How to list volunteer experience on a resume (with tips and examples)

Even if your volunteer experience isn’t directly related to the position you’re applying for, it can demonstrate that you are community-minded, dependable, and eager to contribute. With that said, this article will cover the following:

• When to include volunteer work on your resume
• How to list your volunteer experience for maximum impact
• Examples of volunteer work on your resume
• Tips for listing volunteer experience
• Common mistakes to avoid when adding your volunteer experience to your resume

When to include volunteer experience on your resume: Quick guide

If you’re asking, “Should I put volunteer work on my resume?” the answer is usually “Yes!” However, in some scenarios, you may want to leave it out. Take a look at when you should and shouldn’t list volunteer work on resumes. 

When to include volunteer experience on your resume 

You should include volunteer experience on resumes when: 

Adding volunteer work to your resume can be particularly beneficial if you don’t have a substantial amount of professional work experience, such as if you’re a high school or college student or a recent graduate. Volunteer work can also be useful if you are making a career change and your volunteer experience is relevant to your new position, if you have a gap in your resume and want to demonstrate that you were still contributing to your community during that time, or if you simply want to highlight hard skills that you have gained or honed through volunteering.

When to leave volunteer experience off your resume

Although volunteer experience is a valuable thing to include in your resume, you may want to omit the section in the following cases:

Listing too many minor positions can distract your audience from more meaningful achievements, such as your professional experience or academic accolades. Are you unsure whether your volunteer experience section is too long, too short, or just right? Check out resume examples for inspiration. 

How to list volunteer work on a resume 

Several steps can ensure your volunteer work highlights your value as a job candidate without overwhelming your resume.

1. Decide where to place volunteer work based on relevance and experience

Where you should list your volunteer work depends on your level of professional experience and whether the volunteer work is directly relevant to your target position. If you have plenty of paid professional work experience, list your volunteer positions in a designated section at the end of your resume. But, if you have less professional work experience and/or the volunteer work is especially pertinent to the job you are applying for, you can list it in your work experience section.

You might also decide to split up your volunteer work, listing positions that are particularly relevant to your target position in your experience section and less closely related volunteer work in a dedicated section toward the end of your resume.

2. Include examples of volunteer work in your professional experience

When your volunteer work directly supports your target role, treat it like any job. Include the organization name, your title, the dates you served, and bullet points to show how you contributed. You can add information in a dedicated volunteer experience section; just make sure it doesn’t overshadow other aspects of your resume. 

Make sure to tie the examples back to your cover letter, but don’t repeat the same information. 

3. Connect your volunteer experiences with your skills

Regardless of where you decide to list your volunteer information, follow the format that you’ve used for the rest of your resume and be sure to include all the relevant details about your volunteer work. This should include information like the official title of the volunteer position, the organization you worked with, and where and when the work took place.

Include a few bullet points as you would with a paid position, in which you can highlight skills that you gained, responsibilities of the positions, your accomplishments, and so forth. The more relevant the volunteer work is to the job that you’re applying for, the more detail you should include. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with numbers and data to help reinforce your skills.

Target your resume to each position that you apply for, adjusting your volunteering information as necessary to highlight skills that are specifically desirable for your goal position.

4. Create a separate section at the end of your resume for unrelated volunteer experiences 

Before exploring how to add volunteer experience to resumes, remember, it needs its own dedicated section. You can title this section “Community Involvement,” “Volunteer Activities,” or something similar. 

Example of volunteer work on a resume

Before diving deeper into resume volunteer tips, here are some examples of volunteer work.

Example 1: Medical or healthcare roles

Imagine you volunteered with a healthcare organization such as Doctors Without Borders. Now, you are applying for a position in the medical field. List your experience in the Work Experience section, as it’s relevant to the role. 

Here’s how it may appear:

Focus on the impact your work had on the community. Where possible, include quantifiable data. 

Example 2: Technical or IT roles

If you’ve volunteered in a project that added to or showcased your technical expertise, include it in the professional experience section. Doing so demonstrates that your skillset is versatile. 

Engaging in volunteer work that shows off your technical skills demonstrates to employers that you are passionate about your profession. 

Example 3: Experienced professionals highlighting character

Mid- or senior-level professionals can also benefit from adding volunteer work to their resumes. It shows community engagement and should be added to your volunteer experience section near the end of your resume. 

Recent hiring stats provide more insights that shed light on the hiring process and how you can stand out. 

Example 4: Education or youth leadership roles

If your volunteer work centers around mentoring or youth programs, emphasize leadership and organizational skills on your resume. These qualities are valued across virtually every industry. 

Look at some resume and cover letter templates for ideas on how to incorporate these types of roles into your job application documents. 

Example 5: Students or early applicants

If you’re a high school or college student, you might feel like your resume is a little thin when applying for your first job. In this case, adding volunteer experience can serve as your primary work experience section. 

Use these options to fill in the gaps in your resume. If you need additional inspiration, check out some resume and cover letter examples.

Example 6: Community or nonprofit involvement

Are you applying to an organization that values civic engagement? A volunteer section can highlight how your efforts fit in with company culture. 

The goal is to demonstrate that you value more than professional success and are willing to put in the time to prove it. 

Tips for listing volunteer experience

If you’ve decided that it makes sense to include your volunteer experience on your resume, keep these tips and considerations in mind:

• Include Volunteer Work Only if You Have Space: Your resume should be no more than one page, unless you have more than 10 years of experience 
• Prioritize Relevant Volunteer Experiences: List your work experience, education, and skills before adding relevant volunteer work 
• Consider Your Professional Experience Level: If you’ve accumulated a lengthy professional history, you may be able to omit volunteer work
• Keep Your Volunteer Descriptions Impactful: Use action verbs and put yourself at the center

Mistakes to avoid when including volunteer experience on your resume 

Avoid these common pitfalls to ensure your volunteer section strengthens your application:

• Listing irrelevant volunteer work that doesn’t support your target role
• Overloading the section with minor details or generic duties
• Failing to quantify achievements such as hours served or funds raised
• Not linking your volunteer work to transferable professional skills
• Placing the section where hiring managers might overlook it

Look at some examples to see polished formatting options. 

Key takeaways

Including volunteer work on resumes is beneficial because it can:

• Bridge employment gaps and demonstrate your leadership qualities
• Add relevance to your resume or provide quantifiable examples
• Feature roles and titles you held
• Provide additional outcome-focused examples of your work

Not sure how to create a resume that features your volunteer work? Consider using Jobseeker and our professional resume creation tool, which allows you to enter your information and easily switch between a library of resume templates and styles. When you are satisfied with your selections, download your resume instantly and get started applying for jobs right away.