other volunteer tutors in the program
Board Member:
Board Treasurer | Local Animal Rescue
Remote | January 2020 – Present
- Managed $250K annual operating budget, ensuring 100% audit compliance
- Implemented new donor management system, increasing repeat donations by 35%
- Led financial planning for shelter expansion project ($150K capital campaign)
Event Volunteer:
Event Volunteer | American Red Cross
Houston, TX | 2019 – 2021
- Supported 12 blood drive events, assisting 500+ donors through registration and recovery
- Trained 8 new volunteers on event setup and donor care protocols
- Received "Outstanding Volunteer" recognition for 150+ hours of service
How to Write Volunteer Achievement Bullets
Use the same techniques as paid work: quantify impact.
- 1
Start with an action verb
Led, Organized, Managed, Coordinated, Trained, Raised
- 2
Describe what you did
What was your role or responsibility?
- 3
Add quantified impact
People helped, dollars raised, events organized, hours contributed
- 4
Show the outcome
What improved or changed because of your work?
Before & After Examples
| Weak ❌ | Strong ✅ |
|---|---|
| Helped with fundraising | Raised $12K through corporate sponsorship outreach and peer-to-peer campaign management |
| Tutored students | Tutored 20 students weekly in SAT prep, improving average scores by 150 points |
| Volunteered at animal shelter | Socialized 100+ shelter dogs, increasing adoption rates by 25% |
| Assisted with events | Coordinated logistics for 5 community events with 500+ total attendees |
Volunteer Work for Specific Situations
Entry-Level Candidates
Volunteer work can be a primary resume section. Place it prominently:
LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE President | Marketing Club | University of Texas August 2022 – May 2024 • Grew membership from 45 to 120 students (+167%) • Organized 8 speaker events featuring marketing executives from HubSpot, Google, and LinkedIn • Managed social media strategy, growing Instagram following by 400% Volunteer Marketing Coordinator | Austin Humane Society May 2023 – Present • Created email campaigns reaching 5,000+ newsletter subscribers • Designed adoption promotion graphics increasing inquiries by 30%
Career Changers
Show you've been building skills in your target field:
Volunteer Data Analyst | Nonprofit Environmental Watch
Remote | 2023 – Present
- Analyzed donation patterns across 10K+ donors, identifying segments that increased retention by 18%
- Built Tableau dashboard tracking environmental impact metrics, now used in quarterly board presentations
- Collaborated with marketing team on data-driven campaign optimization
This proves you have data skills even if your paid job hasn't required them yet.
Employment Gaps
Frame volunteering as how you stayed productive:
Volunteer Coordinator | Habitat for Humanity (during career break)
Dallas, TX | January 2022 – June 2023
- Managed scheduling for 50+ volunteers across 8 build projects
- Liaised between construction crew, volunteers, and homeowner families
- Contributed 600+ personal volunteer hours while coordinating others
Volunteer Work and LinkedIn
Bonus insight: volunteer work on LinkedIn increases profile views.
more profile views
For LinkedIn profiles that include volunteer experience
Source: LinkedIn Study
Make sure your resume and LinkedIn volunteer sections align.
What NOT to Include
Not all volunteering helps:
Be Careful With...
- Politically polarizing organizations — Unless applying to aligned organizations
- Religious volunteering — Unless the employer is faith-based or it demonstrates clear skills
- Very old volunteer work — If it was 10+ years ago and you have recent experience, it may not add value
- Minimal involvement — "Donated once to charity" isn't resume material
Rule of thumb: Include volunteering that demonstrates skills, commitment, and character—not just participation.
Volunteer Section vs Interests Section
Volunteer Experience = Active involvement with achievements (put in a dedicated section)
Interests = Casual mention of causes you support (put in interests section if at all)
# Detailed volunteer work → VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE section Board Member | Food Bank | 2+ years of active service # Casual involvement → INTERESTS section (optional) Interests: Volunteer dog walking, environmental advocacy
Quick Checklist
Before Adding Volunteer Work
- Is it relevant to the job or demonstrates transferable skills?
- Can I quantify the impact (people, dollars, hours, events)?
- Did I hold a meaningful role (not just attended once)?
- Is it recent enough to matter (last 5-7 years)?
- Does it add something my paid work doesn't show?
The Interview Payoff
Good volunteer experience creates interview talking points:
- "Tell me about a time you led a team" → Your volunteer coordination role
- "What are you passionate about?" → Your cause-focused work
- "How do you handle challenges?" → Problem-solving in under-resourced environments
Hiring managers love candidates who have stories beyond "I did my job."
Your Move
Look at your resume right now.
If you have volunteer experience that demonstrates skills, values, or fills gaps—add it. Format it like a job. Quantify the impact.
If you don't have volunteer experience? Consider starting. Even a few months of consistent contribution can make a difference.
Build a resume that highlights your volunteer impact
Our AI Resume Builder helps you present volunteer experience professionally. Perfect for entry-level, career changers, and community-focused roles.
Build My ResumeRelated Resources
- Entry-Level Resume Guide — Maximizing limited experience
- Achievements vs Responsibilities — Quantify volunteer impact
- Hobbies on Resume — Strategic interests that impress
- AI Bullet Generator — Transform volunteer descriptions into achievements
- Cover Letter Generator — Tell your volunteer story
- Resume Examples — See volunteer sections in context
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I put volunteer work on my resume?
Yes—if it's relevant to the job, demonstrates valuable skills, fills employment gaps, or shows community involvement. 27% of candidates with volunteer experience are more likely to get hired according to research.
Where does volunteer work go on a resume?
Create a dedicated 'Volunteer Experience' section after Work Experience, or include it under 'Experience' if it's directly relevant to the role. For entry-level candidates, it can go higher on the resume.
How do I describe volunteer work on a resume?
Treat it like paid work: use a job title, organization name, dates, and achievement-focused bullet points. Quantify impact: people helped, funds raised, events organized, improvements made.
Can volunteer work replace work experience?
It can supplement limited work experience, especially for students, career changers, and those with gaps. It demonstrates skills, work ethic, and values—but shouldn't be your only experience if you're mid-career.
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