Why Volunteer Work Can Enhance Your Resume

Just because work is not paid, that does not mean it is not valuable. In fact, listing volunteer work on your resume can be a savvy thing to do. Of course, there are a number of ways to approach this. However, the most important thing is that you refer to your volunteer work in some way. This is particularly important if your volunteer work is directly related to the type of job you are seeking.

Community service section

Some job-seekers place a community service section in their resume. This shows that the job applicant is a well- rounded individual who cares deeply about community. It also shows a level of dedication that would be highly prized in an employee. By listing your volunteer work in a separate section, you can really highlight it, making it stand out from the rest of the resume. If you are applying for a job in the public sector or with a non-profit organization, this might be a particularly effective way of showcasing your talents.

Integrating your volunteer work into your experience section

While you should certainly not indicate that you held a paid position when you were actually a volunteer, there is nothing inherently wrong with listing your volunteer work in the experience section of your resume. Certainly, volunteer work requires skills, training, and, in some cases, educational qualifications. An internship is a perfect example of volunteer work that can help you immensely in your career.

However, resist the urge to list "volunteer" as a job title. Instead, if you volunteered as an editorial assistant, list "editorial assistant" on your resume. If you coordinated volunteers, write "volunteer coordinator." In the description that follows the job title, you can explain that the position was unpaid. Such a technique focuses attention on what you've accomplished, rather than whether you were compensated for it. The job titles are what will capture the attention of the resume reviewer, and so you should craft your resume accordingly.

Don't hide your achievements

Be sure to spell out exactly what you achieved as a result of your volunteer efforts. For instance, did you expand a volunteer force of five to thirty? Did you prepare a news report which aired on broadcast television? Did you raise $10,000 in a fundraising campaign? The more specific you are in talking about your achievements, the more likely you are to impress the individual who reviews your resume.

Highlight what you've learned

Serving as a volunteer can be an incredible learning experience. Therefore, you should consider listing the skills you learned while volunteering. For example, you might have learned how to run a computer program or how to edit videotape. In this way, you can demonstrate how your volunteer work expanded your knowledge base.

Don't stop volunteering

Don't stop volunteering, once you've found a paying job. Donating a few hours a week to volunteer work can help to sharpen your skills, further preparing you for the next job down the road.

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