How To List Volunteer Experience on a Resume: Sections, Examples, & Tips
Add your volunteer work to give your resume something extra.
Adding voluntary work to a resume could be just what you need to show potential employers you mean business, especially if you’re lacking experience or changing roles.
Volunteer work covers a wide range of activities and can vastly improve your chances of getting an interview for your ideal job if you know how to put volunteer work on your resume in a way that shows your strengths, dedication, and enthusiasm.
Check out the following guide on how to include volunteer experience with our AI resume builder in your resume to make sure you get the best shot at securing an interview.
Why Include Your Volunteer Work on a Resume
Listing volunteer work on a resume will depend heavily on how much work experience you have and your volunteer work’s relevance to the role.
If you have a lot of professional experience in the relevant role, it may not be necessary to add any volunteer work.
However, you should include volunteer work on your resume if:
- The position demonstrates that you have skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- You are writing a student resume or an entry-level resume and have limited experience.
- You have gaps in your work experience section on your resume to fill.
Many employers consider voluntary work as worthwhile as paid employment to a candidate’s experience, which means that they may even be looking out for it as a basic element of your resume to show off your skills and other qualifications.
How To Put Volunteer Work on a Resume
Adding volunteer experience to your resume can demonstrate valuable skills and commitment. Here’s how to feature it effectively in different resume sections.
With ResumeCoach’s AI resume builder, you can get expert suggestions in seconds to help you add your volunteer work and qualifications throughout your resume naturally.
Volunteer work in a resume summary
Including volunteer work in your summary highlights your dedication and transferable skills for a role in an NGO or a private company.
You can add your volunteer experience and skills in your introduction easily with our AI summary builder.
Experienced manager with a strong background in team leadership and volunteer coordination. Over 150 hours of service with local nonprofits, including organizing community events and mentoring youth programs. Proven ability to lead teams, foster collaboration, and drive organizational success.
Volunteer work in the experience section
When included in the experience section, volunteer work can show the practical application of your accomplishments.
Volunteer Coordinator, ABC Charity (March 2024 – Present)
- Managed event logistics and team coordination, improving community engagement by 30%.
Volunteer section on a resume
You can also create a dedicated volunteer section, especially if you lack professional experience, to demonstrate your commitment.
Volunteer Work:
- Mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2025-Present
- Event Planner, Local Shelter, 2023-2025
Resume Examples With Volunteer Work
Look over the following examples of two different profiles. One of the examples is of an applicant who works in the private sector with volunteer experience, and the other is much more involved in volunteer work.
Product manager with volunteer experience resume example
John Doe
123 Job Seeker Way
Atlanta, Georgia 12345
Email: john.doe@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7890
Summary
Product Manager with over 5 years of experience in leading cross-functional teams to create innovative products. Skilled in market analysis, product development, and project management. Passionate about using product management expertise to drive positive change, including extensive volunteer work with local organizations to mentor underserved youth in tech careers.
Skills
- Product Development
- Project Management
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Market Analysis
- Agile Methodologies
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Strategic Planning
Experience
Product Manager | XYZ Tech Solutions
March 2020 – Present | Atlanta, Georgia
- Led a team of 10 to develop a new SaaS product, resulting in a 25% increase in customer engagement.
- Managed product roadmap, prioritizing features based on market research, customer feedback, and business goals.
- Collaborated with engineering, design, and marketing teams to ensure smooth product launch and post-launch support.
Volunteer Experience
Tech Mentor | Code for Good
January 2018 – Present | Savannah, Georgia
- Volunteered 100+ hours mentoring high school students from underserved communities, helping them build basic coding skills and gain confidence in tech careers.
- Organized coding workshops and hackathons for local youth, resulting in increased program participation by 40%.
- Helped design learning materials and curricula for the program, improving engagement and student outcomes.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
University of Georgia, 2016
- Graduated with Honors
- President, University Coding Club
Certifications
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) – 2019
- Google Project Management Certificate – 2021
Volunteer coordinator resume example
Mary Jobseeker
456 Helping Hands Blvd
New York, New York, 67890
Email: mary.jobseeker@email.com
Phone: (987) 654-3210
Summary
Dedicated Volunteer Coordinator with a strong background in managing volunteer programs, fostering community relationships, and driving impactful initiatives. Experienced in both nonprofit and corporate settings. Successfully applied project management skills honed in volunteer work to coordinate and lead teams, including organizing large-scale events and community outreach projects.
Skills
- Volunteer Program Management
- Event Coordination
- Community Outreach
- Project Management
- Team Leadership
- Nonprofit Strategy
- Customer Research
Experience
Volunteer Coordinator | Helping Hands Organization
May 2019 – Present | City, State
- Coordinated over 200 volunteers for community outreach programs, leading to a 50% increase in community engagement.
- Managed logistics for annual charity events, ensuring smooth operations with a budget of $50,000.
- Developed and implemented volunteer training programs, enhancing retention and satisfaction by 30%.
Product Manager | ABC Nonprofit Solutions
March 2017 – May 2019 | City, State
- Led the development of a donation tracking platform that increased donation transparency and donor engagement by 20%.
- Worked closely with cross-functional teams, including developers and marketing, to create user-friendly solutions for nonprofit clients.
- Conducted user research and feedback sessions to improve platform functionality and customer satisfaction.
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
NYU, 2015
- Community Service Award
- Member, Social Work Club
Certifications
- Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) – 2018
- Agile Project Management Certification – 2020
Volunteer Work
Event Organizer | Local Shelter Drive
January 2016 – Present | City, State
- Organized fundraising events, securing over $20,000 in donations for local shelters.
- Managed a team of 15 volunteers, improving efficiency in event setup and execution.
- Developed communication strategies to engage the local community and increase event attendance by 35%.
Tips for Adding Your Volunteer Experience Effectively
Voluntary work is an excellent addition to any resume. Check out these tips for including volunteer work on your resume.
- Firstly, it is vital to remember to only include volunteer work that is relevant to your profile and the role or industry you’re applying to.
- In all possible cases, quantify any examples of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
- Include only the more recent and critical positions or activities.
- If you decide to list various voluntary positions, either as part of the work experience section or in a separate part, it is advisable to do so in reverse chronological order.
- Leave out voluntary work if it’s not relevant or appropriate for your application.
Volunteer experience is fast becoming one of the more paramount sections of a resume due to the increasingly positive response it receives from hiring managers in job applications.
This is especially true for student resumes, whether seeking part-time employment or graduates, and entry-level resumes and any candidates looking to change career or returning to the workforce from an absence.
That said, professional resumes also benefit to a great extent from including volunteer work in their application due to the wide scope that this aspect can cover and the endless skills and experience it offers a jobseeker.
Related Volunteer Work You Can Include on Your Resume
Take a glance at the following list of possible related volunteer work you could include on your resume either for the experience, knowledge or skills it has given you.
- Sports Coach
- Member of a not-for-profit organization
- Helping at events
- Fundraising
- Mentoring
- Chaperoning
- Offering services for free to neighbors, friends etc.
- School associations
- Providing transport
- Community Service
- Neighborhood Watch
- Counseling etc.
Voluntary experiences are nearly always career-enhancing even when it may not be in the exact line of work you’re looking for, so don’t be afraid to improve your chances at landing that dream job by including your volunteer work on your resume.
FAQs About Volunteer Experience on a Resume
A good volunteer experience on a resume demonstrates transferable skills, such as leadership, communication, or project management. Focus on roles where you made a measurable impact, such as organizing events or mentoring, that demonstrate responsibility and initiative.
List your volunteer experience as if it were any role, by including the organization name, your position, dates, and major responsibilities. If you met any fundraising goals or increased participation, please mention them and highlight the skills you acquired or improved.
The best skills for volunteering you can add to your resume include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, time management, and adaptability. Depending on the role you want to apply to, you can also add technical skills, event planning, and fundraising abilities, which may also help highlight your contributions and impact.
Instead of just using the word “volunteer,” use terms like “community organizer,” “team member,” “project coordinator,” or “contributor.” These words express more professionalism and highlight your specific contributions and responsibilities within the volunteer role.
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