How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume in 2025 (+ Pro Examples)
How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume in 2025 (+ Pro Examples)
Meta Description: Wondering how to include volunteer work on your resume? Learn the best format to showcase your skills, impress recruiters, and beat the ATS. Read our expert guide!
Your Definitive Guide to Volunteer Work on a Resume
Are you undervaluing your volunteer experience? Many job seekers have impactful skills from volunteering but struggle to present them effectively on a resume. They worry it might look unprofessional or irrelevant. The truth is, strategically placed volunteer work can be the very thing that sets you apart from a sea of similar candidates.
This guide goes beyond basic advice. We've analyzed the top-ranking articles and created a more comprehensive, actionable resource. We'll show you not just if you should include volunteer work, but where and how to format it to grab a recruiter's attention and satisfy the automated systems that guard the gates.
Why Volunteer Experience is a Secret Weapon in Your Job Search
In a competitive job market, every advantage counts. Volunteer work isn't just "filler"—it's a powerful demonstration of your skills, work ethic, and character.
- Fills Employment Gaps: It shows you remained active and productive during time off.
- Provides Relevant Skills: You can gain tangible, transferable skills like project management, fundraising, or social media coordination.
- Demonstrates Character: It highlights your commitment, passion, and willingness to go the extra mile—qualities no employer can ignore.
- Beats the ATS: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are used by over 98% of Fortune 500 companies to filter resumes Forbes. Your volunteer roles are a goldmine for keywords that can help you pass this initial screening.
Where to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume: 3 Strategic Options
The biggest mistake job seekers make is burying their volunteer experience. Where you place it depends on your career situation.
Option 1: A Dedicated 'Volunteer Experience' Section
This is the most common and clearest method. It's ideal if you have consistent, long-term volunteer roles that are relevant but not central to the job you're applying for.
How to do it:
- Create a new section on your resume titled "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement."
- Place it after your "Professional Experience" section.
- Format each entry just as you would a professional job, including the organization, your role, dates, and bullet points describing your achievements.
Option 2: Within Your 'Work Experience' Section
This is a bold, strategic move best for career changers, recent graduates, or when your volunteer role is highly relevant to the target job.
When to use this:
- Your volunteer role gave you direct experience the rest of your resume lacks.
- You were responsible for significant projects, budgets, or teams.
- You want to mask an employment gap seamlessly.
If you list it here, be prepared to speak about it as you would any other professional role.
Option 3: In a 'Skills' or 'Additional Information' Section
This is best for one-off volunteer events or when the experience is not directly relevant to the job. It's a way to show character without taking up too much space.
Example: Additional Information
- Community Involvement: Annual participant in the City Charity Marathon (2022-2024); Event volunteer for the Local Tech Conference (2023).
How to Describe Your Volunteer Work to Impress Recruiters (With Examples)
How you word your experience is everything. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to frame your accomplishments and focus on quantifiable results.
Before and After: Transforming Your Volunteer Entries
Let's see how to elevate a simple description into a powerful statement.
| Before (Passive & Vague) | After (Active & Quantified) |
|---|---|
| - Helped organize fundraising event. | - Co-managed a fundraising gala that raised over $15,000 for community programs, exceeding the previous year's total by 25%. |
| - Wrote social media posts. | - Grew the organization's Instagram following from 500 to 2,500 in 6 months by developing and executing a content strategy. |
Do's and Don'ts for Listing Volunteer Work
Bulleted List: Best Practices
- Do use strong action verbs to start each bullet point.
- Do quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts whenever possible.
- Do tailor the descriptions to the job you're applying for, highlighting the most relevant skills.
- Don't use personal pronouns like "I" or "my."
- Don't list religious or political affiliations unless the experience is directly relevant to the employer's mission.
Your Secret Weapon: The Right Keywords
To ensure your resume gets seen by a human, you first need to get past the ATS. This means aligning the language in your volunteer section with the language in the job description.
CTA Integration: Manually checking for these keywords is tedious. JobSeekerTools can instantly scan your resume against a job description, showing you exactly which skills and keywords you're missing. This ensures your volunteer experience is working as hard as possible for you.
Conclusion: Turn Your Passion into a Career Asset
Don't underestimate your volunteer work. When presented correctly, it's not just an afterthought—it's compelling proof of your abilities and dedication. By placing it strategically, describing it with impact, and tailoring it to your target job, you transform your community involvement into a powerful career advantage.
Visual Guides
Where to Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume: A Flowchart Guide
This guide helps you decide the best place for your volunteer experience on your resume.
Start Here: Evaluate Your Volunteer Experience
- Is your volunteer experience directly relevant to the job you're applying for?
- [YES] -> Go to Option A
- [NO] -> Go to Step 2
Step 2: Consider Your Work History
- Do you have significant gaps in your employment history?
- [YES] -> Go to Option A
- [NO] -> Go to Step 3
Step 3: Assess the Skills Gained
- Did you gain valuable, transferable skills (e.g., leadership, project management, software proficiency) from your volunteer work?
- [YES] -> Go to Option B
- [NO] -> Go to Option C
Placement Options:
Option A: Integrate it into your "Professional Experience" section.
Treat it like a job.
- Use the same formatting as your other work entries.
- Detail your accomplishments and quantify your impact.
- This is ideal for career changers or those with employment gaps.
Option B: Create a dedicated "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement" section.
Showcase your commitment and skills.
- Place this section after your "Professional Experience".
- Use bullet points to highlight key responsibilities and achievements.
- This is the most common and versatile option.
Option C: List it in a brief "Additional Information" section.
Keep it concise.
- A simple, one-line mention is sufficient.
- Example: "Volunteer, City Marathon, 2024"
- Use this when the experience is not directly relevant and you have a strong work history.
Caption: A visual flowchart showing a job seeker how to decide where to place volunteer work on their resume based on their career situation.
The Ultimate Checklist for Describing Volunteer Experience
Use this checklist to ensure your volunteer experience shines on your resume.
Formatting and Placement
- Choose the right section: "Volunteer Experience," "Professional Experience," or "Additional Information."
- Be consistent: Use the same formatting as your paid work experience.
- Include key details: Organization name, your title, and dates.
Content and Language
- Use action verbs: Start each bullet point with a strong verb (e.g., "Organized," "Managed," "Coordinated").
- Quantify your impact: Use numbers to show the scale of your work (e.g., "Raised $5,000," "Led a team of 10").
- Focus on transferable skills: Highlight abilities relevant to the job (e.g., "Project Management," "Public Speaking").
- Tailor to the job description: Emphasize experience that aligns with the role's requirements.
- Show, don't just tell: Instead of "Good communication skills," write "Presented to groups of 50+ attendees."
What to Avoid
- Don't downplay your role: Treat your volunteer work as seriously as a paid job.
- Avoid jargon: Use clear and concise language that anyone can understand.
- Don't include irrelevant details: Keep the focus on your skills and accomplishments.
- Don't forget to proofread: Check for any spelling or grammar errors.
Caption: A comprehensive checklist graphic detailing the do's and don'ts for listing volunteer work on a resume to impress recruiters.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does volunteer work count as real work experience? Absolutely. If you developed skills, managed projects, or had significant responsibilities, it is valuable experience. For career changers or those with employment gaps, it can be just as important as paid work.
2. How far back should I list volunteer work? Follow the same rule as professional experience: focus on the last 10-15 years. If a role from long ago is exceptionally relevant to the job you want, you can still include it, but prioritize recent and impactful experience.
3. Should I include my volunteer work if it's not related to the job? Yes, but keep it brief. A short mention in an "Additional Information" section can still demonstrate positive character traits like commitment and community-mindedness without distracting from your more relevant qualifications.