How to List Volunteer Experience on a Resume

By Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW, Career Advice Expert •Last Updated: October 25, 2024

Our customers have been hired at: *

Including volunteer experience on your resume can be a powerful way to showcase relevant skills, bridge gaps in employment and set yourself apart from the competition.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to add volunteer experience to a resume, including where it should be listed and how to tailor it to the role you are applying for.

Get started with our user-friendly Resume Builder and expert tips on leveraging your volunteer experience to stand out to potential employers.

Should you include volunteer experience on your resume?

Including volunteer experience on your resume can strengthen your candidacy by highlighting professional skills, accomplishments and values that are relevant to the job.

However, whether or not you include volunteer experience on your resume depends on your level of experience and the relevance of the volunteer work to your target role.

When to include volunteer experience on your resume

You should include volunteer experience on your resume when it adds value to your application and highlights qualities that align with the job you’re seeking.

Here are examples of when it can be beneficial to include volunteer work on your resume:

When you’re early in your career: If you are a student or recent graduate writing a resume with no work experience, volunteer roles can help to expand your resume with relevant experience that highlights your skills and abilities.
To showcase transferable skills: Many volunteer roles require transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. If your volunteer work demonstrates these skills, it can strengthen your candidacy, even if it’s not in the same industry.
When it’s relevant to the job: Include volunteer experience if it directly relates to the job. For example, if you’re applying for a position in nonprofit management, volunteer experience with similar organizations shows relevant management skills and expertise.
To fill employment gaps: If you’ve had periods of unemployment, listing volunteer work can demonstrate that you remained active during those employment gaps and continued to develop your skills.
When you’re changing careers: When transitioning to a new career, including volunteer experience can help you write a strong career change resume by bridging the gap between your previous work and the new field.

When to leave volunteer experience off your resume

While volunteer experience can be a great addition to many resumes, there are certain situations where it may not be necessary or appropriate to include.

Here are some instances when you should not include volunteer experience on your resume:

When you have extensive professional experience: If you have a long work history of relevant paid experience, prioritize your professional accomplishments unless the volunteer work significantly enhances your application or shows a unique qualification.
When it’s not relevant to the job: If your volunteer work does not demonstrate skills, experiences or qualifications that are directly transferable to the job you are applying for, it’s best to leave it off of your resume.
When it’s too dated: Volunteer work from many years ago, especially if it’s no longer relevant or if you have more recent experience, may not add value. Focus on volunteer experience from the past 5-10 years to keep your resume concise and up to date.
When it fills up space without adding value: If your resume is already packed with relevant experience and accomplishments, including volunteer work can increase the length of your resume unnecessarily.
When it could cause bias or controversy: Do not include your volunteer work if it involves sensitive political, religious or social causes that might introduce bias or distract from your qualifications.

Explore our library of resume examples for expertly crafted samples tailored to various roles, industries and career levels.

Examples of volunteer experience on a resume

The professionally crafted resume templates below demonstrate how to list volunteer experience in various sections of your resume.

Where does volunteer experience go on a resume?

As demonstrated in the examples above, volunteer experience can be placed in different sections of your resume depending on its relevance to the job you are applying for.

In the professional experience section

If your volunteer experience is closely related to the position you are applying for, you can include it in the work experience section of your resume.

Make sure that you clearly differentiate between paid work and volunteer experience in your role titles.

You can use “Experience” as the section heading to encompass both paid and volunteer work. Here is an example of an experience section that features a paid position and a volunteer role:

EXPERIENCE

Marketing Coordinator
BrightWave Solutions, Chicago, IL
January 2022 – Present

Developed and executed marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness by 25% over a six-month period.
Managed social media accounts, growing follower base by 15% and increasing engagement through targeted content.
Collaborated with the sales team to design promotional materials, leading to a 10% boost in client acquisition.

Volunteer Event Coordinator
Hope Haven Foundation, Chicago, IL
May 2021 – December 2021

Led a team of 15 volunteers in organizing a charity event that raised $10,000 for local community programs.
Coordinated logistics, including venue booking, vendor management and promotion, attracting over 300 attendees.
Designed marketing materials and promoted the event through social media, increasing awareness by 20%.

The placement of your work history section will depend on the resume format you use and which aspects of your professional background you want to highlight.

In a separate volunteer experience section

Another option is to include a separate section at the bottom of your resume to list your volunteer experience separately from your paid work experience.

This layout is ideal if you have relevant work experience but want to include supplemental volunteer experience that is highly relevant to the role you are applying for.

Keep this section brief and tailor it to the role by including keywords from the job description that align with your skills and abilities. Here is an example volunteer experience resume section:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Volunteer Program Coordinator
Second Harvest Food Bank, Los Angeles, CA
April 2022 – Present

Coordinated weekly food distribution programs, providing meals to over 500 families in need each month.
Recruited, trained and managed a team of 30 volunteers, improving operational efficiency by 15%.
Developed partnerships with local businesses to secure food donations, increasing contributions by 20%.

Community Outreach Volunteer
Habitat for Humanity, San Francisco, CA
June 2021 – March 2022

Assisted in building and renovating homes for low-income families, contributing over 100 volunteer hours.
Organized fundraising events that raised $5,000 for local housing projects.
Engaged with community members to promote volunteer opportunities and increase participation by 10%.

Explore how to write a resume for step-by-step guidance and examples to help you craft each section of your resume.

How to Put Volunteer Experience on a Resume

When adding a volunteer experience section to your resume, it's important to include the same level of detail and relevance as you would for professional experience. Here’s what to include:

Position title: Include the full title of your volunteer position.
Organization name: Include the name of the organization you volunteered for.
Location: If relevant, list the city and state or country where the organization is based.
Dates of involvement: Mention the time period you volunteered, including the month and year (e.g., June 2020 – August 2021). If it’s ongoing, use “Present” as the end date.
Responsibilities and achievements: Use bullet points to describe your tasks and accomplishments, just as you would for paid work experience.
Key skills developed or demonstrated: Tailor your description to emphasize hard skills and soft skills that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

You can use our Resume Builder to quickly and easily add a volunteer experience section to your resume. Here is an example:

Make a resume with MyPerfectResume

Our Resume builder can help you write the perfect resume. Start Now!

Build my resume

Tips for Listing Volunteer Experience on a Resume

Treat it like a job: Format volunteer experience similarly to paid work experience. If your volunteer work is particularly relevant to the job you're applying for, you can list it in the main "Experience" section rather than under a separate heading.
Focus on relevant skills: Highlight the technical skills and achievements from your volunteer experience that align with the position you're applying for. Tailoring your resume to the job description ensures your volunteer work adds value.
Quantify your impact: Whenever possible, include numbers to showcase the impact of your work. For example, "Raised $15,000 in donations" or "Managed a team of 10 volunteers." Quantifiable results make your contributions stand out.
Highlight leadership and initiative: If you held leadership roles or took the initiative to start projects, make sure to mention that. Employers value strong leadership skills, teamwork and problem-solving, even in a volunteer setting.
Keep it relevant: If you have extensive volunteer experience, only include what is relevant to the job or what demonstrates critical skills. You don't need to list every volunteer activity, just those that add value.
Use action verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs like "Organized," "Managed," and "Coordinated." Succinct and action-oriented language conveys your impact in your volunteer roles.

Key Takeaways

Volunteer experience can be included on a resume when it is highly relevant to your target role or if you have limited professional experience.
You can list volunteer roles in the work experience section of your resume or in a separate section dedicated to volunteer experience.
Focus on highlighting transferable skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication and project management, that you gained through your volunteer experience.
Tailor the volunteer experience you list to the job you are applying for by emphasizing responsibilities and achievements that align with the job description.

FAQ

How do you describe volunteer experience on a resume?

To describe volunteer experience effectively on a resume, treat it with the same importance as paid work experience. Use bullet points to detail your responsibilities and accomplishments.

Focus on the skills and contributions relevant to the job you are applying for, highlighting transferable abilities such as communication skills or project management skills.

We also recommend exploring how to include volunteer work in a cover letter to ensure that your job application provides a comprehensive description of your skills and experience.

What types of volunteer work should I include on my resume?

When deciding what types of volunteer work to include on your resume, focus on experiences that showcase relevant skills, responsibilities or achievements.

Here are a few examples of what to put for volunteer experience on a resume:

Leadership roles: Include volunteer roles where you hold leadership positions, such as managing a team, coordinating projects or mentoring others.
Long-term or significant commitments: Highlight volunteer work that lasted for an extended period or had a significant impact. Long-term volunteering demonstrates commitment, responsibility, and passion for a cause.
Community service: Community service roles, especially those that involve public interaction, problem-solving skills or collaboration, can be included on your resume.
Volunteering with recognized organizations: Volunteering with well-known organizations such as Red Cross or UNICEF can strengthen your resume.

When your resume is complete, we recommend using our ATS Resume Checker to scan for common errors and get instant optimization suggestions to improve your resume.

How do I format volunteer experience on my resume?

Format volunteer experience similarly to your work experience. Include the name of the organization, your role or title, the dates you volunteered and your key achievements.

To create an ATS-friendly resume, list your responsibilities and accomplishments for each volunteer position using clear section headings and simple bullet point formatting.

See our guide on what a resume looks like for additional examples and tips for creating a resume that is clear and easy to read.

We also recommend checking out what to put on a resume for additional guidance on creating a resume that stands out to hiring managers.

Does volunteer experience count as work experience?

Yes, volunteer experience can count as work experience on your resume, especially when it is closely related to the industry or position you are applying for.

For example, organizing events, leading teams or fundraising for a nonprofit directly relates to similar roles in many professional settings.

Including volunteer work is an excellent way to explain employment gaps on your resume, as it shows that you were still developing skills and contributing to the community during that time.

You can use our Cover Letter Generator to create a cover letter that elaborates on the volunteer experience listed in your resume and explains why it makes you a great fit for the role.

Can I list volunteer work if I’m currently volunteering?

Yes, you can list ongoing volunteer experiences. Just mark the date as “Present” (e.g., January 2023 – Present) and detail your current responsibilities and contributions.

Focus on the skills you’re currently using or developing, and highlight any measurable impacts your work has had, such as people served, funds raised or projects completed.

See our guide on how to write a cover letter for examples and tips to help you craft a compelling cover letter that complements the current volunteer work listed in your resume.

How We Reviewed This Article

Since 2013, we have helped more than 15 million job seekers. We want to make your career journey accessible and manageable through our services and Career Center’s how-to guides and tips. In our commitment to bring you a transparent process, we present our Editorial Process.

Rate this article

How to List Volunteer Experience on a Resume

Average Rating

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

★★★★★

4.5/5 stars with 100 reviews

Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW

Career Advice Expert

FOLLOW:

Elizabeth is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and a member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Careers Coaches. She is passionate about delivering information that empowers job seekers to achieve their professional goals.

FOLLOW:

More Articles by Elizabeth Muenzen, CPRW

Our customers have been hired at:*