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Volunteer Work on a Resume: Examples and Templates

Here’s everything you need to know to effectively showcase volunteer work on a resume, including volunteer resume examples and templates.

10 months ago   •   6 min read

Volunteering isn’t just a great way to help out your community — it can also be used to build your resume. Whether you don’t have a lot of paid work experience yet or you’re trying to get experience in a specific niche, volunteer work is a great way to round out your resume, learn in-demand skills, and fill in any missing gaps.

Keep reading to learn how to effectively showcase volunteer work on your resume. In this article we will cover:

• Volunteer resume templates you can download
• Examples of volunteer resume accomplishments
• Essential volunteer-based skills to list on your resume

How to list volunteer work on a resume

• Start by creating a separate resume section. Give it a title like “Volunteer Experience” or “Community Involvement.”
• Alternatively, you can list volunteer work directly in the Work Experience section of your resume — just make sure to put “Volunteer” somewhere in your job title.
• List the organization and your dates of service (years or months).
• List your job title. If you had a specific job title, like “Fundraising Coordinator,” use that, but if not, “Volunteer” is fine.
• Choose 2-3 examples of things you accomplished during your role.
• List these in bullet points, starting with an action verb like Managed, Collaborated, or Organized.
• If possible, add some numbers to quantify each accomplishment — for example, “collected $15,000 in donations” rather than “collected donations.”
• Get instant feedback from our free resume scanner before you send it off.

Volunteer resume templates

Here’s an example of a resume you could use to show off your volunteer work for a nonprofit organization:

A template like this works well if you don’t have a lot of paid work experience, by taking your volunteer experience and letting it shine upfront.

Here’s another volunteer resume example:

This template is ideal if you have a mix of paid and volunteer experience that you want to showcase on your resume. You can download these volunteer resume templates — and more — from our ATS resume templates page.

I recommend uploading your resume to the tool below to check whether you have effectively highlighted your volunteer experience, along with any transferable skills gained from that experience.

Examples of volunteer work on a resume

Whether you start with one of the templates above or prefer to create your own resume from scratch, you’ll need some actual accomplishments to fill it out. Here are some volunteer resume examples you can copy and paste or use as a jumping-off point to write your own.

Nonprofit volunteer resume

Volunteer work looks great on a resume, whether you’re applying to work at a nonprofit organization or you just want to show off a few relevant accomplishments. Here’s an example:

XYZ Nonprofit Organization, June 2019 - Present Volunteer • Organized and executed fundraising events, resulting in over $15,000 in donations. • Coordinated with volunteers to collect and distribute donations to local families in need. • Provided support for various programs and initiatives, including outreach to underserved communities.

Community service volunteer resume

Community service isn’t just a nice thing to do — it’s also a great way to build skills and gain experience, especially if you’re just starting out. Here’s an example:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE ABC Youth Center, September 2018 - May 2019 Volunteer Mentor • Mentored and provided support to a group of 10 at-risk youth, promoting positive behavior and academic success. • Coordinated activities and field trips, fostering teamwork and communication skills among youth participants. • Encouraged and guided youth in setting and achieving personal goals, resulting in increased self-esteem and motivation.

Student volunteer resume

If you’re a student or recent graduate, volunteer work is a valuable addition to your resume. This can include student activities and organizations. Here’s an example:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Resume Worded Finance Society, September 2017 – May 2020 Head of Events • Founded the first ever Business Series to organize finance training for 500 students. • Organized and advertised 10+ quarterly networking events with 300+ participants in 3 universities in Boston. • Managed the launch of new booking system to improve organization of events; system now used across university.

Hospital volunteer resume

Looking to start your medical career? Adding some volunteer work alongside your studies is a great way to show that you’re committed to the field and passionate about your work.

Here’s an example:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Resume Worded Medical Center, 2016 - 2018 Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician • Volunteered as an EMT for one night-shift weekly in one of the busiest areas in New York City. • Provided basic patient assessments to assess the severity of the patient’s condition, subsequently providing BLS to treat those conditions; 100% success rate in resuscitating emergency patients. • Worked as part of a 3-person team to treat patients & understand their medical and family histories.

Political volunteer resume

Political organizations can be contentious, but there’s a way to list them on your resume while staying professional. Instead of talking about a specific issue, keep the focus on the work you did and leave partisanship out of it. Here’s an example:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Young Voters Society, June 2019 – April 2020 Poll Agent • Registered high school students to boost voter participation among 19-year-olds by 71%. • Partnered with a team of 12+ poll watchers to prepare election ballots within 30 minutes, establishing a 98% accuracy rate in counting votes.

Charity work resume

No volunteer work is too small for your resume. Remember to keep the focus on what you accomplished with some action verbs and metrics, like in this example:

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE XYZ Animal Shelter, August 2017 - December 2018 Volunteer • Assisted in the care and adoption of over 100 animals, including dogs, cats, and rabbits. • Coordinated with staff and other volunteers to organize successful adoption events, resulting in a 30% increase in adoptions. • Raised over $5,000 in donations through social media campaigns and community outreach efforts.

Resume-worthy skills gained through volunteer experience

Don’t have volunteer experience in the area you’re planning to work in? That doesn’t mean it isn’t relevant! When listing experience — volunteer or otherwise — on your resume that isn’t obviously related to the job you’re applying for, the key is to emphasize transferable skills. Some of the best soft skills to highlight on a volunteer resume include:

Communication

Problem solving.

• Organization
• Project management
• Customer service
• Relationship building
• Conflict resolution

But don’t rush to list these skills in your Skills section — transferable skills like these belong in your Work Experience accomplishments instead. For each skill that you want to highlight, choose an example of a time when you demonstrated that skill and turn it into a bullet point. Here are some examples:

• Collaborated with a team of volunteers to organize a successful fundraising event that raised $10,000 for a local charity.
• Worked in a team to implement a new system for tracking donations, resulting in a 25% increase in donor retention.

If you’re struggling to come up with things you accomplished, try thinking about what your whole team accomplished instead. Not only will this add some more achievements to your resume, it also shows that you’re a team player, which is something every employer wants.

• Provided excellent customer service as a volunteer at a community center, effectively communicating with diverse populations and resolving issues in a timely manner.
• Managed social media accounts for a nonprofit organization, creating engaging content and responding to inquiries from followers.

Instead of saying something vague like “communicated with members of the public,” try to focus on how you communicated — for example, working in a customer-facing position, calling donors, or managing a social media account.

• Created a system for organizing and distributing supplies to volunteers during a disaster relief effort, resulting in a more efficient and effective response.
• Identified and addressed issues with a nonprofit's website, improving user experience and increasing traffic by 30%.

If you’ve ever been in an interview, you’ve probably been asked about a time when you encountered a problem and how you solved it. That’s not just a good interview question — it’s also a great idea for a resume bullet point like the ones above.

• Led a team of volunteers in planning and executing a successful environmental conservation project, resulting in recognition from local government officials.
• Coordinated a group of volunteers for a charity event, delegating tasks and ensuring smooth operations throughout the day.

Applying for roles where leadership is a must but without formal management experience? Volunteering is a great way to help with that — any time you led a team, trained new volunteers, or spearheaded a project can be used to show your leadership skills.

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30 Examples: How To List Volunteer Work on a Resume

By Status.net Editorial Team on April 26, 2024 — 10 minutes to read

Volunteering is a great way to acquire new skills, network with professionals, and make a difference in your community. When it comes time to update your resume, incorporating your volunteer experiences may give you a competitive edge. The key is to present your volunteer experience in a manner that highlights the relevant skills you’ve gained and what you’ve accomplished.

Begin by examining the volunteer work you’ve done and identifying the skills that would be most applicable to the job you’re seeking. For example, if you volunteered at an animal shelter, you might have developed strong communication and teamwork skills while coordinating with other volunteers and shelter employees. Or, if you volunteered as a tutor, you could highlight your ability to effectively teach complex subjects and demonstrate expert problem-solving skills.

Identifying Your Volunteer Experiences

Start by making a list of all your volunteer activities, including the organization, your role and responsibilities, and the length of time you were involved. For example:

• Nonprofit Organization A – Volunteer Coordinator (6 months)
• Community Event B – Event Volunteer (one-time event)
• Local Animal Shelter C – Dog Walker (3 months)

As you review your list, consider the skills and knowledge you gained from each experience. This could be anything from project management to customer service or even special skills like event planning or social media promotion.

Next, prioritize your experiences by relevance for the job you’re applying for. This means considering which volunteer activities showcase the most important skills, expertise, and qualities that the employer is looking for. After you’ve identified the most relevant volunteer experiences, it’s time to think about how to present them on your resume. One effective approach is to include a dedicated volunteer work section, ideally located near your professional experience section. This allows you to highlight valuable skills and experiences while also demonstrating your commitment to giving back.

Where to Place Volunteer Work on Your Resume

Main experience section.

Consider placing volunteer work in your main experience section if it relates closely to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you have volunteered at an animal shelter and are applying for a position as a veterinarian assistant, it would be relevant to include this experience with your professional work history.

When listing volunteer work in the main experience section, it should be formatted similarly to your regular employment:

• Organization Name, City, State
• Your role/job title
• Duration (Month Year – Month Year)
• Key accomplishments or responsibilities (use bullet points to make these easier to read)

Separate Volunteer Section

If your volunteer work is not directly related to the job you’re applying for, or if you already have extensive relevant employment experience, it might be more appropriate to create a separate volunteer section on your resume. This section should come after your main experience section, but before the education and skills sections.

In the separate volunteer section, you can still emphasize how these experiences contributed to your personal and professional growth. List your volunteer experiences by following the same format as the main experience section.

Volunteer Work on a Resume: 30 Examples

1. Community Service Volunteer – Organized weekly community clean-up events, managing teams of 20+ volunteers – Coordinated with local businesses for resource contributions

2. Hospital Volunteer – Provided companionship and support to patients, improving their hospital experience – Assisted nurses with non-medical tasks to enhance patient care

3. Animal Shelter Volunteer – Cared for and socialized animals to prepare them for adoption – Implemented a new system for tracking animal vaccinations and health records

4. Youth Mentor – Mentored a group of 10 high school students, providing academic and personal guidance – Developed and facilitated workshops on college readiness and career exploration

5. Event Planning Volunteer – Played a key role in organizing annual charity gala, raising over $50,000 – Managed logistics, including venue selection, catering, and guest list coordination

6. Environmental Conservation Volunteer – Participated in reforestation projects, planting over 1,000 trees – Educated the public on sustainability practices through workshops and presentations

7. Disaster Relief Volunteer – Assisted in rebuilding efforts after local flooding, contributing over 200 hours of service – Distributed food and supplies to affected families

8. Volunteer Tutor – Provided weekly math tutoring to underprivileged students, resulting in a 25% average grade improvement – Created personalized lesson plans and practice exercises

9. Food Bank Volunteer – Organized food drives that collected over 3 tons of food for the local community – Streamlined the food sorting process, increasing efficiency by 30%

10. Special Olympics Volunteer – Coached a team of 15 athletes, leading them to win gold in regional competitions – Coordinated travel and accommodations for team events

11. Habitat for Humanity Volunteer – Contributed to the construction of 5 homes for low-income families – Led a team of volunteers in framing and drywall installation

12. Volunteer Fundraiser – Spearheaded a crowdfunding campaign that raised $10,000 for a local animal rescue – Developed marketing materials and social media strategies to promote the campaign

13. Library Volunteer – Managed book inventory and assisted patrons with locating resources – Organized weekly storytime sessions for children, fostering a love of reading

14. Crisis Hotline Volunteer – Provided empathetic support to individuals in crisis, contributing to a 20% increase in positive outcomes – Completed 60 hours of specialized training in crisis intervention techniques

15. ESL (English as a Second Language) Volunteer Teacher – Taught English to adult learners, helping 30+ students achieve conversational proficiency – Developed culturally sensitive teaching materials

16. Nonprofit Board Member – Served on the board of a local nonprofit focused on youth development – Participated in strategic planning and fundraising efforts

17. Volunteer Translator – Provided translation services for a community health center, improving access for non-English speakers – Translated over 200 pages of health education materials

18. Legal Aid Volunteer – Assisted in providing free legal services to low-income individuals – Conducted legal research and prepared case documents under attorney supervision

19. Volunteer Web Developer – Designed and maintained the website for a local charity, increasing online donations by 40% – Implemented SEO best practices to enhance the site’s visibility

20. Art Program Volunteer – Facilitated art workshops at a community center, inspiring creativity in 50+ participants – Curated a successful art exhibit showcasing local talent

21. Senior Center Volunteer – Organized social activities and outings for seniors, improving community engagement – Provided tech support, helping seniors connect with their families online

22. Volunteer Coach – Coached a youth soccer team, emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship – Organized fundraising events to support team equipment and travel expenses

23. Public Health Volunteer – Supported public health campaigns by distributing educational materials and organizing community events – Conducted surveys to assess the impact of health initiatives

24. Music Therapy Volunteer – Performed weekly music sessions at a local hospital to enhance patient well-being – Collaborated with therapists to tailor sessions to individual patient needs

25. Museum Docent – Led educational tours, engaging visitors with the museum’s exhibits – Assisted in the development of new exhibit materials and interactive displays

26. International Volunteer – Taught English and basic computer skills in a rural community abroad – Assisted with the development of a local microfinance program

27. Volunteer Social Media Coordinator – Managed social media accounts for a nonprofit, growing the follower base by 500% – Created engaging content that increased audience interaction

28. Literacy Advocate Volunteer – Participated in reading programs at local schools, helping to improve literacy rates – Organized book donation drives to provide resources for underfunded libraries

29. Volunteer Research Assistant – Supported a university research project by collecting and analyzing data – Co-authored a paper on the project’s findings, which was published in a peer-reviewed journal

30. Homeless Shelter Volunteer – Assisted with daily operations at a shelter, providing meals and support to residents – Developed a job search workshop to help residents gain employment

How to Describe Your Volunteer Work

Use action verbs.

It’s important to use action verbs to describe your duties and accomplishments in your volunteer work. This helps create a strong impression on the reader and showcase your proactive nature.

Examples of strong action verbs:

• Collaborated
• Implemented
• Coordinated
• Facilitated

Quantify Your Impact

When describing your volunteer work, try to quantify your impact whenever possible. This helps provide more context and shows the impact of your contributions.

• Coordinated a team of 15 volunteers
• Raised $5,000 for a local charity
• Organized a charity event with over 200 attendees
• Contributed 120 hours of tutoring
• Assisted in the construction of three homes for low-income families
• Led a group of ten in weekly park cleanups
• Mentored 50 students in an after-school program
• Facilitated team-building exercises for 100 employees
• Developed and implemented a new training curriculum
• Served meals to over 500 people in need

Tailoring Your Volunteer Experience to the Job Description

Emphasize the relevant skills you gained during your volunteer experiences by relating them to the job you’re applying for. This helps demonstrate how your volunteer work has prepared you for the position.

• Improved interpersonal communication through tutoring sessions
• Developed leadership abilities as a team coordinator
• Strengthened problem-solving skills as a volunteer mediator
• Enhanced project management abilities by organizing events
• Acquired customer service experience through volunteer receptionist duties
• Gained public speaking skills through community outreach presentations
• Developed multitasking abilities in a busy office setting
• Improved teamwork skills through group collaborations
• Enhanced negotiation skills through sales fundraising efforts
• Strengthened event planning skills by leading committee meetings

Carefully read the job description and make note of the key requirements and skills the employer is looking for. You can then try to match these with your volunteer experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some ways to present volunteer work on my resume.

You can present volunteer work on your resume in a few different ways, depending on how closely it relates to your desired job and how much experience you have. For example,

• Create a separate Volunteer Work section: This approach is suitable if your volunteer experience is not directly related to your career goals but still demonstrates relevant skills and responsibilities.
• Include volunteer work within your Professional Experience section: If your volunteer experience aligns with your career goals or if you have minimal professional experience, present it alongside your paid positions.
• Highlight related volunteer work under your Skills section: If your volunteer experience helped you gain specific expertise, showcase those skills in your Skills section and mention the relevant volunteer work.

Can you provide a description for including volunteer experience in a resume?

When including volunteer experience in your resume, it’s important to provide details such as the organization’s name, your role or position, the dates you volunteered, and a brief description of your accomplishments and relevant responsibilities. For example:

Volunteer Work

• Provided tutoring in math and English to underprivileged high school students, resulting in improved grades of over 90% of participants.

How should a student with volunteer experience showcase it on their resume?

As a student with limited work experience, emphasizing your volunteer work can demonstrate your skills, initiative, and commitment to potential employers. You can:

• Include your volunteer work in a dedicated Volunteer Experience section, or even within your Work Experience section if it’s directly related to your career goals.
• Highlight key skills gained through your volunteer work in the Skills section, mentioning specific achievements where possible.
• If relevant, mention any leadership roles or significant responsibilities within your volunteer work.

In what manner can I detail my contributions in volunteer positions?

When detailing your contributions, focus on accomplishments and the impact you made through your volunteer work. To do this, use action verbs, quantify results, and emphasize outcomes. For example:

• Organized an annual charity event that raised over $10,000 for children’s educational resources, resulting in a 20% increase in funds compared to the previous year.

Is it beneficial to describe volunteer activities in a resume, and if so, how?

Yes, describing volunteer activities in a resume can be beneficial as it showcases your transferable skills, commitment to the community, and ability to collaborate. To describe your activities effectively:

• Focus on any tasks that demonstrate relevant skills for the position you are applying for.
• Be specific in describing your role, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
• If possible, quantify the impact of your activities, e.g., dollars raised, number of attendees, or percentage improvements.

Are there any specific words or phrases that effectively convey volunteer experiences?

To effectively convey your volunteer experiences, use action verbs and descriptive language that highlights your accomplishments and transferable skills. Examples:

These words can show potential employers that you were actively engaged in your volunteer work and achieved meaningful results.

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Our world thrives on the compassion of volunteers. Whether you're donating your time to serve food to the homeless or your talents and expertise to a non-profit organization, volunteers provide a valuable service to communities across the United States. In recent years, many larger charities and non-profit organizations have asked would-be donors to submit a volunteer resume with an application.

A volunteer position has changed significantly over the past decade. In years past, if someone wanted to donate their time to an organization, they could show up to an event, put on the charity's t-shirt, and help whenever possible.

Nowadays, non-profits and community organizations need to pre-screen and qualify volunteers to ensure they are reliable and will represent their brand with ethical behavior.

Creating a resume with volunteer experience is a good idea if you're looking to volunteer your time. This is what we'll outline today. In the information below, we'll provide a detailed guide on how to write a resume for volunteer work.

Our team of professional resume writers has created two volunteer work resume examples that showcase the candidate's expertise, qualifications, compassion, and dedication to serving their communities. So – if you'd like to review a few practical volunteer resume samples with a detailed guide on creating content in each section, let's get started.

Volunteer Resume Sample

Volunteering can include remedial tasks such as collecting tickets, fundraising, community service, assisting with healthcare, signing people up for activities, or serving food. It can also require a candidate to have professional skills, such as being a construction worker, a certified professional, or having strong technical skills.

The two resume examples with volunteer work we've selected showcase what professional non-profits or community groups seek in their candidates. Let's take a closer look at two volunteer resume samples.

Volunteer Construction Worker

In recent years, many non-profit organizations focusing on providing resources for military veterans and first responders have significantly grown. Many groups build custom homes for those who have been wounded during their time of services, such as Homes for Heros, Tunnel for Towers, and others.

The volunteering resume examples below are an excellent example of how the finished project should look. It is from our mythical candidate Danny Jackson, a former US Navy Veteran with electrical and general construction expertise, hoping to volunteer for a hypothetical non-profit we're calling The Homes 4 Heros Foundation.

A professional yet laid-back or conversational tone should be used when creating a volunteer resume. It should be a one-page document with relevant employment history, a good volunteer resume description (or resume objective), relevant skills, reputable references, and any required education.

It's clear to notice that this is what Danny has done with his resume for volunteer work. The organization builds custom homes for disabled veterans who require unique enhancements to their homes to help them live a higher quality of life. His resume format is clean, easy to scan, has a relevant experience section, and flows from start to finish.

As a former Navy Veteran, who worked on advanced weapons systems and currently works as a commercial construction foreman, it's clear that Danny has the required expertise to provide valuable service to this group.

His resume includes his personal contact information, making it easier for the Homes 4 Heros Foundation to contact him directly. It continues with a well-written resume objective, highlighting his desire to join this non-profit. It outlines his qualifications, previous military experience, and dedication to supporting fellow veterans.

Further in the resume is his work history section, which supports the professional qualifications required to volunteer for this non-profit home-building company. Specifically, he has listed his current employment as a commercial construction foreman, focusing on electrical work.

He also mentions his military career, whereas a CIWS weapons system operator provided him with the technical training to become a certified electrician apprentice. However, the military experience also gives him the work ethic, team building, and problem-solving skills to help the project.

One of our professional resume writers wrote it to give you a great baseline and practical examples of the type of language you should include in the resume. Take some time to review the entire resume. When you're finished, continue reading the article. We'll discuss each section and provide tips for tackling this project later in this article.

Red Cross Volunteer Resume

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The American Red Cross is one of the most valuable non-profit organizations. They serve communities throughout the globe during times of crisis, including wars, natural disasters, and global pandemics. However, they are also the world's most prominent collector of life-giving blood donated by compassionate people worldwide.

The people who complete blood draws are known as phlebotomists. Our volunteering candidate is Susan Smith, who currently serves as a Certified Phlebotomist for a medical office in her hometown of Thornton, Colorado. She hopes to join the American Red Cross to volunteer her time during select weekends to assist with mobile blood drives in the Greater Denver Metro area. She has written a community volunteer resume sample for us to review.

You'll need to go above and beyond with your resume to stand out among a sea of other competent volunteer applicants. Susan achieves this in the first line of her resume objective area. She has prepared this document primarily for the Red Cross office in Denver.

A phlebotomist's workday is never the same since offices range from modest solo practice to huge, high-volume hospitals. Because of this vastness, a phlebotomist's profession may vary significantly. Check-in patients, taking phone calls, performing complete venipuncture or capillary puncture blood draws, and collecting other bodily fluid samples are all part of the job.

When you read the phlebotomist's resume, you'll notice that she has included:

• A work history section (second serving as a volunteer of a mobile clinic).
• Her education.
• Three excellent references.
• Her top skills relevant to the job.

Now that you've reviewed two exceptional volunteer resume examples let's explore how to write, structure, and edit each of the primary sections included.

How to Write a Good Resume for Volunteer Work: Full Guide to Successful Volunteer Resumes

Reviewing most volunteering job postings will make it 100 percent clear how to build and structure your resume. The job description will often include the skills, relevant job experience, and education or certifications for the specific volunteer position. However, many non-profit organizations are looking for general volunteers – to complete office duties, help with warehousing, or other operational tasks.

The key is to research what your charity, community organization, or non-profit might be seeking before creating a resume for them. In many cases, if you are a specialist, such as our two hypothetical volunteering candidates above, you can fine-tune your existing professional resume to make it for a volunteer position.

Best practices for writing volunteer resumes suggest including the following primary sections.

Personal Contact Info:  Always provide your complete legal name, mailing and email address, and cell phone number. Keep it basic unless asked otherwise; there's no need to include social media connections like LinkedIn unless requested.

Professional Summary:  A volunteer's resume summary, often known as a volunteer resume objective, is a four- to a five-sentence elevator pitch. This is your first chance to make an impression.

Work History:  List out your professional experience or previous volunteering jobs. You should include job specifics as well as a few standout accomplishments.

Education:  A GED certificate or a high school diploma is required for most volunteer jobs. However, if the specialist or professional licensing you possess is requested by the organization looking for volunteers, list your highest degree in the education section. No need to add your GPA or core course study, unless it’s applicable to your position.

Skills:  Including five to seven features in the volunteer abilities resume part is essential. Many jobs recruiting firms use applicant tracking software to search for these action words, so it's best to include them in the skills portion.

References:  Choose two or three thorough references, including two professional or previous employers and one personal that can support your job search.

The most important aspects of the resume are represented by these primary sections noted above. If a future employer asks for more information on your resume, you should provide it. Including certifications such as CPR or First Aid in one section is better if that's what you need.

For this article – we will focus on the primary sections displayed in the sample resumes. The following areas below will help you build out the content for each.

Section #1 – List Your Contact Information

The first item on your resume will always be contact information. While it's more than likely that you'll fill out an official job application, the resume should be a supporting document that further supports your candidacy. However, one essential item for future employees is consistency with their applicants.

To ensure that you have the best chance of success, ensure that the contact information listed on your application matches 100 percent of your resume. For example, some people will write generic resumes for volunteer positions and submit them to every job. However, they may move or change their mobile phone number – and not update their resume.

Let's review Susan's resume for this section. You'll notice that her contact information is easy to see. This will make it easier for prospective volunteer organizations to contact you directly.

How to Format this Section

We recommend that you use a resume builder or template to format each part of your resume so that it appears polished and professional. It will guarantee that the document looks professional while ensuring that important information is easy to remember. Remember that the contact information you provided on the application should be used for the resume (including name, mailing address, address, city, state, zip code, email, and phone number).

Section #2 – Professional Summary 

A professional summary or resume overview is your best opportunity to provide a general overview of the information posted below. Consider it like a written elevator pitch, where you introduce your candidacy, explain what you want, showcase your experience and qualifications, and why you're the right person for the job.

Let's provide two different examples of writing this section.

Volunteer Resume Summary for Non-Profit Organization

This sample is from Danny's resume. He is applying for a construction volunteer position with a non-profit organization called Homes 4 Heros Foundation. You'll notice that he has written this section for this specific volunteering position.

What makes this summary different from others is that Danny frequently mentions attributes that showcase his passion for people served by the Foundation – former US Military and First Responders who require custom-built homes. It's crucial to many non-profit organizations that volunteers have a personal connection to support those they serve.

Volunteer Resume Summary for General Organizations

When you're writing a resume for an organization that doesn't serve a specific demographic, you can approach your resume summary differently.

You can see this in Susan's resume summary posted above. She focuses on her expertise as a phlebotomist – the service provided by the American Red Cross during their mobile blood drives.

The professional summary of a perfect resume should be less than 200-words. It's intended to be a short yet persuasive paragraph written in a conversational yet professional tone. You'll want to sprinkle your hard and soft skills into the section to convince the reader to learn more about you.

Section #3 – Employment History

Having the right work experience is another vital component to gaining a job interview for a volunteer position. Many employers search for candidates with the right skills and who previously served in this capacity. It's due to this fact that listing relevant employment history should be your top priority.

For a volunteer position, showcasing the skills and experience you possess that fit with the needs of the organization seeking volunteers is essential. For example, in Susan's sample resume below, you'll notice that she has listed two relevant jobs – both serving as phlebotomists. The first is her "day job," – where she completes blood draws in a medical office.

The second job listed is a previous volunteer position, working with a mobile clinic in the City of Denver. This gives the Red Cross a practical example of providing phlebotomy services in a remote environment – such as the blood drives they provide onsite.

The data you enter in your work history must be correct to the application. When choosing roles, keep track (and remember) of the dates you worked there and your job title and key responsibilities.

It's critical to choose two of your most recent relevant employment. When presenting them, do so in reverse chronological order — or from the newest to the oldest. Always include your employer's name, address, start and end dates of employment, occupation, and a few bullet points on essential duties or achievements.

Section #4 – Education

Specific educational requirements may be necessary depending on the work you're looking for. Most volunteer jobs will need a high school diploma or GED certificate. However, the education section of your volunteer resume is an opportunity to demonstrate the highest level of education you've obtained. While it's always up to the hiring manager to make that decision, having a college degree might be a tiebreaker in certain situations.

Susan has listed her Certification as a Phlebotomist in the sample resume above, which is relevant for this profession. If you have only a high school diploma, include it here. However, if you are currently enroll in college, do not list it on your resume. Instead, include this information in your cover letter, which should always be attached to each resume submission.

How to Format This Section

It's as simple as it sounds. Simply state the school's name, location, dates, and degree received. Make sure to match your application information and other completed documents to the volunteer position you're applying for.

Section #5– References

The best references are those who can testify to your previous work ethic, ability to complete tasks as assigned, and your teamwork ability. They are typically selected to maintain a professional relationship (even if they were in a previous job). This would be called a professional reference, a mentor, previous employer, or manager who speaks credibility and has years of experience in their position.

The other type of reference is a personal one – such as a family friend or personal mentor who serves in a professional career (like a banker, lawyer, or business owner). They are submitted to resumes to speak on your interpersonal skills or character. Recruiters love seeing high-profile careers as references for volunteers.

Let's go back to Danny's resume sample for an example of the type of references he's listed. You'll note that he selected the owner of the construction firm he works for – along with a former commanding officer during his time in the Navy. Since he is applying for a volunteer position with a non-profit that builds homes for military veterans who are disabled, both references are exceptional.

When listing references on a volunteer resume, please include the first and last name of your reference, their place of work, and the phrase "available upon request." Unless requested by the organization you are applying to, this will keep their contact information private. Check out some of our resume templates to see how they arrange the reference section on resumes.

Section #6 – Skills

A good volunteer will be adaptable at writing and oral communication, conflict resolution, multitasking, maintaining an upbeat demeanor, time management, attention to detail, compassion, and completed tasks as assigned. As a volunteer is typically not paid for their efforts, the candidate must choose organizations that help a community or strongly support a mission they believe in.

The skills section is more critical with volunteering positions that will focus on a specific task. Let's look at Danny's resume for the example in this case. As a former US Navy veteran and current construction foreman, he's focused on industry-specific skills such as carpentry, being an electrical apprentice, maintaining OSHA compliance (for safety), and having a solid work ethic.

The skills section is a bulleted list of your future employer's needs. It describes five to seven bullet points demonstrating where you excel in the future. When using a resume builder or template, we recommend dividing the skills into a sidebar for organization and space efficiency.

Final Points on Crafting Effective Volunteering Resumes

The ideal volunteers have the appropriate expertise, hard and soft skills, and a work ethic to follow through on tasks as required. During an interview, they'll be able to show their personality, but they must first obtain an invitation. An excellent volunteer resume submitted together with a correct application, and well-written cover letter is always a great idea.

You've arrived at the right location if your objective is to obtain a well-written, detailed, and exciting resume. We've made a simple road map to guarantee that your resume is polished, clear, and engaging. All you must do now is follow the steps outlined above. Here are a few quick reminders for those who need them.

• Make sure your volunteering job resume flows from start to finish.
• Always write your resume on a plain white background with black font.
• Edit your written content through Grammarly – or another online grammar editing tool that will save you time.
• Ensure it's well-spaced, organized, and professional.
• Finally, read it aloud a few times before you're ready to paste the content into a resume builder or template.

Finally, there is one more thing to think about. Ask a few pals to review or edit your resume afterward, especially those who are now volunteers for the organization you wish to join. Have them go through it carefully and offer any helpful insights you may have missed.

Having a second or third set of eyes review a volunteer resume before submitting it to the hiring manager is an excellent approach to ensure it's as polished as possible.

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Volunteer resume examples & templates

You may think that volunteering shouldn’t require a resume, after all, you are offering free work. The truth is that volunteering jobs can be just as difficult to get as paid work. That’s why you need a volunteer resume that stands out from the crowd.

Whether you are volunteering as a sideline or because you hope it will lead to permanent employment, you have to think like a job-hunter. That means making the best case you can for YOU. Organizations that use volunteers want to ensure you are committed to the work you are offering to provide. 

Using Resume.io and its powerful tools for job seekers is a great way to get going. We offer resume guides and resume examples for 300+ professions. That means that no matter what area you want to volunteer in, you will have guidance to get you there. We back up our guides with an easy-to-use resume builder, so let us help you get where you want to go.

This guide, along with the corresponding volunteer resume example, will cover the following topics:

• What does a volunteer do?
• How to write a volunteer resume (tips and tricks)
• The best format for a volunteer resume
• Advice on each section of your resume (summary, work history, education, skills)
• Professional resume layout and design hints.

What does a volunteer do? 

Volunteers can do anything within an organization. Sometimes volunteers work only on special events, but in other cases they perform vital tasks and make a commitment to either work on a longer-term special project or on regular, daily work.

Many nonprofits use volunteers to supplement their paid workforce so that more resources go to the cause for which they labor. That means you have a chance to broaden your skill set while working on a cause you are passionate about. 

There are 1.54 million non-profits in the United States. In 2017, the last year for which statistics are available, 64.4 million Americans, or about 25% of the population, gave their time. That’s up from 61.8 million in 2008, according to Statistica . 

The pandemic seems to have increased volunteering efforts. LinkedIn data shows that in 2020, members added 110,000 volunteer experiences to their profiles. That’s about 2.5 times the monthly average in 2017. 

Millennials are most likely to volunteer and women volunteer at higher rates than men, according to the U.S. Labor Bureau . 

If you are wondering whether volunteers are worth the training time to nonprofits, the answer is yes. The Independent Sector values volunteer hours at $28.54.

Because volunteers may be doing any type of work in any industry, you may find inspiration in any number of our resume examples. How to choose volunteer opportunities

Deciding where to volunteer can be as challenging as deciding on a career path. Here are some basic questions to ask yourself that can help you guide your decision and how you craft your resume:

• What am I passionate about?
• Do I want to gain new skills?
• Do I want to network?
• Do I want to bolster my resume?
• Do I want to fill a gap while I look for full-time paid employment?
• What skills or knowledge can I offer?
• How much time can I commit to?

How to find volunteer opportunities

If you aren’t sure how to go about finding volunteer opportunities, you can start with VolunteerMatch , a volunteer aggregator that will send you listings based on the criteria you set, or Volunteer.gov , in which you can search for jobs in the U.S. government in places such as national parks. 

You can also look at specific organizations that are typically in need of volunteers. They include:

• Animal shelters
• Food pantries
• Homeless shelters
• Tutoring centers

Of course, you may also decide what you want to do and where you want to work and then contact either the volunteer coordinator or the human resources department and offer your services unsolicited.

How to write a volunteer resume

Take as much care with your volunteer resume as you would if you were applying for your dream job . The first step is understanding exactly what sections comprise a resume. Your document should include the following elements:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Onboarding volunteers takes time and effort, so volunteer coordinators and hiring managers may handle this process in the same way they handle hiring full-time employees. In fact, the Fundraising Authority recommends three times of training for volunteers: basic non-profit training, organization-specific training, and job-specific training. Before investing that time, organizations want to make sure you are the right person for the job. 

How do you show that? Do your research! Find out what the organization needs. Investigate their style. Are they casual or formal? Do they use a lot of volunteers or will you be one of a few? What is their mission and how do you fit into it? Then, target your resume to the nonprofit or other organization mimicking their style and values.

A successful volunteer resume lets the hiring manager know that you understand the organization and its goals AND explains why you want to help out by giving your time. 

Another hurdle: The Applicant Tracking System

Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, are software programs that scan, sort and assess resumes for human resources departments. There are dozens of these designed specifically for non-profits. The organizations you apply to are likely to use one of these systems to narrow the range of candidates to a manageable few.

There’s no guaranteed method of leaping this hurdle, but there are ways to improve your chances. This is where your research will help you. Review the listing, if there is one, or the nonprofit's website looking for the volunteer job requirements. Organically incorporate as many of the same nouns, verbs and modifiers in your resume text as possible. Make sure you use your own language and context. You want the text of your volunteer resume to flow naturally and to have your voice.

Choosing the best resume format for volunteering

A typical resume for a person whose career has taken a mostly linear path, we recommend a reverse chronological order resume format . That means that when you compile your employment history section, you start with your most recent position and move backwards in time.

This may work for you in your volunteer resume, however, if you are looking to take on new skills or are just starting out and want to use the volunteer opportunity as a stepping stone, you should consider a hybrid format. If you’re looking to make a lateral move, check out our other resume examples such as the career change resume sample. 

A functional resume format is another option. Although this type of format is usually employed by specialists and technical professionals, it may suit your needs as a volunteer who wants to stretch but has the skills to do the job.

Resume summary example: Your value and passion

Your resume summary is your big chance to show off your passion and explain why you want to volunteer at the particular organization you are targeting. It is within your profile that you answer the questions Why do you care? and What can you do to help us? Don’t be afraid to say that you have a personal connection to, for instance, cancer care, and that is what drives your desire to help.

Offer your vision for how you fit into the organization, give examples that highlight your skills and convince the volunteer coordinator that you are the right person for the job. Don’t make the assumption that nonprofits are desperate for volunteers and will take anyway. The truth is that while volunteers are a valuable asset for organizations, you still need to prove that you will stick it out and bring value to the team. 

Offer a personal story about why the cause is close to your heart.

Give a generic explanation about the value of volunteering.

Your goal here is to get hiring managers excited about your potential to help the organization. Balance your enthusiasm by clearly stating that you understand that you are applying for a job that comes with responsibility. You can find a volunteer resume example summary below.

Dedicated and enthusiastic Volunteer, hoping to utilize my most valuable skills to achieve goals. A creative thinker and complex problem-solver, bringing forth a commitment to others and the greater good.

Employment history resume sample: Proof of commitment

A volunteer resume sample needs to show the same dedication to the career as your career-oriented resume. You should approach your employment history section in the same way for both. Make a list of all your jobs and the dates you were employed. Include your titles and brainstorm your job responsibilities -- no need to go back more than 10 or 15 years. This phase is simply a reminder for you.

Then, think of your key achievements at each position. Review the volunteer listing and decide which accomplishments best fit the job you seek now. 

The CAR system for explaining your achievements makes writing your resume bullet points easier. Here’s how it works:

• Describe your Challenge
• Tell what Action you took
• Detail your Results.

Be as specific as possible. Use data and dollar amounts whenever possible.

If you are looking to start your career by getting volunteer experience , you may want to beef up your education section and move it above your employment history section.

You can find a volunteer employment history resume sample below.

Volunteer, Children's Corner, Concord  March 2021 - Present

• Served as a caring and considerate volunteer in one of the busiest children's centers in New Hampshire.
• Followed instructions and adhered to company policies.
• Worked well independently and also with others.
• Strived to make children feel welcomed, safe, and motivated.
• Modeled leadership skills and independent thinking.    

Craft Fair Volunteer, Concord Community Council, Concord  June 2019 - December 2019 

• Assisted with the unloading and set-up of craft fair goods.
• Distributed fair handbooks and materials to vendors and customers.
• Provided guests with information and answered any questions to the best of my ability.
• Assisted with the clean-up and disassembly of booths.

Resume skills example: What do you bring to the table?

Hiring managers are busy people, and volunteers may not be their first priority. Your resume skills section gives them the chance to see at a glance if your abilities match what they need. That means again reviewing the volunteer listing and matching your skills to the job.

Quite often, volunteers are looking to gain new skills or to simply get job experience. Hiring managers know this. So what can you do if you are in that situation? Play up your soft skills on your resume. These are the qualities you need to be a good overall employee. They include time management, communication, and organization.

Emotional Intelligence

Another area you can play up is your emotional intelligence. If you are targeting non-profits for your volunteer work, you may be dealing with sensitive issues, so the ability to handle your emotions and those of others can elevate your candidacy.

Daniel Goleman’s book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, breaks emotional intelligence into five categories:

• Self-awareness: Understanding your strengths and weaknesses
• Self-regulation: Keeping calm under pressure and expressing your emotions appropriately
• Motivation: Setting clear goals and following through
• Empathy: Recognizing how other’s feel
• Social skills: Functioning within different group settings.

Consider adding one or two of these to your skills section.

You will find a skills section volunteer resume sample below.

• Fast Learner
• Ability to Work in a Team
• Effective Time Management
• Computer Skills
• Communication Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Adaptability

Volunteer resume education example

Your education could be the key to netting the perfect volunteer job. Perhaps you have a skill you haven’t used in your career or a hobby that you earned credits in. Include those in your education section.

Especially if you are new to the job market or trying to enhance basic skills, you may consider listing specific courses you have taken that are relevant to the volunteer position you seek. If you are an experienced worker, you may simply list your education here. 

No need to include your GPA unless you have just graduated and it is stellar. You may also omit your high school diploma if you have a master’s degree or higher.

Other items to call attention to are any awards or accolades you have received or any certificates for coursework or seminars that pertain to your prospective volunteer work.

Below is an education section resume sample you may adapt for formatting.

High School Diploma, Concord High School, Concord  September 2018 - Present Abbott- Downing School, Concord  September 2014 - May 2018

Resume layout and design: Your visual image

The idea behind your volunteer resume is to get the interview, and this guide is all about helping you do so. That means addressing the way your resume looks. First impressions matter, so make a good one with these helpful hints for designing your resume.

Think easy-to-read. While you want to capture attention, your real goal is to get your document read. Keep your margins at one inch and use a clear, legible font. Leave ample white space.

Straddle the line between eye-catching and glaring. Minimize the use of color and avoid graphics and images. Even visual artists should err on the side of conservatism since your goal is for hiring managers to read your text. If you are in a design field, take a look at our illustrator resume example or our graphic designer resume example for ideas. Offer a portfolio of your work along with your resume to show off your talents.

The key components of your resume are your contact information and your most recent job and title. This is where hiring managers look first, so make sure these items are easy to find.

Finally, make sure your resume text and formatting are free of typos and errors. Using an online builder tool such as the one from resume.io and one of our resume templates will smooth the path to a great volunteer opportunity.

Key takeaways for a volunteer resume

• Think of your volunteer resume the same way you would a resume for a paying job: You have to prove you’re the right person for the work.
• When you volunteer, you are making a commitment, so consider what you want to do and where your passion lies before you apply.
• Targeting your volunteer resume for each position is the best way to make sure your application is seen by a person.
• Use our online resume maker to make your life easier and the job application process faster!

Beautiful ready-to-use resume templates

Volunteer Resume Examples & Writing Guide

On the lookout for a foot in the door to your first full-time job?  A position as a Volunteer is an excellent place to start! Volunteering roles give you the opportunity to gain working experience, which will help to secure a permanent job later on. Often these volunteer roles can also turn into permanent positions too.

You want to ensure that your resume stands out from the rest by being both informative and entertaining to read without overwhelming the recruiter or hiring manager with irrelevant information.

How you create a resume into an interview-winning document, we will explain to you in detail below with our: How to make a Volunteer Resume Guideline

What you can read in this article

Volunteer Resume Examples

Or download these resume examples in PDF at the bottom of this page for free

Volunteer Resume Writing Guide

Resume sections.

1. Contact Information : Name, Address, Phone, Email. Be sure to include alternative contact channels as well, such as your Linkedin profile or Facebook URL details. On the subject of email address, create a professional one on Gmail or use your university student email address.

2. Career Objective : View this as the introduction to your resume and include 1-3 sentences giving a broad overview of your background, the industry sectors of interest. You should be specific and state which role you are applying to.

3. Qualifications Summary : Provide accurate details about the certifications and qualifications you have completed with the institution, qualification name, and dates. Don’t forget to include the qualifications you are currently pursuing.

4. Relevant Experience : Clearly indicate your previous volunteering jobs, part-time gigs, official and unofficial vocation employment history. Use brief sentences with bullet points to list your most important daily activities under each role you have had.

5. Other Employment Experience : If you are permanently employed in a full-time position, volunteering may be a temporary or part-time venture for you once a week, a few times during the month or seasonal for instance at Christmas time. In this case, you may add your career history for the last 10 years as you would when applying for a permanent role.

6. Skills Summary/Key Skills : Incorporates keywords from the job posting and your specific skill set. This adds much-needed credibility to your resume.

7. Education/Licenses/Certifications/Relevant Coursework/Training : As you would typically have no formal working experience which requires licensing, certification and so forth you can perhaps provide courses you have done while completing your degree. Examples include computer courses, bookkeeping courses, social media mastery or any self-taught training via online course platforms like Udemy.

What to Highlight in a Volunteer Resume

As you will probably be busy completing your undergraduate Bachelor’s degree and may be tempted to list only your theoretical knowledge, there are a few essential details employers and recruiters need to know about you as to ensure that you are the right fit for their team. You may even be a recent High School graduate taking a volunteering gap year or a seasoned professional on a sabbatical (the glamorous term for taking an extended break from permanent employment)

Volunteering is a very dynamic field. It is difficult to identify and categorize all different types of volunteering activities but here is a list to get you started The first aspect to highlight is the types of Volunteering you have already done:

Traditional Volunteering : Historically the most common form of volunteering where you work at a local NGO . These projects may be as short as a couple of hours or more long term up to a period of 18 months

Gap Year Volunteering : Often conducted in a foreign country or another state these gap year roles are usually taken up by recent high school graduates or university students to gain valuable career experience for a period of 12 months before joining the formal working sector

Voluntourism : A fantastic way to merge tourism and volunteering and get immersed in local cultures while at the same time giving back and making a difference in the community. Forums on platforms like Lonely Planet or The Voluntourist are great information hubs to use.

Online Volunteering : An excellent idea to assist others and make an impact, but from the comfort of your laptop at home. You can volunteer for different organizations anywhere around the world without having to leave your hometown. The opportunities are endless including article writing, blogging, coaching or being a virtual assistant. Visit websites like onlinevolunteering.org for available opportunities and guidelines.

Once you have categorized all your Volunteerships, you need to indicate the industry where these experiences were gained in for instance: Fundraising, Environmental, Youth, Elderly, Homeless, Disabled, Research, Refugees or Trustee Administration to name but a few.

Next, employers want to see your casual experience where you may have assisted at the farmers market part-time, help to organize the annual county Christmas event or being a tutor for mathematics during your high school years. The key here is information and lots of it. You need to show prospective hiring managers what you have done with your time during high school and university apart from studying (and partying).

Make sure to include the following details

• The locations you are available to work in and whether you are willing to travel or relocate temporarily
• Special skills like your activities on social media with your YouTube channel if you are applying for a marketing Volunteer role or the fact that you are familiar with Sage accounting when you seek a Volunteer role in finance
• Written references can do wonders for your credibility so don’t forget to add them
• Your GPA score is important as well
• Remember to add your computer literacy, for example, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, VisualStudio, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver MX, Flash MX, Oracle
• Any other languages you are familiar with even if it is just a basic competency will also be of interest, especially for opportunities abroad

The Volunteer Career Objective

Some organizations receive thousands of Volunteer applications each year. Your resume needs to stand out amongst the applications. Keep your career objective concise and to the point. Add the most important information first to capture their attention while they’re quickly skimming your resume.

Start your career objective with a little detail about your personality. Then mention the degree that you are currently completing and finish off with the reason why you are interested in the advertised Volunteer role. Very important to note: you need to customize your career objective for every role you apply to by using the buzzwords listed in the job description. Your career objective should not be a one size fits all paragraph. For instance, if the job you are applying emphasizes an energetic personality or detail orientated work ethic use those phrases in your resume if you have that type of skill. The more your resume resonates with the job description of keywords, the better fit you will seem.

Perhaps add a line that showcases any outstanding qualities that will add value to the company. A hiring manager would be interested to know if you have “strong time management skills, creative problem-solving abilities and if you can ‘’think on your feet in times of crises.

Job Descriptions, Responsibilities and Duties Examples

An employer would expect to see details regarding your main tasks and duties completed during previous Volunteering roles. As there are hundreds of different Volunteer options available in every industry sector imaginable, we have given a few examples below to get you started:

A Receptionist/Day Chair Volunteer may:

• Answer phones, direct calls and take messages
• Meet and greet guests and accompany them to appointment boardrooms
• Answer questions about the agency and distribute application forms
• Print activity lists every morning and distribute to relevant parties and satellite
• Open emails and forward to correct individuals
• Enter donor information into the database.
• Proofread official correspondence before bulk emailing to clients

An Environmental Volunteer may:

• Assist with revegetation projects on the farm collecting seeds and assisting in the plant nursery sowing seeds, pricking out seedlings and propagating cuttings
• Document and code all samples onto spreadsheets
• Monitor wildlife and bird activity by conducting animal headcounts
• Organize accommodation and travel arrangement for visiting botanical specialists
• Photograph plant species and add them to survey lists
• Send weekly reports to participating research universities
• Assist in the removal of weeds and invasive plant species
• Keep track of research projects and activities

A Politics Volunteer may:

• Distribute promotional campaign material to the public
• Make phone calls to residents to explain party manifest and provide information about upcoming rallies
• Collect signatures for the campaign by walking around in public areas
• Submit collected data along with original documents to the volunteer coordinator every week
• Submit questions or information requests from the public about the campaign for response by campaign manager
• Track phone banking history, including locations, events, materials distributed, and signatures collected
• Maintain voter database
• Send out emails and messages on social media platforms regarding the campaign activities

An IT Volunteer may:

• Oversee the cyber facility in the absence of the manager
• Answer phone calls and take messages
• Make bookings for school groups
• Assist users with internet usage
• Troubleshoot on networking issues
• Do general office work
• Open and lock-up of the center
• Register new users and create usernames and passcodes for them

A General Office Volunteer may:

• Answer phone inquiries, direct calls and take messages
• Schedule travel arrangements of senior management
• Post and receive mail, courier packages, and registered letters
• Taking minutes during daily meetings and distribute via email to participants
• Update and maintain databases and filing systems
• Run office errands when needed
• Assist in printing, photocopying, and binding of documents for presentations
• Prepare and organize meeting rooms
• Handle food and beverage orders and deliveries for company events

A Healthcare Volunteer may:

• Direct patients from Emergency and Front Desks to specific medical departments
• Accompany families to surgical waiting rooms
• Create and distribute visitor passes
• Answer phone and respond to inquiries at the Front Desk
• Assist physicians with logistical tasks including restocking supplies, pulling up radiology images and preparing patient files
• Organize emergency patients in order of priority
• Follow up on outstanding patient accounts
• Accompany medical personnel during hospital rounds
• Show families into the family waiting room during patient surgeries

Highlight Your Accomplishments

You may be tempted to copy and paste the list of duties you performed as detailed in your Volunteer job descriptions or part-time and vocational employment duties in the accomplishment section of your Volunteer Resume. The drawback to doing this, though, is that you won’t stand out from the other applicants with similar experience. Your goal is to think about what sets you apart, what you are most proud of, or what you accomplished in your previous roles, and communicate these through action-packed statements that are compelling.

Flat, Simple Duty:

• Update client database

Accomplishment Statement (Improved):

• Update database of 5000 clients using MS Access and categorize data by client demographics

Quantifying Your Resume

When writing your resume, if you can answer the questions, “ How often? ” or “ How long ?” You should include those numbers. For instance:

• How often did you engage in volunteering activities?
• What is the average duration of your volunteering roles?
• What did you achieve in a typical workweek?

–  Was part of a team of Volunteers at the communications office for the Florida County Healthcare Association for three years during the summer holiday period. Instrumental in organizing the weekly Q&A session between management and members of the association, and handled all email correspondence preceding and following these events.

–  Receiving, handling and distributing aid supplies to villages in Africa to help poverty-stricken communities to get food, clothing and clean water. Accompany aid doctors to outpatient clinics twice a week to deliver medical supplies.

Your Volunteer Education Section

The education section forms an integral part of your resume. In short, just indicate What, Where and When regarding your qualifications, certifications or industry licenses obtained. The name of your qualification, institution, and date of completion is more than sufficient. Unless you are a graduate with limited working experience, there is no need to include major subjects or course curriculum topics.

Remember to mention current qualifications you are in the process of completing. Regarding courses and certifications, discretion and relevance must be considered. An art course in India does not really carry weight if you are applying for a financial accountant role at an agriculture company in the Mid-West.

Completed High School and Post School Education should be listed as follows:

Start with commencement date and completion date for diplomas, associate degrees, and bachelor degrees. For courses, you can just list the date of completion. Next comes the full name of the qualification, then the full name of the institution and then the City or abbreviated State name. List your high school diploma details similarly, but only include this when you have less than five years of working experience.

Here are some examples of a Volunteer Resume with more than five years’ experience:

2012-2013 Teaching English as Foreign Language (TEFL Certification), Teachaway Institute, Online

2016-2018 Bachelor Degree in Political Sciences, University of Ohio, OH

If you have less than five years experience, you may also add your majors, minors, GPA scores and accolades, and honors awards

2016-2018 Bachelor Degree in Business Administration, University of Ohio, OH GPA: 3.8 Majors: Business Management, Marketing Management Minors: Communications, Accounting, Economics Accolades: Deans Honours List

2014 – Ridgefield High School, High School Diploma Ridgefield, NJ

2015 – Certificate in Microsoft Office, Udemy Online  

What to Write in a Volunteer Resume Skills Section

Although the volunteering field requires specific technical skills, employers look for other skills, called soft skills. These are the main types of skills that indicate to your fit as a potential employee who will add value, has adequate knowledge, sufficient experience and will be easy to manage. Incorporate these into your summary, or profile, and your accomplishment statements.  

Technical Skills Examples

Educational Attainment: A university degree is usually not required to become a Volunteer Technical Aptitude: Volunteers these days need to be digitally savvy so be sure to include all the IT programs you can work with. Furthermore, any project management applications, calendar apps and collaboration apps (Slack, Asana) that you have worked with before is a plus in this environment.  

Soft Skill Examples

• Social Orientation
• Team Player
• Hardworking
• Communication
• Independent
• Stress Tolerance
• Multitasking
• Enthusiastic
• Accountable
• Deadline Driven
• Collaborative
• Cooperative
• Willingness to learn

Qualifications/Certifications associated with Volunteers

High School Diploma, Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree. Professional qualifications like Doctor, Attorney, Teacher, Engineer.

Action Verbs for your Volunteer Resume

Professional information of Volunteers

Sectors : Various Career Type : Functional, Clerical, Administrative, Professional Person type : Worker, Helper, Assistant Education levels : High School Diploma and upwards Salary indication : Mostly unpaid. Sometimes monthly stipends are provided to cover expenses. Accommodation, flights, and food can also be provided as part of the volunteer contract. Labor market : Dependent or role and industry Organizations : Various, Unlimited

Download Volunteer Resume Examples in PDF

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How to List Volunteer Experience On a Resume [W/ Examples]

Let’s face it - first impressions matter. And when it comes to job search, your resume will be the first impression a potential employer will have of you. 

This begs the question: how do you make your resume stand out in a pile of job applications? 

You try to make every section count. And a particularly beneficial one to have in this regard is volunteer experience.

A volunteer experience section can be a great way to showcase your skills if you’re just starting on your career, or even if you have a work experience gap on your CV. It is also an indicator that you are not just any other money-driven applicant, but also someone who cares about giving back to the community. 

But what is the best way - and time - to include volunteer experience in your resume? That’s exactly what this article will show you.

Read on to find out: 

What is a Resume Volunteer Experience Section?

• When to Include Volunteer Experience in Your Resume?
• How to Include Volunteer Experience in Your Resume?
• How to Get Your Volunteer Experience Section Right?

The volunteer experience section of a resume includes any unpaid work you’ve done that could be relevant to your application. In addition to being an effective way to showcase your professional skills, it also shows that you are a purpose-driven person. The studies speak for themselves - volunteering can open a new path to employment. 

You can list volunteer experience either under the work experience section or as a separate section entirely. Below, we’re going to explain how, exactly, you can do both.

But first, here’s an example of how volunteer experience (as a separate resume section) looks like: 

When to Include Volunteer Experience in Your Resume? 

While having a volunteer experience section in your resume can be an asset, it’s not always going to be useful. There’s value in knowing when volunteering can be relevant in improving your chances to get hired and when it can be dead-weight.  

Here’s our cheat sheet on when to and when not to include volunteer experience in your resume. 

• The company you are applying for emphasizes ‘giving’ as part of its identity. Employees at VMware, for example, are given volunteer hours which they can use instead of doing standard work.  
• You have recently graduated and have no work experience . 
• You have extra space on your resume or an employment gap. 
• You are applying for an NGO, non-profit, or charity organization . 
• The volunteer work is outdated. Volunteer work is awesome, yes, but you want it to be as time-relevant for the recruiter reviewing your application as possible. And experience from a decade ago rarely cuts it.
• You can fill up your resume with more relevant sections, such as paid work and education . As a rule of thumb, the first thing a recruiter notices in a resume is paid experience and education - volunteering experience is just a nice-to-have extra. This means you shouldn’t squeeze in volunteer experience if it means cutting out more important sections from your resume. 

How to Include Volunteer Experience In Your Resume

Now that we went over the whens, let’s go over the most important part - how to include volunteer experience in your resume in a way that highlights your skills and emphasizes your achievements. 

As we mentioned before, volunteer experience can be a section of its own or can count as work experience in some specific cases. 

DO include it as part of the work experience section if: 

• The experience is super relevant to the job you are applying for.
• You have otherwise little paid experience. 

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job in Journalism, but you’ve never worked as a professional in the field. However, you have plenty of journalism experience from years of volunteering at your university’s newspaper. 

Journalism Experience 

Reading Owl Daily

2017 - 2019

• Volunteering experience as Reporter for the University’s daily newspaper. Covered the News section, as well as handled copy editing. 
• Kept track of the newspaper’s online presence and updated its WordPress site daily. 
• Wrote a total of 50 interviews for two years. 

Now, when your volunteering experience isn’t specifically related to the job you’re applying for, you’re better off creating a separate volunteer experience section and formatting it just like the work experience section:

• Volunteering Position
• Organization You Volunteered For
• Responsibilities & Achievements

If you want your unrelated volunteering experience to stand out, however, simply listing your responsibilities and achievements won’t do. Instead, you want to show how the volunteer experience ties you to the job you are currently applying for.   

Confused? Let us cover an example: 

Say that you have been helping at the local animal rescue center for a year, but now you’re applying for a marketing company. Your volunteer experience is not marketing-relevant, but it can be tailored as such.

Volunteer Experience 

• Helped develop an online platform for stray animals’ adoption that saved 100+ dogs and cats, on behalf of the Animal Rescue Center.
• Wrote copy for the online platform and created banners and brochures to advertise it.  

Keep in mind, though, that tailoring is not something that you have to do all the time - volunteering experience is going to help whether or not it’s related to your field.

If you can tailor it to the job, though, that is, for sure, a big plus.

Volunteer Experience Section Example

Looking for some inspiration? Look no further!

Here’s what a well-crafted volunteer experience section looks like on a resume: 

International Federation Red Cross, France

5/2016 - 5/2017

• Provided presentations about Red Cross programs in the community. 
• Assisted the fundraising team with writing grant proposals. 

Now, if you’re listing your volunteering experience as part of the work experience section, here’s how it could look like if you were applying for a job in the communications field:

Team London Volunteer 

Mayor of London Office

09/2018 - 08/2019

• Supported the implementation of a new external communications strategy.
• Created a new e-newsletter to share with a variety of stakeholders to keep them up to date with internal news and to gain new supporters.  
• Generated visual content for the organization’s social media platform. 

How to Get Your Volunteer Experience Section Right 

There’s more to creating a compelling volunteer experience section than just writing it out. Here are our top 3 tips on including volunteering in your resume the right way:

Tip #1: Follow the Format. 

As we mentioned before, there is a pretty straightforward format one can follow to list volunteering experiences.

Here’s what it looks like:

• Your position and/or title 
• Company/Organization name
• Achievements/Responsibilities 
• Volunteering timeframe 

Tip #2: List Achievements Over Responsibilities. 

When possible, you want to focus more on achievements as opposed to responsibilities in your resume (and this applies to volunteer experience, too).

Here’s what we mean by that:

Let’s assume that you have volunteer experience as a research assistant. The responsibilities are pretty obvious - i.e. compiling and distributing questionnaires, collecting and analyzing relevant data, doing statistical and analytical work, etc. 

The HR knows all this - they’re reviewed hundreds of similar resumes, all of which mention the same responsibilities.

If you, however, focus on showing how you concretely contributed to the research, by say, pointing out that 50% of the data analyzed by you was used to advance it, you’d have told the recruiter something completely new and compelling that makes you stand out. 

Focusing on your achievements, when relevant, is your best chance at giving your resume the upper hand. 

To give you a more concrete example, though, here’s a comparison of achievements done right: 

• Compiled and distributed qualitative questionnaires with a 90% response rate. 
• Completed 50% of the data analysis later used to advance the project’s research. 

However, in some industries, you might have fewer achievements to list than in others. If you volunteered at your local homeless shelter, your day-to-day goal probably wasn’t to distinguish yourself but help others. If that’s the case, listing responsibilities is OK. 

Here’s how that would look like in your resume: 

• Registering homeless people into the shelter.
• Unpacking and distributing food aids. 
• Oversee opening and closing of the shelter 2 times/week. 

Tip #3: Keep It Relevant

Only mention your volunteering experience if they’re recent and relevant .

For example, if you volunteered 5 years back, and since then you have worked several professional roles in your field, you don’t need to go back in time and mention that volunteering experience (even if it was an amazing learning experience).

In such a case, your volunteering experience is neither recent (it happened 5 years ago), nor relevant (you probably learned a lot more from your recent positions).

Key takeaways 

And we’re done! By now, you should know everything on how to include volunteering experience in a resume.

Now, let’s recap all the main points we’ve covered:

• Volunteer experience can be a huge plus to your job application, especially if you are a recent graduate, have a gap in your resume, or are applying to an NGO.  
• List volunteer experience either as a separate section or as work-related experience (if your volunteering experience is related to the job you’re applying for). 
• When listing your volunteering experiences, when possible, include achievements over responsibilities. Responsibilities are what put you on the same plate as all other applicants - your achievements are what set you apart! 

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6 Volunteer Resume Examples & Writing Guide

Volunteering can be a powerful addition to your resume. See 6 real-world examples that show you how to list volunteer work to boost your job application. Get expert tips for strategically incorporating community service to highlight in-demand skills and fill in employment gaps. Make your volunteer experience work for you and stand out to hiring managers.

A strong resume is a must-have when applying for volunteer positions. Even though you're giving your time for free, organizations still want the best people on their team. That's where a great volunteer resume comes in.

Your volunteer resume is a chance to highlight your skills, experience and passion for the cause. But knowing what to include and how to structure it can be tricky, especially if you don't have much paid work experience.

Don't stress! This article breaks down exactly what you need to create a volunteer resume that will get you noticed. We'll walk you through the key sections to include, share tips on language and formatting, and provide real-world examples to inspire you.

By the end, you'll have all the tools to write a resume that showcases your unique value and helps you land the volunteer role of your dreams. So let's dive in and start building your standout volunteer resume!

Common Responsibilities Listed on Volunteer Resumes

• Assisting with event setup and cleanup
• Greeting and providing information to visitors/guests
• Distributing materials or resources
• Serving food or beverages
• Providing administrative support (data entry, filing, etc.)
• Conducting outreach or raising awareness for a cause
• Tutoring or mentoring individuals
• Participating in fundraising activities
• Maintaining facilities or grounds

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How to write a Resume Summary

Welcome! If you're a volunteer seeking to formulate a powerful summary/objective section for your resume, you're in the right place. A well-written summary/objective section can be transformational for your resume by condensing your skills, experiences, and goals into a neat and insightful package. This section forms a platform to communicate your capabilities and aspirations to potential employers or organizations. Before diving in, remember that being honest and specific about your goals and skills is of paramount importance.

Understand the purpose

Considering the purpose of the summary/objective section is step one. Are you seeking to display your skills or outline your professional aspiration? If the aim is to showcase your capabilities and experiences as a volunteer, creating a professional summary is the way to go. On the other hand, if your intention is to highlight your career goals, writing an objective will serve you best.

Showcase the Skills and Experiences Relevant to Your Goals

When articulating your skills and experiences, it's essential to identify and emphasize those that are relevant to your goals. Whether you've spent time teaching underserved children, organizing community clean-ups, or aiding initiatives within healthcare, explain these experiences in a concise manner.

Moreover, remember to highlight your acquired skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and initiative taking. This enables the reader to gain immediate insights into your capabilities as a volunteer.

Be Precise, Be Impactful

Use concise and compelling language that encapsulates your experiences and skills in a precise way. Avoid using fluffy or over-the-top language. Instead, use plain, straightforward language that communicates your value proposition effectively. Imagine a busy hiring manager only has a few seconds to scan your resume; those few lines of summary/objective can make all the difference.

Show Progress and Impact

While explaining your volunteering experiences, it's not just about what you did, but also the impact of your actions. Your goal is to illustrate your growth, learnings, and how you left a positive impact through your volunteer work.

The takeaway here? A well-structured and thought-out summary/objective section can be the distinguishing factor that persuades a potential employer to contact you. By being clear, concise, and real, you can demonstrate your expertise, authority, and trustworthiness on paper and set the foundation for a successful career in volunteering or any other field of your choosing. Good luck!

Strong Summaries

• Passionate volunteer with more than 5 years of experience in various community-based projects. Skilled at organizing events, coordinating teams, and managing fundraising activities. Strong communicator with the ability to motivate individuals towards achieving common goals.
• Dedicated and empathetic individual with a strong commitment to serve society. Has served in various volunteering capacities in the last 3 years, including disaster response, tutoring underprivileged children, and supporting nonprofit fundraising events. Looking forward to using these experiences to make a positive impact in wider communities.
• Highly enthusiastic and resourceful volunteer with experience in both domestic and international charity work. Known for impeccable organizational skills and the ability to manage challenging situations. Seeking an opportunity to leverage these skills to reach more individuals in need.
• Dependable volunteer bringing forth an excellent track record of over 10 years in helping community organizations, particularly in the health and education sectors. Accomplished in identifying community needs and supporting program objectives.
• Dynamic volunteer with a knack for aligning individual efforts towards the mission and goals of non-profit organizations. Equipped with outstanding leadership and problem-solving skills from volunteering for a number of local community services and international outreach programs.

Why these are strong ?

These examples are good because they all convey unique strengths and capabilities, and also highlight the individual's depth and breadth of experience in volunteering. They provide a solid understanding of the kind of volunteer work the individual has undertaken and their approach towards it. Each summary is result-oriented and enables the prospective organization to understand how the individual can bring value to them. They highlight important characteristics such as dedication, passion, organizational skills, and leadership skills that are valuable traits for volunteering roles. Furthermore, the summaries provide an inkling of the individual’s character, showcasing a strong commitment to serve society.

Weak Summaries

• Looking for a volunteering opportunity where I can use my time off. Have some past experience in different fields, but not sure where to utilize it.
• I'm a strong team player who can also work independently. I have good communication skills, good at multitasking and enjoy working with different kinds of people.
• I want to volunteer because I have nothing better to do with my time. In my downtime, I usually watch TV or play video games. I'm hoping this volunteer work will keep me occupied.
• An experienced professional seeking a volunteering role to fill my spare time. Eager to give something back to the community but will need some wriggle room to fit around my other commitments.

Why these are weak ?

The above examples illustrate the common mistakes in the Professional Summary section of a Volunteer resume. The first example does not articulate the skills that the applicant can bring to the role, and does not express any real commitment or passion for the cause. The second example gives general qualities but fails to specify the relevant experiences or achievements that showcase these qualities. The third example shows a lack of motivation and throws a negative light on the applicant, making them appear as though they are only volunteering due to boredom. The last example while stating the intention to contribute, makes it seems as if the candidate views their volunteering role as less important than their other commitments.

Showcase your Work Experience

Understanding the importance of the Work Experience section in a resume is fundamental. This section is where you demonstrate what you have accomplished, providing clear evidence of your skills and abilities. Those hiring want to see that you have hands-on experience relevant to the role you're applying for, and the Work Experience section is where you show that. Especially for a volunteer, this section can exhibit your character, commitment, and social awareness.

Evaluate Your Experience

Every volunteer experience has key projects, challenges, and achievements. The first step in crafting the Work Experience section is reviewing those experiences and identifying essential elements. What tasks were you primarily responsible for? Were there any unique initiatives you undertook, or specific results achieved? Keep in mind, each experience has its own share of positive contributions.

Focus on Relevant Details

In the absence of paid employment, the skills you have garnered as a volunteer hold immense weight. Be sure to detail the skills you've obtained and how they transferred into successful outcomes. Focusing on relevancy is key. If you're applying to a healthcare role and your volunteering experience involved supporting elders, talking about how you managed medical records or assisted with physical therapy sessions becomes relevant.

Quantify Achievements

Wherever possible, quantify your achievements. For example, if you coordinated a charity event, indicating how much funds were raised provides a perceptible scale of your accomplishment. Similarly, if you assisted in class as a volunteer tutor, mention the group size you serviced or the improvement in grades achieved. It lends credence to your accomplishments and adds a tangible dimension.

Quantify your achievements and impact using concrete numbers, metrics, and percentages to demonstrate the value you brought to your previous roles.

Use Action Verbs and Specifics

Communicate your work history detailing what you did, and how you did it, using action verbs. For instance, 'Coordinated a team of volunteers for a city-wide clean-up drive' gives a decisive snapshot of your role and responsibility.

Ensure Readability

Employ concise language, crisp structure, and bullets to improve readability. A busy hiring manager appreciates a resume that's comfortable to scan through but still leaves a lasting impression.

Highlight Soft Skills

Volunteering typically implies dedication, enthusiasm, and team-playing abilities. Don't shy away from highlighting these soft skills that you have cultivated. Transferrable skills such as these are often highly valued by employers, regardless of the industry.

Properly utilized, a solid Work Experience section on your resume, including volunteer experience, can be an exceptional tool in making a strong impression and achieving your career goals.

Strong Experiences

• Helped organize the annual charity event, resulting in a 20% increase of donations compared to the previous year
• Managed volunteer team coordination and scheduling for local food bank, serving over 10,000 meals to the community
• Participated in various initiatives focused on environmental conservation, including beach clean-ups and planting trees
• Developed skills in leadership and team management by heading a fundraising event for a local school
• Improved English literacy among local immigrant populations by providing weekly tutoring services

The above examples demonstrate good practice as they provide clear, specific details about the responsibilities or tasks undertaken in the volunteer role. Each bullet paints a picture of the applicant's abilities, achievements, and the impact of their work. They focus on skills developed, leadership roles, or positive outcomes resulting from volunteer efforts. This is beneficial as it allows employers to see the value of the voluntary experience and how these skills may be translated to a workplace setting.

Weak Experiences

• Helped with stuff
• Did volunteer things
• Worked a lot
• Did some tasks
• Participated in some activities

The examples provided are bad practices for bullet points in a work experience resume section, especially for a Volunteer resume. These examples are vague, non-specific, and fail to provide any detail or context about the nature of the volunteer work or the responsibilities and tasks that were carried out. They do not quantify the work, mention any accomplishments, highlight learned skills or explain the impact of the work. Using such simplistic, generic phrases does not help in showcasing the applicant's potential contribution to prospective employers and can reflect unfavorably on their professional image.

Skills, Keywords & ATS Tips

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience that enriches your life and also enhances your resume. However, publicizing the skills you adapted from volunteering can be a bit tricky. This article will guide you on how to weave in both hard and soft skills relevantly and discuss the significant role of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and keywords in your resume.

Your Hard and Soft Skills

Hard skills involve technical or specific abilities that relate directly to the task at hand. These are often associated with a particular knowledge or practical know-how, such as language proficiency, computer programming, or operation of specific equipment. These skills are more quantifiable and can be easily shown on your resume.

On the other hand, soft skills are less tangible but not any less important. These are the non-technical skills relevant to how you work. Examples of these include communication, time management, problem-solving, or teamwork. When volunteering, handling a variety of roles and responsibilities can permit you to develop a host of soft skills.

Both types of skills are essential in your resume. Hard skills often catch the recruiter's eye. Yet, soft skills can cause them to visualize how you can fit into their team setup.

Keywords, ATS and Matching Skills

Now, we come to the critical matter of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and keywords. ATS is a software used by many companies to filter and rank resumes. It scans your resume for certain keywords that match the job description. If you miss these keywords, your resume might never reach a human reader.

As you look into various volunteer positions, you'll often come across keywords or phrases that recur frequently which hint towards the hard and soft skills the recruiters are looking for. So when editing your resume, make sure you include these recurring skills. This will make your resume ATS-optimized and increase the chances of getting a call for an interview.

But remember, you must only use keywords to showcase skills that you indeed possess. Making false claims might land you an interview but it won't lead to success in the long run.

The success of your resume often hinges on your ability to effectively communicate your hard and soft skills and use the right keywords. So put time into understanding which skills are valued for the volunteer roles you're interested in and learn how to present them efficiently on your resume.

Top Hard & Soft Skills for Full Stack Developers

Hard skills.

• Event planning
• Fundraising
• Grant writing
• Project management
• Community outreach
• Database management
• Public speaking
• Social media management
• Volunteer coordination
• Program evaluation
• Budget management
• Microsoft Office proficiency
• Donor relations

Soft Skills

• Communication
• Adaptability
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Interpersonal skills
• Flexibility
• Organizational skills
• Conflict resolution
• Critical thinking
• Cultural sensitivity

Top Action Verbs

Use action verbs to highlight achievements and responsibilities on your resume.

• Organized events
• Raised funds
• Wrote grants
• Managed projects
• Engaged in community outreach
• Maintained databases
• Spoke publicly
• Managed social media
• Coordinated volunteers
• Evaluated programs
• Managed budgets
• Marketed initiatives
• Researched topics
• Utilized Microsoft Office
• Managed donor relations
• Communicated effectively
• Collaborated with teams
• Demonstrated empathy
• Adapted to situations
• Solved problems
• Managed time efficiently
• Built interpersonal relationships
• Remained flexible
• Demonstrated creativity
• Organized tasks
• Resolved conflicts
• Applied critical thinking
• Practiced patience
• Showed cultural sensitivity

Education & Certifications

Adding your education and certificates to your resume is a simple and critical step. Start by creating a separate section labeled 'Education' or 'Certifications'. List your education background or certificates in descending order, beginning with the most recent. Include the name of the institution, degree/diploma/certificate obtained, and the date achieved. For a volunteer, also mention any training you've undergone. Be sure to highlight the relevance of your education and certifications to the job you are applying for, showcasing your expertise.

Some of the most important certifications for Volunteers

The CVA credential demonstrates a commitment to the field of volunteer resources management.

This program provides training in coordinating and supervising volunteers in various settings.

Resume FAQs for Volunteers

What is the ideal length for a volunteer resume.

A volunteer resume should typically be one page in length. However, if you have extensive volunteer experience or relevant certifications, it can extend to two pages.

What format should I use for a volunteer resume?

The most common and recommended format for a volunteer resume is the reverse-chronological format. This format lists your volunteer experiences in reverse chronological order, with the most recent experience first.

How do I highlight my volunteer work on a resume?

To highlight your volunteer work, create a separate section titled 'Volunteer Experience' or 'Community Involvement.' List each volunteer role with the organization name, your position or role, the dates you volunteered, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.

Should I include volunteer work from many years ago on my resume?

It's generally recommended to include relevant volunteer work from the past 10-15 years on your resume. However, if you have significant or highly relevant volunteer experience from further back, you can include it as well.

How can I quantify my volunteer achievements on a resume?

To quantify your volunteer achievements, use metrics such as the number of hours volunteered, funds raised, events organized, people served, or any other measurable outcomes. This helps demonstrate the impact of your volunteer work.

Volunteer Role: Greet and assist attendees at community events with a friendly demeanor. Handle administrative duties like registration, distributing materials, and responding to inquiries. Requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively. To craft an effective resume, highlight relevant experience that demonstrates organizational abilities, customer service skills, and a willingness to support causes. Prominently feature volunteer work, community involvement, and any event planning or administrative roles. Quantify accomplishments like "Coordinated 10+ events for 200+ attendees." Emphasize transferable skills valued by nonprofits.

Dedicated and compassionate volunteer with a strong commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people and adapt to various roles and responsibilities. Skilled in project coordination, event planning, and effective communication.

• Coordinated a team of 20+ volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities, ensuring timely and efficient service.
• Developed and implemented a volunteer training program, resulting in a 30% increase in volunteer retention and satisfaction.
• Collaborated with local businesses and organizations to secure food donations and sponsorships, reducing program costs by 25%.
• Organized and led monthly volunteer appreciation events, fostering a strong sense of community and teamwork among volunteers.
• Maintained accurate records of volunteer hours, meal deliveries, and client feedback using a custom database system.
• Served as a mentor to an at-risk youth, providing guidance, support, and encouragement to help them reach their full potential.
• Planned and facilitated weekly educational and recreational activities, fostering a strong bond and promoting personal growth.
• Collaborated with school teachers and counselors to monitor mentee's academic progress and address any challenges.
• Participated in monthly training sessions and workshops to enhance mentoring skills and stay informed about best practices.
• Advocated for the importance of youth mentorship at community events and fundraisers, helping to recruit new mentors and secure program funding.
• Assisted with disaster preparedness education and outreach efforts, delivering presentations to schools, community centers, and local businesses.
• Participated in blood donation drives, registering donors and providing post-donation care to ensure a positive experience.
• Supported the logistics and distribution of emergency relief supplies during local disasters, ensuring timely and efficient assistance to affected individuals and families.
• Collaborated with other volunteers and staff to develop and implement community engagement strategies, increasing local awareness and support for Red Cross programs.
• Maintained accurate records of outreach activities, volunteer hours, and community feedback using the organization's database system.
• Project Coordination
• Event Planning
• Volunteer Management
• Community Outreach
• Public Speaking
• Interpersonal Communication
• Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Database Management
• Social Media

Community Involvement roles entail volunteering time and skills to benefit local organizations or causes. When highlighting these experiences on a resume, include a "Community Involvement" section. List the organization, your role/responsibilities, and dates served. Quantify accomplishments like funds raised or events organized. Emphasize skills gained such as leadership, event planning, and teamwork that transfer to professional roles.

Dedicated community involvement professional with a proven track record of fostering strong relationships and driving impactful initiatives. Skilled in program development, volunteer management, and partnership building. Passionate about creating positive change and enhancing community well-being through collaborative efforts.

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive community engagement strategy, resulting in a 30% increase in volunteer participation.
• Established partnerships with over 20 local organizations to address critical community needs and maximize impact.
• Spearheaded the creation of a virtual volunteer platform, enabling remote engagement opportunities during the pandemic.
• Managed a team of 5 community engagement coordinators, providing guidance and support to ensure program success.
• Secured grants and sponsorships totaling $500,000 to fund community initiatives and expand program reach.
• Coordinated community outreach events and volunteer projects, engaging over 1,000 volunteers annually.
• Collaborated with local schools and youth organizations to develop educational programs on housing and community development.
• Managed social media channels, increasing follower engagement by 50% and driving awareness of Habitat's mission.
• Conducted community needs assessments and utilized data to inform program planning and resource allocation.
• Developed and maintained a database of community partners, volunteers, and donors, streamlining communication and engagement efforts.
• Assisted in the planning and execution of community events, including blood drives and disaster preparedness workshops.
• Conducted research on community needs and compiled reports to inform program development and outreach strategies.
• Supported volunteer recruitment efforts, contributing to a 20% increase in volunteer sign-ups.
• Developed marketing materials and content for social media platforms to promote Red Cross initiatives and engage the community.
• Provided administrative support to the community relations team, ensuring efficient operations and timely communication with stakeholders.
• Community Engagement
• Program Development
• Partnership Building
• Strategic Planning
• Project Management
• Social Media Management
• Data Analysis
• Grant Writing
• Stakeholder Communication
• Diversity and Inclusion

A School Volunteer assists teachers, supports students' learning, and participates in educational activities. Key qualities include strong interpersonal skills, patience, reliability, and a passion for education. When crafting your resume, highlight relevant volunteer work, experience mentoring or tutoring children, and the ability to follow instructions meticulously. Emphasize transferable skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Keep the content concise yet impactful and ensure a professional, well-formatted presentation.

Compassionate and dedicated volunteer with a strong commitment to supporting students' academic and personal growth. Proven ability to create a nurturing environment, fostering positive relationships with students, faculty, and families. Adept at providing individualized attention and adapting to diverse learning needs.

• Assisted teachers in implementing lesson plans and engaging students in interactive learning activities, resulting in improved student participation and comprehension.
• Provided one-on-one support to students struggling with assignments, helping them develop problem-solving skills and boost their confidence.
• Collaborated with teachers to create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and stimulating classroom environment.
• Facilitated small group discussions and activities, promoting critical thinking and teamwork among students.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability in addressing diverse student needs, ensuring that each child received the support they required to succeed.
• Developed and led engaging after-school activities focusing on art, music, and physical education, promoting students' creativity and overall well-being.
• Mentored students, providing guidance and support to help them navigate academic and personal challenges.
• Collaborated with program staff to ensure a well-organized and efficiently run after-school program.
• Monitored student progress and communicated with parents and guardians to keep them informed of their child's achievements and areas for improvement.
• Demonstrated strong leadership skills in managing groups of students, maintaining a positive and inclusive atmosphere.
• Provided one-on-one literacy tutoring to elementary school students, helping them improve their reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary.
• Developed personalized lesson plans based on each student's unique learning style and needs, ensuring optimal progress.
• Communicated regularly with teachers and parents to discuss student progress and collaborate on strategies for continued improvement.
• Created a supportive and encouraging learning environment, helping students develop a love for reading and a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
• Demonstrated patience, empathy, and strong communication skills in working with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Classroom management
• Lesson planning
• Differentiated instruction
• Student engagement
• Curriculum development
• Literacy tutoring
• Behavior management
• Parent-teacher communication
• Multicultural sensitivity
• First Aid and CPR certified
• Microsoft Office Suite

Church volunteers play a vital role in fostering a warm, welcoming environment by greeting attendees, assisting with service preparations, and supporting spiritual growth initiatives. To apply, craft a resume highlighting experience in community service, event coordination, and building interpersonal connections. Emphasize traits like compassion, reliability, and a commitment to the church's values.

Devoted and compassionate Church Volunteer with over a decade of experience serving various religious communities. Skilled in organizing events, coordinating volunteer efforts, and fostering a welcoming environment for all members. Passionate about making a positive impact and supporting the spiritual growth of individuals within the congregation.

• Managed a team of 50+ volunteers, ensuring smooth operation of church events and programs
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive volunteer training program, increasing volunteer retention by 30%
• Collaborated with church leadership to create and execute community outreach initiatives, resulting in a 25% increase in church attendance
• Spearheaded the organization of annual fundraising events, raising over $50,000 for various charitable causes
• Recognized as 'Volunteer of the Year' in 2020 for outstanding dedication and leadership
• Assisted in planning and leading weekly youth group meetings and activities for 75+ participants
• Mentored young adults, providing guidance and support in their spiritual journey
• Organized and chaperoned youth mission trips, fostering a sense of community service and personal growth
• Developed and taught engaging Bible study lessons, tailored to the needs and interests of the youth
• Collaborated with parents and church staff to address concerns and ensure a safe, nurturing environment for all youth participants
• Served as a vocalist and guitarist in the church worship band, leading congregational singing during weekly services
• Assisted in the selection and arrangement of music, ensuring a diverse and engaging worship experience
• Mentored and trained new musicians, fostering a supportive and collaborative environment within the music ministry
• Participated in community outreach events, using music as a means to connect with and inspire others
• Collaborated with the pastoral team to integrate music seamlessly with the overall theme and message of each service
• Youth Mentorship
• Worship Leading
• Musical Performance
• Pastoral Care

Community volunteers play a vital role in enriching their local areas by dedicating time to initiatives such as event planning, fundraising drives, and community outreach programs. To craft an impressive resume for such roles, emphasize any prior volunteer experience, particularly in organizing events or programs that serve the community. Highlight transferable skills like communication, teamwork, time management, and attention to detail. Convey your passion for making a positive impact through service. A well-structured resume listing relevant experiences and abilities can help you stand out for community volunteer roles.

Passionate and dedicated community volunteer with over 10 years of experience in organizing and leading various initiatives to create positive change. Skilled in event planning, fundraising, and building strong relationships with diverse groups of people. Committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of others and fostering a sense of unity within the community.

• Managed a team of 50+ volunteers, ensuring efficient allocation of resources and timely completion of projects.
• Spearheaded the annual 'Community Connect' event, attracting over 1,000 attendees and raising $25,000 for local charities.
• Developed and implemented a volunteer training program, resulting in a 30% increase in volunteer retention rate.
• Collaborated with local businesses and organizations to secure sponsorships and in-kind donations for community events.
• Recognized as 'Volunteer of the Year' in 2020 for outstanding dedication and leadership in community service.
• Provided one-on-one mentoring and academic support to underprivileged youth, helping them improve their grades and self-confidence.
• Organized monthly educational field trips and workshops, exposing students to new experiences and career opportunities.
• Collaborated with school administrators and teachers to identify students in need of additional support.
• Developed customized lesson plans and learning materials to cater to individual student needs.
• Nominated for the 'Outstanding Mentor Award' in 2017 for exceptional commitment to student success.
• Assisted in the distribution of food and essential supplies to over 500 low-income families per week.
• Conducted community needs assessments and surveys to identify areas for improvement in service delivery.
• Organized and led a team of volunteers in sorting and packing food donations, ensuring efficient distribution.
• Developed and maintained strong relationships with local grocery stores and restaurants to secure regular food donations.
• Recognized for exceptional service and commitment to the community with the 'Volunteer Excellence Award' in 2013.
• Team Building
• Needs Assessment
• Curriculum Development

Student Volunteers aid in organizing events, supporting staff, and interacting with participants. Key qualifications include strong communication, teamwork, and attention to detail. For the resume, highlight relevant experience through concise descriptions. Focus on transferable skills like customer service and problem-solving. Use clear language to summarize responsibilities, accomplishments, and acquired abilities.

Dedicated and compassionate student volunteer with a strong commitment to making a positive impact in the community. Skilled in event planning, fundraising, and collaborating with diverse groups of people. Eager to apply exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills to support meaningful causes and initiatives.

• Coordinated a team of 25 student volunteers to assist with food distribution events, serving over 1,000 individuals per month
• Developed and implemented a volunteer training program, resulting in a 30% increase in volunteer retention and satisfaction
• Collaborated with local schools and community organizations to recruit new volunteers and expand the reach of the program
• Managed inventory and logistics for food distribution events, ensuring efficient and effective service delivery
• Recognized as 'Volunteer of the Month' for exceptional dedication and leadership
• Provided one-on-one tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged youth, focusing on academic support and personal development
• Designed and delivered engaging lesson plans tailored to individual student needs, resulting in an average grade improvement of 1.5 letter grades
• Organized monthly group activities and field trips to foster a sense of community and encourage social skill development
• Served as a positive role model and confidant, offering guidance and support to help students navigate personal challenges
• Received the 'Outstanding Mentor Award' for demonstrating exceptional commitment and impact
• Assisted with daily activities and events at a local senior center, providing companionship and support to elderly residents
• Organized and led weekly art therapy sessions, helping to improve mood and cognitive function in participants
• Collaborated with staff to develop and implement a virtual visitation program during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring residents maintained social connections
• Provided technology assistance to help seniors stay connected with loved ones and access online resources
• Recognized by the center's management for exceptional compassion and dedication to improving the lives of elderly residents
• Interpersonal communication
• Inventory management
• Empathy and compassion

The Best Way to Write Up Your Volunteer Work on Your Resume

When you write a resume , you’re doing it to show your potential employer why you’re perfect for the role.

When you include details like your skills , education , and professional experience you’re showing exactly why you should get invited in for an interview.

• How do we handle voluntary roles on a resume?
• How to add volunteer experience to a resume?
• Where does this valuable experience end up?

Stress no more, we’ve got all the answers you’re looking for.

Check out these tips and examples we’ve put together so you can be confident listing your amazing volunteer work, and even learn why it’s a valuable addition to your document.

What is classed as volunteer experience?

If you’ve worked or given your time for free , then it’s volunteer experience that you can include on your resume.

Maybe you’ve organized a local blood drive or offered support services at a local homeless shelter, or you’ve done pro bono work in your professional capacity, or completed internships in international volunteer programs.

It all counts, and the more altruistic the cause, the better it’s going to look on your resume volunteer experience.

You can even use volunteer experience to show your achievements that match the job you’re applying for.

So you can see the diverse range of activities that count as volunteer experience, check out this list of examples:

• Volunteering at your local church’s child care group or outreach programs demonstrates leadership and ability to organize people
• Caring for animals at a local shelter means that you are compassionate, responsible, and good-natured
• Helping people at a nursing home will let a hiring manager know you’re a kind, responsible person who can come to the aid of a colleague, show patience, care and the ability to show organizational skills
• When you serve food or provide practical support at a homeless shelter you’re demonstrating that you are responsive, kind, stress-resistant and executive person
• Running a kid’s reading club or organizing a book circle at your community library proves that you’ve got organizational skills

Get ahead of the game and prepare your resume in minutes. Find a template and fill in your details; it’s that simple. We’ve got plenty of resume templates that are good to go to get your professional resume whipped into shape in short order. Select template 👈

Why include volunteer work on a resume?

You might be wondering, do you need volunteer experience on a resume ?

To start with…

Including your volunteer experience could mean the difference between you or the next candidate landing the job

No matter how much high-level, professional experience you’ve got under your belt, voluntary work is always a great addition to your story. These activities can allow your personality and ethics to shine through.

If you need more convincing, here are more reasons why your volunteer positions belong on your resume:

• You can highlight your transferable skills being put into action when you’re moving across industries
• Gaps in your resume can be given some meaning and detail when you’ve taken a break to travel and volunteer at a local humanitarian organization or charity
• Add skills and real-world experience even when you’ve not had paid work, like when you’re fresh out of high school or college
• When you’ve been a community leader but not led a workforce, you can still show what you’re capable of by showing your volunteer work

Think of it like this…

When you add your volunteer work to your resume, future employers can get a more rounded picture of you, what you’re interested in and what you’re able to do , as well as see you’re willing to work hard even without having prior professional experience.

As well as showing you’re engaged in your community and the world around you, there are piles of other benefits associated with being a volunteer. You can make your soft skills shine, like leadership, compassion, motivation, teamwork, and plenty more besides.

Pro-Tip If you’re looking to establish a career in academia or in the nonprofit sector, volunteer roles will demonstrate your commitment and are highly valued in these areas.

Where does volunteer experience go on a resume?

Now you know why you should be writing about your volunteer experience, now it’s time to understand how to display volunteer experience on a resume . Here’s what you need to know…

There’s no hard and fast rule about where this information can go in your resume. You need to think about what your professional experience looks like and what your current career goals are, too.

• For students and those who are freshly graduated , and without much work experience, treat your voluntary work the same as your paid work. You can list it all in your work experience section.
• When you’re an experienced professional with strong work history, make a separate section on your resume to cover your volunteer work. If you’ve volunteered in a role that relates directly to the role you want, you can add it to your work experience section.

Pro-Tip The vast majority of the time, the right place for your volunteer experience is under your “Professional Experience” section. This works great to cover gaps in employment or if you want to pull attention away from your current job role.

Listing volunteer work on your resume

Your volunteer experience should be written just like any other entry on your resume, that is with a couple of sentences explaining what you did or do at the organization and pulling out the main contributions you’ve made and big achievements in a list of bullet points.

The format for your volunteer work will look just like how you’ve structured things for your previous jobs. It’s important to note your role as a “ volunteer ” and also include any position titles like being a coordinator or leader.

Here’s an example for you to check out:

• Managed a team of 12 volunteers that groom and exercise dogs held in ASPCA Adoption Center
• Led a recruitment drive to bring in new volunteers, with voluntary hours increasing by 17% within three months
• Directed a schools outreach program to donate toys and supplies to the shelter, raising awareness of animal welfare and increasing the comfort of dogs in our care

Be sure to show the skills that you’ve earned and honed during your volunteering and make sure you tell recruiters how you’ve developed in your role.

Look at the job description and the skills they’re looking for. Organized a city event and the role is looking for you to coordinate across departments? Let them know you’ve got the experience they want!

Check out another powerful volunteer experience listing for a resume:

• Created and led activities for a troop of 15 scouts, including camping trips and community events
• Planned and executed fundraising drive through bake sales and car washes, raising over $10,000 over the six-month drive
• Supported two scouts to become troop leader within the community

Be creative!

You can think outside the box a little when you’re assigning a job title to the voluntary work that you’ve done. Make sure that you show off the work that you did whilst also omitting jargon - keep it clear for recruiters.

Maybe you showed visitors around your local wetland conservation area and you’re applying for a role in hospitality, “Volunteer Tour Guide” shows your skills and relates to the industry.

Pro-Tip When you’ve volunteered far outside the industry you work in or want to move over to, you can add a Volunteer Work section at the end of your resume if you still think your volunteering is going to differentiate you from everyone else or give a more rounded picture to hiring managers.

Hints and Tips for Listing Volunteer Work on a Resume

When you’re writing up your volunteer section, keep these things in mind:

• Make your application specific and make sure that everything you’re including directly relates to the job. Go through the job ad really carefully so you know what they want and match your skills to it. Even research more about the company and learn what they value in their team
• Pick out the important words in the job description and think about how your volunteering can match the skills they want. Using the same words as in the advert is a great way to target your application
• Proofread your work to catch any minor typos or details. They’ll be noticed by a friend as well as a recruiter, and you’re not asking a friend to hire you so get their feedback.

Pro-Tip As well as learning about your volunteer experience on a resume, you should also learn how to format other parts of your resume. Here’s an interesting article about adding your hobby and interests to your resume .

Transferable skills are easy to show off when you add your volunteering experience to your resume. It’s also a great conversation starter when you land the interview, too; you can really get into what value you can add and how driven you are.

Now you should be well versed in how to write volunteer experience on a resume and know exactly what section to put volunteer experience on a resume.

To keep things fresh in your mind, let’s cover the key takeaways one more time…

• A volunteering experience is something you’ve done for free to help others and make a contribution to the community
• Your volunteering experience is important to include on your resume; it shows off your personality, which may contribute to the role you’re applying to, as well as the skills you’ve gained during your volunteering experience
• It makes sense to include your volunteer work if it’s relevant to your job application - the hiring manager is definitely going to be impressed
• Even if it feels irrelevant to the field your applying in, it can still show off your soft skills so it can still be worth mentioning it
• Include volunteering experience in your work experience section if you’re a student or don’t have much-paid experience yet. If you’ve got a strong professional background make a separate section for volunteer work underneath the work experience section
• Don’t underestimate the power of keywords and add some relevant ones from the job advertisement to your volunteering experience description
• Make sure your volunteering experience section is well-structured, use bullet points to make it easier to read and proofread it before adding to your actual resume

Take full advantage of this chance to make a great impression and put yourself head and shoulders above everyone else on the shortlist.

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• • Provided counseling and support for about 50% of the displaced persons
• • Assessed the food security situation and daily dietary intake of 100+ refugee households
• • Collaborated and coordinated a group of 10 volunteers in organizing 3 events, raising a total of $20,000

4 Volunteer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Your volunteer resume should highlight your commitment to the causes you care for. It must reflect your passion and the skills you've acquired. Showcase the impact of your work and quantify it whenever possible. Don't forget to include any leadership roles or initiatives you've taken.

Resume Guide

What you’ll learn here, how to write a volunteer resume, volunteer resume formats, build an attention-grabbing header, coherent summary section & secret formula, objective that is straight to the point, volunteer experience focusing on action & contribution, must-have volunteer skills & strengths for a resume, education section in a volunteer resume, volunteer resume certificates worth mentioning, cohesive day of my life section offering authenticity, key takeaways, community organizer, hospital volunteer.

Do you want to gain volunteer experience? Or maybe you found something you believe in and desire to contribute to a cause?

Despite your selfless intentions, recruiters do not return the calls?

Don’t get upset!

Some positions require specific qualifications and an extraordinary approach. That’s why we are here to help you in your journey! Here you will learn to build a top-notch resume that highlights your best attributes and catches attention.

Follow this ultimate 2022 volunteer resume guide and achieve your goals!

• how to list volunteer work on your resume
• where to put related volunteer work for the best effect
• how to include volunteer experience using bullet points and prove to be perfect for the job
• how to choose between resume summary or objective
• what other sections will fit the volunteer resume, and how to build them

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”

William Shakespeare

Remember this quote because it’s the basis of what we are about to discuss here.

The idea of the volunteer resume is to show how you can give away your:

Yes, you might want to volunteer to add experience to your resume when applying for college or else. And that’s okay!

However, you should take a human-centered approach and prove to the recruiters that you can indeed:

• help people be one step closer to their dreams
• contribute to a specific cause that will make the world a better place

How are you going to do it? 

Firstly, you have better tailor all resume sections to the volunteer position.

That’s a must!

Secondly, you should prove to recruiters that you could apply all you’ve learned from college or professional experience.

Focus on skills and strengths like empathy and communication that directly benefit people.

Describe how you will contribute to the cause you chose.

It’s needless to point out that self motivation is crucial. 

After all, your desire to leave your mark on someone’s life is a driving force!

Continue reading and learn what volunteer resume formats will earn you extra points!

You can use these three resume formats:

• Reverse-chronological resume
• Functional resume
• Hybrid resume

The following two factors will define your choice of a resume format:

• Years of experience
• Industry experience
• Reverse-chronological resumes are a good option for candidates with a couple of years in the niche.
• Functional resumes match professionals that change careers or job seekers. However, this format is not widely popular among recruiters
• Hybrid resumes combine the best of both worlds, as they are suitable for all types of professionals-beginners and seniors.

Pay attention to the style and layout ! Here are some resume tips:

• Utilize the 12p resume font size
• Use 10’ resume margins
• If you have under 10 years of experience-use one-page resume , otherwise- two-page resume
• Check your grammar and spelling
• Focus on the PDF format

If you want to get the interview call, you should add References and Languages !

Top resume sections:

• The Summary section introduces you as an individual, lists your qualities and skills and reveals the cause you believe in
• Your expertise is a clear sign of whether you will fit a specific volunteer position
• Skills and strengths show how you could contribute to the volunteer program
• Decent education is a bonus
• References from reputable figures also add more credibility to your resume

What recruiters want to see:

• What do you believe in? How can you make the world a better place?
• How could you put your knowledge acquired from school/college into practice?
• What are your personality traits? Does helping people give you pleasure?
• What are your goals? Do you apply to be a volunteer to add experience to your resume? Or do you have other motives?
• Are you a self-motivated person? How do you act in difficult situations? Are you capable of working in a team?

It’s unbelievable how many people build their resume header wrong.

They rush to skip the “no brainer” section and focus on the content.

However, if you do not introduce personal information and contacts, you might miss the train to success.

Here are some tips on what to include in your header to make a positive impression on recruiters:

• Try to use the same name on all your social platforms: if you put Jonathan in your resume, avoid writing “Johnny” in your LinkedIn profile
• Always write down your job title: try to add volunteer positions that are relevant to the one you are applying for
• List the phone number that you use most
• Include a professional email address: it’s preferable to contain your first and last/middle name
• Web portfolio address or LinkedIn profile that will provide evidence of your previous volunteer experience
• Accurate location: do not lie about your address because this might cause only troubles

These are two examples: one wrong and one right. Analyze them carefully and build an attention-grabbing header!

2 Volunteer resume header examples

It is scientifically proven that people always remember the first and the last sentence of each discussion, monologue, or text.

Therefore, the Summary section is worth your attention.

Your introduction should convey the feeling of confidence, self motivation and empathy.

Thus, you can describe your skills and experience and outline how they will help you contribute to your cause.

You can follow this simple but quite effective formula when building your volunteer summary section:

• Mention the years and field of experience supported with favorable adjectives
• Use quantitative data to describe your duties and responsibilities
• Add skills that you excelled in, tailored to the job description
• Include achievements, awards, or similar recognitions from authoritative institutions and people
• Finish the summary with a sentence saying what you are looking for

If you follow these steps, you can expect a return call from recruiters soon!

Take notes and be careful when writing yours!

2 Volunteer resume summary examples

The following sample is not that bad, but it’s far from impressive.

There is no quantitative data and nothing specific at all.

Such a wrong approach might cost you the job interview, so avoid:

• Mediocre sentences like starting with “I”
• Vague and general information without proven facts
• Adding skills or duties irrelevant to the job offer

The volunteer summary above is 10 out of 10! Nothing short of success! Don’t try to be “extravagant” and follow the steps we provided for you! You will be mesmerized by what simplicity might do for you!

Let’s set the difference between volunteer summary and objective:

In the summary section, you can include achievements, education, skills and an explanation of why you are the right candidate.

On the other hand, the objective is more straight to the point.

It is a brief statement that communicates your career goals: the job and the skills you want to acquire.

It’s preferable also to add your experience backed up with facts and quantitative data.

Here is a coherent example of an objective that speaks volumes:

Believe it or not, you should treat the volunteer experience just like a job!

You don’t have the right to describe irrelevant details that offer no value.

Your bullet point should show determination and self motivation.

That’s how you will prove to recruiters that you are on the right track.

To take the right approach and prove your contribution, you should:

• Describe your duties using proven facts, action verbs and numbers
• Emphasize activities and projects that you personally led and organized
• Mention what soft/hard skills you acquired and how you utilized them
• Use high-performance metrics and do not hesitate to add references or recognitions

It’s essential to follow these 4 to describe your volunteering efficiently.

Do not forget to tailor all the bullet points to the job description!

Recruiters search for candidates with relevant expertise to maximize the project outcomes.

If you lack creativity now, ask yourself questions and answer them:

What were my responsibilities? How did I excel in them?

How did I manage to cope with stress in the dynamic environment?

How did communication and empathy help me build trust in people?

Was I recognized for my contributions? Did I get positive feedback? By whom?

Follow this advice and show to recruiters admirable volunteer resume experience!

Volunteer resume experience examples

• • Provided patient education
• • Received positive feedback and praises
• • Participated in fundraisers and organized events
• • Monitored a lot of patients

One word, 8 symbols:

Unfortunately, this applicant has no idea how to list and describe their previous experience.

Thank God you ran into our volunteer guide and learned how to write it!

Prove us right and take notes from the following well-built Experience section!

• • Provided patient education sessions twice per week
• • Received 98% positive feedback from patients and was highly praised by the hospital manager
• • Participated in 3 fundraisers and organized 3 events to raise funds to support hospital’s innovative cancer treatment program
• • Monitored 60+ patients and ensured all medications were administered on time

Attention! If your volunteer experience is relevant to the position you are applying for, include it in the Experience section. Otherwise, if you mention it to fill the resume gaps, use it as a separate Volunteering section.

Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.

H. Jackson Brown Jr., American Author

The meaning behind this quote should be your maxim.

Yes, you should balance your soft and hard skills and tailor them to the job description.

Nevertheless, if your abilities do not correspond to giving value, they are useless.

Remember that volunteering is all about the people you help.

Then, you should offer skills that match these vital criteria.

5 Volunteer Hard Skills:

• Microsoft Office
• Physical Fitness
• Good Memory
• Foreign Languages
• Basic Computer Skills

5 Volunteer Soft Skills:

• Interpersonal Skills
• Self-Motivation
• Customer Service

The Strengths section is an amazing opportunity to stand out from the competition .

Here you could list your talents or the skills you excelled.

Then, you can back them up with examples or quantitative data.

Of course, it’s crucial to focus on strengths related to the job description and focus on positive personality traits.

If you are a skilled professional with deep expertise, there is no need to add bullet points in the Education section .

However, if you are a freshman or a youngster with little to no experience, you need to stand out.

You must show how your school/college prepares you to apply your skills in a real-life situation.

Here are 4 vital steps to follow when describing your education:

• Write down what skills you acquired and how you applied them in your experience
• Mention some high-performance metrics you achieved and back them up with numbers
• Show self motivation and positive personality traits: volunteering focuses on helping people
• Add GPA (higher than 3.5), references from your tutors, or other achievements 

Below are listed the most common volunteer certifications in the USA.

It’s easy to declare that all of them indicate self motivation.

However, try to include these certificates only if relevant to the job offer.

Thus, you increase your chances of getting hired by at least 50%.

Top volunteer certificates for your resume:

• ManageFirst
• Learn2Serve
• Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE)
• Certified Healthcare Administrative Professional (cHAP)

Time management is crucial when it comes to taking serious responsibilities.

The “Day of My Life” section is a cohesive way to prove you are an organized and dedicated candidate.

However, many applicants repeat the same mistake.

They build the diagram without including the time they would spend on volunteering.

Such action would make the whole section pointless.

Take your time, decide how much of your time you could give away on volunteering and add it to the diagram.

• Use action verbs and quantitative data to support every section of your resume, especially your experience
• Focus on positive personality traits and describe how you want to contribute to the cause you believe in
• Tailor your soft and hard skills to the volunteer position. Emphasize self motivation, communication and organization
• Add a Day of My Life section, References, or Strengths to build trust in recruiters

Volunteer resume examples

Explore additional volunteer resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Looking to build your own Volunteer resume?

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Volunteering Resume Examples & Writing Guide for 2024

Although this isn't a paid position, you still need to polish your volunteer  resume to perfection!

Whether you’ve decided to tutor, counsel, or build shelters for people in need, the most important thing to keep in mind is tailoring your resume to the respective volunteer opportunity. And with our easy-to-follow guide, brimming with the best writing tips, sleek templates, real-life resume samples, and plenty of examples, you'll be able to do exactly that!

Keep reading our guide and discover how to: 

• Spruce up your volunteer resume format
• Market your achievements and strengths in your volunteer professional summary
• Highlight your best soft and hard skills in your volunteer resume
• Present your relevant volunteer work experience in the best light
• Make your education section count
• Pick the right additional sections to put on your volunteer CV
• Access resources for job-seeking volunteers

Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.

1. Spruce up your volunteer resume format

Even if it looks like a marginal thing, your resume appearance matters . A great volume of candidates means plenty of resumes, and plenty of resumes mean less time for a recruiter to read all of them thoroughly.

And that’s when you may realize that before you get to offer your time and energy to a good cause, you'll need to offer a well-organized, good-looking volunteer CV.

Make your resume easy to read and easy to navigate with the following tips:

• Use a clear header with your full name, email address, telephone number and social media links if they relate to the position in question.
• Employ a two-column layout if you're a seasoned volunteer and your resume contains a lot of experience. Try to maintain a low page count — no more than two pages.
• Stick to a resume-friendly font such as Garamond, Cambria, or Calibri.
• Use negative space between individual segments for better navigation.
• Make your headings big enough.

Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.

Use artificial intelligence to create your resume — FAST!

2. market your achievements and strengths in your volunteer professional summary.

Your professional summary should definitely encapsulate your passion for helping the cause, relevant work experience, strengths, professional achievements and your exceptional volunteering skills. 

Now imagine that this all should fit in 3-5 lines. Challenging? Maybe, but it’s nothing a candidate like you wouldn’t manage.

Follow these simple tips, and leave the other applicants standing.

• Craft your professional summary just after you have written the rest of your resume.
• Focus on your achievements and results rather than everyday responsibilities in your past roles.
• Mention numbers whenever you can — years of experience, how much money you’ve saved a company, amount you have collected during a fundraiser event, etc.
• Always tailor your professional profile to the respective job posting. How? Look for the most important keywords and incorporate them in your summary.
• Use impactful language.
• Foreground your exceptional volunteering skills.

Volunteer professional profile example

Dependable and highly accomplished fundraiser with 7 years of experience in raising funds for various charitable and nonprofit organizations. Adept at presenting an array of innovative fundraising ideas to a variety of donor audiences. Thanks to exceptional communication, time management and networking abilities, mentored a team of 19 volunteers in order to develop strategies to encourage new contributions. Secured funding and donations for 12 projects that included different activities for children, youth and adults.

3. Highlight your best soft and hard skills in your volunteer resume

As a volunteer, there's no doubt that you'll need to be equipped with out-of-this-world empathy, resilience and professionalism.

There might be, however, many more challenging requirements for your character traits and abilities. In order to mention the relevant ones, always tailor your skill-set to a specific job posting. Look for the keywords in it, and list the matching skills at the top of your list.

The following volunteer competences might help you compile an effective skill-set for your resume.

The best soft skills for your volunteer resume

• Ability to working under pressure
• Effective communication (verbal and written)
• Outstanding organizational skills
• Reliability
• Active listening
• Adaptability
• Responsibility
• Time management
• Conflict resolution
• Exceptional customer service 

Effective volunteer hard skills for your resume

• MS Office Suite
• In-depth knowledge of fundraising and resource mobilisation
• Inventory replenishment
• Preventive maintenance
• Animal care
• Administrative skills
• Volunteer management tool: VolunteerHub 

Find out your resume score!

4. Present your relevant volunteer work experience in the best light

You worked hard on your work experience section , and you diligently mentioned all your duties and responsibilities in each of your past roles. Yet, no organization has called you.

Why? Maybe exactly because of that. No recruiter wants to read large chunks of text filled with irrelevant information.

Remember that customizing your resume to the job posting you're interested in is the key to landing the job .

That’s why the following tips may save your work experience section from being ignored:

• Use a reverse-chronological order to list your work history, starting with the most recent position.
• Introduce the company name, location, your job title and dates.
• Focus on the requirements in the job posting, and use the right keywords from it. Include them in your section.
• Avoid naming your daily duties, and emphasize your accomplishments in the given role.
• Use numbers to highlight your achievements. Adding it all up will yet be another step to make them more tangible.
• Don't overwhelm the recruiter, and maintain the number of bullet points below 7.
• Remember to employ impactful language, and use such action verbs as developed , secured , mentored , etc.

Volunteer work experience section example

People United Foundation, Kentucky, USA Volunteer Fundraiser 2017 – 2021

• Developed marketing and investor materials for potential and existing investors, and identified and built relationships with prospective donors.
• Organized and attended 25+ conferences and events that offered opportunities to network in the global philanthropic communities.
• Recruited sponsors, participants, and volunteers for fundraising events.
• Mentored a team of 19 volunteers on developing strategies to encourage new contributions. 
• Secured funding and donations for 12 projects that included different activities for children, youth and adults.
• Developed strategies that led to a 12% increase in contributions within 6 months.

5. Make your education section count

Whether you're required to have a background in formal education or not, always mention your highest completed level. If you are still studying, be transparent about it.

You can simply introduce your college name, degree and years in school, or you can spice your education section up , and present your relevant academic achievements or areas of interest. This extra piece of information may be enough to awe the recruiter. 

Listing education in a volunteer resume

Mason University, Maysville, KY, USA Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Management 2013-2017

• GPA: 3.98 (Top 15% of the Program)
• Area of interest: Organizational Management
• Excelled in Cultural Engagement

6. Top additional sections to put on your volunteer resume

Thanks to relevant additional sections, you can certainly improve your resume score — especially if you lack relevant work experience, or your education section falls short. 

Your learning and volunteering activities, certificates or language competences can make all the difference.

Select the sections that are most relevant to the job ad in question, and get ahead of the other candidates:

• Certifications
• Training Courses
• Volunteering Activities
• Qualifications
• Accomplishments
• Extracurricular Activities
• Publications

Listing extra sections in your volunteer CV

Volunteering

• English Tutor, EF Education, Suva, Fiji, May 2014 - February 2015

Certificates

• Leadership and Management Certificate, The Leadership Institute, June 2016

Language Skills

• Italian — Fluent
• French — B2 Certificate
• Spanish— A2 Certificate

7. Top resources for job-seeking volunteers

When it comes to volunteering, one thing is for certain — there's something for everyone. But, just like with a regular paid job, the opportunities won't come to you on their own. We've put together a list of resources to help set you up for succeed on your volunteering journey: 

• VolunteerMatch: This platform connects volunteers with organizations in need of dedicated people across various causes. Based on your interest and ideal location, you can filter through their database with ease. 
• Idealist : Idealist provides opportunities for anyone looking for volunteer positions, nonprofit jobs, and internships, with options both in the U.S. and internationally.
• Catchafire : This platform helps match professionals with nonprofits for skills-based volunteering projects. Based on your preference, you can opt for either “in-person” or “virtual” projects.
• DoSomething : Primary aimed at students, this platform offers volunteering opportunities for contributing to various social causes. 
• Volunteering organizations: Joining an association like Points of Light , VolunteerPro , or the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) is an amazing opportunity to get in touch with likeminded people, gain new skills, and access resources tailored to your particular interests.
• Local resources: Also, don't forget that opportunities may be closer than you think. Ask around your local community centers or places of worship and see if there's anything you can do for them. 
• Gaining new skills: If you wish to focus your volunteering efforts on a cause that requires you to have specific skills, take a look at courses and certifications provided by learning platforms such as Coursera , edX , or Udemy .

It doesn't matter whether you’re looking to make a difference locally or beyond your home turf, these platforms can guide you to opportunities that fit your skills and interests like a glove. Just don't forget to give as much attention and intent to both your volunteer resume and volunteer cover letter .

Volunteering Resume FAQ

How can i tailor my volunteer resume for a specific role.

Start by deeply understanding the job description. What skills and experiences exactly are they looking for? Now, reflect on your skills and experiences. Which ones match those in the job description? Next, highlight these matches prominently on your resume. But do not, under any circumstances, lie about your experiences or skills. It's not a good look whether the position you're applying for is paid or not.

Is the 'references' section necessary in a volunteer resume?

That depends. If the job posting explicitly asks for references, include them. If not, it's generally better to use that valuable space for your skills and experiences. However, we recommend keeping a list of references ready in a separate document. Just in case someone asks for them.

How should I detail remote or virtual volunteering on a resume?

Remote volunteer experiences should be treated the same way as in-person ones. Be sure to highlight them on your resume. You can then put 'remote' or 'virtual' next to the title of the volunteer position to make this fact clear. Just because you were in your pyjamas doesn't mean it wasn't real work! ;)

Should I include hobbies and interests in my volunteer resume?

Include hobbies if they are relevant and can show additional skills. If you love organizing your book club meetings, it might show you've got some organizational flair. Or maybe you're a marathon runner which can signify dedication. Plus, mentioning your hobbies can also get some of your personality across. But if your hobby is just watching Netflix... Well, I'd save that info for the water cooler talk.

What type of language should I use in my volunteer resume?

Even though you're applying for a volunteer position, it's important to keep the tone of your resume professional. To give your resume more impact, use action verbs to describe your experiences, such as 'led', 'managed', 'developed', and so on.

Julia Gergelova

Julia is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW™) and an active member of the Professional Association of Résumé Writers & Career Coaches (PARWCC™). She is also a passionate translator and graphic designer. Julia holds degrees in translation and interpretation and has international work experience in various countries across Europe, as well as in China and Panama. Julia formerly taught academic writing and contributed as a graphic designer to outlets such as The Business of Business. You'll often find her with a book in one hand and a specialty coffee in the other, always on the lookout for new insights.

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• Refugee Volunteer

All volunteering resume examples

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• Career Blog

Community Volunteer Resume Writing: Examples and Tips

Volunteering in one’s community can be an incredibly rewarding experience, both for the individual and the community at large. Community volunteering involves donating your time and energy to a nonprofit or community organization in order to help others and make a positive impact. This can include anything from working at a local food bank to organizing a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization.

The importance of community volunteering cannot be overstated. In addition to helping those in need, volunteering can provide opportunities for personal growth and development. Volunteering can also help bring communities together and create a greater sense of connection and belonging.

The purpose of this article is to provide guidance and tips for creating a standout resume for community volunteers. While many people may see volunteering as simply a selfless act of service, it can also be a powerful tool for personal and professional development. Crafting a well-written and thoughtful volunteer resume can help individuals highlight their skills, experiences, and accomplishments, while also demonstrating their commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.

Throughout this article, we will explore key strategies for crafting a successful community volunteer resume, including the importance of highlighting specific skills and experiences, selecting powerful language that speaks to your accomplishments, and formatting your resume in a clear and concise manner. By following these tips and leveraging your community volunteer experience, you can create a standout resume that effectively showcases your skills and experience and sets you apart in a competitive job market.

Key Elements of a Volunteer Resume

An effective volunteer resume should be targeted towards the specific organization or cause that you are interested in volunteering for. The resume should demonstrate your skills and qualifications, as well as your passion for the cause. The following key elements are essential for a strong volunteer resume:

Objectives and goals

The objectives and goals section of a volunteer resume should clearly state why you are interested in volunteering and what you hope to accomplish. This section should be tailored to the specific organization or cause that you are applying to volunteer for. It’s important to show that you understand the specific needs and goals of the organization, and that you are committed to helping them achieve their mission.

Volunteer experience

Volunteer experience is a crucial element of a volunteer resume, as it demonstrates your experience and commitment to the cause. In this section, you should list all relevant volunteer experience, including the name of the organization, the dates of your volunteering, and a brief description of your duties and accomplishments. It’s also important to highlight any leadership or project management roles you may have had.

Skills and qualifications

The skills and qualifications section of a volunteer resume should communicate your relevant skills and experiences that would make you an asset to the organization or cause. This section should include both hard and soft skills, as well as any relevant work or volunteer experiences that showcase your abilities. Some of the key skills that volunteer organizations may be looking for include fundraising, event planning, and community outreach.

Education and Certifications

The education and certifications section of a volunteer resume should highlight any relevant education or certifications that you have achieved. This could include degrees, certifications, or training programs that are relevant to the cause or organization that you are applying to volunteer for. It’s important to include both formal education and any relevant volunteer or work training that you have completed.

A strong volunteer resume should be targeted towards the specific organization or cause that you are interested in volunteering for. It should highlight your relevant skills and experiences, as well as your passion for the cause. By following these key elements, you can create a resume that will help you stand out and make a positive impact in the community.

Styles of Volunteer Resumes

The way you structure your resume is important in making a great first impression on potential employers or organizations you hope to volunteer with. There are three common types of resumes that you can use to highlight your volunteer experience: chronological, functional, and combination.

Chronological Resume

A chronological resume is the most common type of resume used by job seekers. This style of resume highlights your experience in a reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent experience and working backwards. It is a great way to showcase how you have progressed in your career or volunteer work over time.

If you have a consistent and clear pattern of volunteer work that you’d like to highlight, a chronological resume is a great option for you. When creating a chronological resume, be sure to include the name of the organization, your role, and the dates of your volunteering.

Functional Resume

A functional resume highlights your skills and accomplishments without emphasizing your work timeline. Instead, you can break your information down into categories like “Leadership Experience,” “Community Involvement”, “Events Management” or any other descriptive titles that suit your experience. Instead of simply listing out the volunteer work you’ve done, a functional resume allows you to showcase the skills you’ve gained through volunteering.

This type of resume is perfect for anyone with a spotty work history, or if you’re looking to make a career change. When crafting a functional resume, focus on your accomplishments, rather than your job duties. Be sure to include specific examples of how your volunteer work helped you build marketable skills like leadership, communication, or budget management

Combination Resume

A combination resume is a mix of both chronological and functional resumes, where you can showcase both your work experience and your specific skills all at once. This type of resume is especially beneficial if you have a long and diverse volunteer history, but also want to highlight your relevant employment history.

When creating a combination resume, be sure to use the chronological format to highlight your work experience, and the functional format to showcase your skills and accomplishments. One strategy is to break down your experience into separate sections, with separate headings. For example, you could have “Professional Experience,” “Volunteer Experience,” and “Skills” sections.

Volunteer work can be an impressive addition to your resume, especially if you’re targeting a role in the nonprofit or community sector. Having a well-structured and tailored resume that showcases your skills, experience, and passion will increase your chances of getting noticed, and will help you stand out from other candidates. Consider the type of resume that is best suited for your experience and use it to your advantage.

How to Write a Volunteer Resume

When it comes to writing a volunteer resume, there are several things to consider to ensure that it is effective in showcasing your skills and experience. Here are some tips and techniques on how to write a great volunteer resume, as well as some common mistakes to avoid and best practices for proofreading.

Preparing to write a resume

Before you start writing your volunteer resume, it’s important to take some time to prepare. This includes:

• Reviewing the job description or volunteer opportunity to understand the qualifications and requirements
• Identifying your key skills and experiences that align with the job description or opportunity
• Making a list of your volunteering experience and any relevant professional experience
• Gathering any relevant documents such as certificates, references, or letters of recommendation

Once you have prepared these resources, you can start crafting your resume.

Writing tips and techniques

When writing your volunteer resume, consider the following tips and techniques:

• Use bullet points to highlight your key skills and experiences
• Quantify your achievements with numbers or percentages, such as the number of hours volunteered or the amount of money raised through fundraising
• Use action verbs to describe your experiences, such as “organized,” “facilitated,” or “managed”
• Tailor your resume to the specific volunteer opportunity or job you are applying for
• Include a summary or objective statement at the beginning of your resume that showcases your skills and experiences and highlights why you are a good fit for the volunteer opportunity or job

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when writing your volunteer resume:

• Including irrelevant information or experiences that do not align with the job description or volunteer opportunity
• Focusing too much on duties instead of accomplishments and achievements
• Using a generic resume template instead of tailoring your resume to the specific opportunity or job
• Failing to proofread your resume for errors or typos

Best practices for proofreading

To ensure that your volunteer resume is error-free and showcases your skills and experiences effectively, follow these best practices for proofreading:

• Read your resume out loud to catch any awkward phrasing or grammatical errors
• Use a spell checker or grammar checker tool to identify any errors or mistakes
• Print out your resume and read it again to catch any errors that you may have missed on the computer screen
• Have someone else, such as a friend, family member, or mentor, review your resume and provide feedback and suggestions for improvement

By following these tips and techniques, avoiding common mistakes, and proofreading your resume carefully, you can create a compelling volunteer resume that highlights your skills and experiences and showcases your commitment to community service.

Volunteer Resume Writing Tips

When it comes to creating a successful volunteer resume, there are several key tips to consider. In this section, we’ll cover action verbs to use, how to identify your transferable skills, how to showcase your accomplishments, and tips for formatting and structure.

Action Verbs to Use

Action verbs are powerful tools that can help bring your volunteer experience to life. They are also a great way to demonstrate your skills and achievements. Here are some examples of action verbs that you can use in your volunteer resume:

• Facilitated
• Coordinated
• Demonstrated

Using these verbs can help show your impact and what you achieved during your time as a volunteer.

Identifying Transferable Skills

Volunteer experience can provide a wealth of transferable skills that can be applied to other areas of your life. It’s important to identify these skills and highlight them in your resume. Some common transferable skills include:

• Communication
• Organizational skills
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Adaptability

By highlighting these skills, you can demonstrate your value and qualifications to potential employers.

Showcasing Accomplishments

When it comes to showcasing accomplishments in your volunteer resume, focusing on specific, quantifiable achievements is key. For example, instead of saying you “raised money for charity,” say that you “organized a fundraiser that raised $10,000 for a local nonprofit.” This not only shows what you accomplished but also provides context for your impact.

When listing accomplishments, it’s important to use bullet points and keep them concise. Make sure to focus on what you achieved and the impact it had.

Formatting and Structure

When it comes to formatting and structure, a clean, easy-to-read resume is essential. Make sure to use bullet points and short sentences to convey your experience and accomplishments. You should also include a brief summary at the beginning of your resume that highlights your skills and qualifications.

In terms of structure, your volunteer experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience. Each entry should include the organization name, your role, the dates of your involvement, and a brief summary of your achievements.

Creating a successful volunteer resume takes time and effort. By using action verbs, identifying transferable skills, showcasing your accomplishments, and using a clean, easy-to-read format, you can create a resume that highlights your experience and qualifications to potential employers.

Volunteer Resume Examples

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in your community while gaining valuable experience and skills. Whether you are just starting out or have years of experience, there are many opportunities for volunteer work. In this section, we will provide examples of volunteer resumes for different levels and fields of experience.

Entry-level volunteer resume sample

Name: Jane Smith Email: janesmith.

Highly motivated and dedicated individual seeking an entry-level volunteer position. Passionate about making a positive impact in the community and eager to contribute time and skills to a worthy cause. Strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and a willingness to learn and grow. Committed to making a difference and gaining valuable experience in the nonprofit sector.

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | University of XYZ | Year
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management abilities
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing situations
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Volunteer Experience

Volunteer Tutor | ABC Elementary School | 20XX – 20XX

• Assisted elementary school students with homework assignments and academic activities.
• Provided one-on-one tutoring in various subjects, helping students improve their skills and comprehension.
• Developed and implemented creative learning strategies to engage students and promote a positive learning environment.
• Collaborated with teachers and parents to track student progress and address any challenges.

Event Volunteer | XYZ Community Center | 20XX – 20XX

• Assisted in organizing and executing community events, including fundraisers, workshops, and awareness campaigns.
• Helped with event setup, registration, and coordination of volunteers.
• Interacted with attendees, providing information and assistance as needed.
• Contributed to event planning meetings, offering ideas and suggestions for improving event experiences.

Additional Experience

Customer Service Representative | XYZ Company | 20XX – 20XX

• Provided exceptional customer service, addressing inquiries and resolving issues in a timely and professional manner.
• Assisted customers with product selection and made personalized recommendations based on their needs.
• Handled cash transactions accurately and maintained a balanced cash drawer.
• Collaborated with team members to ensure a smooth and efficient store operation.

Certifications

• CPR and First Aid Certification
• Volunteer Training Program Completion

Available upon request

This entry-level volunteer resume sample showcases the candidate’s relevant skills, education, and volunteer experience. It highlights the individual’s passion for making a positive impact, strong work ethic, and willingness to contribute time and skills to a worthy cause.

Cover Letter Writing Tips for Volunteers

As a community volunteer, a cover letter is an essential aspect of your application process. It is the first opportunity to make a good impression on the potential employer or organization. Thus, it is crucial to create a compelling cover letter that highlights your skills, experience, and passion for the mission.

Importance of a Cover Letter

A cover letter serves as an introduction to your application and allows you to explain why you are interested in the volunteering position. It also provides an opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills and showcase your personality. A well-drafted cover letter can distinguish you from other applicants and make you stand out as a passionate and committed volunteer.

What to Include in a Cover Letter

In your cover letter, you should include relevant information such as your name, contact information, and the position you are applying for. It should provide a brief overview of your experience and skills, highlighting those that align with the organization’s needs.

You should also incorporate any relevant volunteer experience, noting your contribution to the community and the skills you have gained from your prior volunteering opportunities. Additionally, it is essential to express your enthusiasm for the organization’s mission and how you believe your skills and experience can help them achieve their goals.

How to Customize Your Cover Letter

It is essential to customize your cover letter to the specific organization and position to which you are applying. Research the organization and ensure your cover letter showcases your alignment with their mission and values. When customizing your cover letter, ensure you use appropriate language, conveying professionalism and passion.

Use language that connects to the organization’s mission and values and emphasizes your commitment to their cause. Demonstrating your knowledge of the organization and the work they do will show the organization that you have done your due diligence and are genuinely interested in volunteering.

A well-written cover letter tailored to the organization and position you are applying for can make all the difference in your application process. With these tips, make your cover letter stand out and increase your chances of securing a volunteering position.

Interview Tips for Volunteers

Volunteering is a rewarding experience that not only benefits the community but also helps volunteers to develop skills and gain valuable experience. To be successful as a volunteer, it’s important to prepare for an interview and respond to questions effectively. Here are some interview tips for volunteers to follow:

Preparing for an Interview

Before your interview, research the organization and its mission to gain an understanding of their goals and objectives. This information will help you tailor your responses to highlight your relevant skills and experience. Also, review the volunteer position’s responsibilities, so you are prepared to answer any questions related to the role.

It’s crucial to arrive at the interview location early and dress appropriately. Dressing professionally shows that you take the volunteer opportunity seriously and are ready to represent the organization. Additionally, practice potential questions and responses, so you feel confident and articulate during the interview.

Responding to Questions

Volunteer interviews often include questions about your background, skills, and interest in the specific role. When answering these questions, try to include specific examples that demonstrate your experience and skills. A good way to do this is by using the STAR method:

• S ituation: Briefly describe the situation you were in.
• T ask: Explain the task or role you had to fulfill.
• A ction: Outline the actions you took to complete the task or overcome the challenge.
• R esult: Identify the outcome of your actions or how the situation was resolved.

This method helps you to provide detailed responses that directly relate to the volunteer role you’re being interviewed for. It’s also important to listen carefully to the interviewer, asking for clarifications when necessary, and avoid rambling or going off-topic.

Following Up after the Interview

A crucial step that many volunteers overlook is following up after the interview. Take time to thank the interviewer for their time and express your enthusiasm for the opportunity. You can do this through a short email or handwritten note, depending on the general communication style of the organization.

Following up might also involve checking in with the organization after a few days to show your continued interest in their mission and the role you interviewed for. This step shows that you are proactive and genuinely interested in the volunteer opportunity.

Volunteering is an excellent way to develop skills, gain experience, and contribute to the communities we live in. By following these interview tips, you demonstrate your interest and dedication, which can help you stand out from other candidates. Good luck with your future interviews!

Online Presence and Résumé Building

In this digital age, having a strong online presence is just as important as a well-crafted traditional resume. As a community volunteer, building your online presence can be a valuable tool in showcasing your skills and experiences to potential employers or organizations. Here are three ways to utilize social media and online platforms to enhance your volunteering resume:

1. How social media can help

Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can be a powerful tool to help you build your personal brand, showcase your volunteer work, and connect with potential employers or like-minded individuals. By sharing your experiences, volunteering activities, and accomplishments on social media, you can showcase your dedication and passion for making a difference. This kind of social media engagement and exposure can help bolster your reputation and enhance your online presence, which can ultimately lead to new opportunities and connections.

2. Building an online portfolio

As a community volunteer, building an online portfolio can help you showcase your experiences and skills that you have acquired through your volunteering activities, along with any related coursework or certifications. An online portfolio can include various digital assets such as photographs, videos, or written pieces that demonstrate your contributions to your community. This will give potential employers or organizations a clear picture of your skills and experiences, making you stand out among other applicants.

3. The use of LinkedIn for volunteers

LinkedIn is an invaluable online platform for community volunteers to showcase their skills and experiences. By creating a profile on LinkedIn, you can connect with other like-minded individuals, network with professionals in your field, and even search for new volunteering opportunities. You can create a volunteer section on your profile, where you can list your experiences along with your skills and accomplishments. This showcases your genuine interest and commitment to volunteering and will set you apart from other applicants.

Building your online presence as a community volunteer is an essential part of your résumé-building process. By strategically utilizing social media, creating an online portfolio, and using LinkedIn, you can enhance your personal brand and make yourself an attractive candidate for potential employers or organizations. Remember, when it comes to the digital age, showcasing your unique skills, experiences, and passions is crucial to standing out in a sea of applicants.

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• Best Resume

Best Volunteer Resumes You Can Use

Most people think that volunteering does not require a resume at all because you are offering to work for free, but the fact is that it does. 

Yes, you dont get paid for the work you do but volunteer jobs are just as difficult as other jobs. You need to convince the employer that you are the right person for the job. 

Only a professional volunteer resume can help you stand out from the crowd even if you are offering free work!

No matter if you are offering part-time volunteering services or you are doing it so that the volunteering experience can help you get a permanent job, you have to think and act like a job hunter. 

Organizations looking for volunteers want to have committed individuals by their side to ensure that they are doing what they are told. There is no other way to show that you are the right person for the job than to create a professional volunteer resume. This strong first impression will ensure that you will get to work as a volunteer more than anyone else.

Dont worry if you have never created a volunteer CV and dont know what skills and experiences you should mention on your resume because ResumeThatWorks is here to help you. Resume That Works has been helping job-seekers land their dream jobs for decades. Our expert resume writers along with career experts work in collaboration to create the best volunteer resume for you. Let’s talk about why you need a professional resume service but first, let’s see what a volunteer resume really is. 

What is a Volunteer Resume?

Volunteers can be hired for anything or any role but most of the time volunteers are hired for pretty easy and straightforward roles that are hectic but don’t involve many complexities. 

A volunteer resume is your ticket to outshine all the applicants who also want to work as a volunteer with a specific company. Just like any other job role you need to show the employer that you have the right skills and expertise to perform what’s expected from you. 

The experience that you gain while working as a volunteer can help you get your dream job with any other company. Not just that, volunteers usually work with skilled laborers that are getting paid work, and working with these skilled individuals also helps volunteers broaden their skill set. 

Before you start working for a company you need to show that you are committed to providing value to the company. No matter if the volunteer work is for some special event, long-term projects, or short-term work you need to show that you are passionate about working with them. 

Your best bet to differentiate yourself from the crowd that is competing for the same volunteer role i s to create the best volunteer CV. A professional resume can help you gather the necessary experience required to get your dream job. A professional resume also enables you to give back to your community and help people who are in dire need of help and assistance. 

Why Choose a Professional Volunteer Resume Writing Service?

Just like other jobs volunteers are also required to flawlessly perform required tasks without any errors or mistakes. Volunteering experience with big companies can help you fill the experience section of your resume when applying for paid jobs. Professional exposure and experience gathered while working as a volunteer also expand your skill set and help you understand what employers are looking for right now. However, before you actually start working as a volunteer you have to showcase your skills and abilities using a Volunteer CV. 

Your professional volunteer CV can help you showcase 

How Do Resume Professionals Create a Volunteer Resume?

Career experts recommend that you should be as careful while creating a volunteer resume as you would creating a CV for your dream job. After all your volunteer experience is going to help you with your career in the future. The first to create an excellent volunteer CV is the planning phase. Deciding on what to add and where to add, what skills to highlight, and how to make the hiring manager think about hiring you is very important. 

A basic volunteer resume created by resume professionals has the following sections

• The header section
• Volunteer resume objective
• The personal statement/ summary section 
• Previous experience section
• The skills section
• The Education section

Choosing and then onboarding the right volunteers definitely requires a lot of attention and time from the hiring manager. The hiring process is very similar to hiring a person for a full-time paid job. Many fundraising authorities out there require as much as three times training for all volunteers before volunteers go out and start representing them. 

A volunteer position may require any one or all of these training and skills before a person actually starts working for a specific company. These include:

• The basic non-profit training
• The organization-specific training
• The job-specific training

Before organizations invest their valuable time and money to provide you with all this training, they need to ensure that you are the right candidate. Not what you expected? Wait there’s more!

Well, how do you show that you are the right person? 

Just like you do your research before applying for a paid job, do your research. Look at what they need from their volunteers, investigate their style, look if they are formal or casual. Ask yourself questions like do they require a lot of volunteers or just a few? What is their mission and vision? How can you fit in? What will be the nature of the work? Is this a full-time or part-time or short-term or long-term volunteer role? Answer all these questions for yourself and then start to answer each question in your volunteer resume.

Remember that a successful volunteer resume has the answer to all these questions. A successful volunteer grabs the attention of the hiring manager by making them know you understand the nature of work and how well you are suited to that volunteer role.

Going Past the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) in a Volunteer Resume

Nowadays almost all hiring managers use ATS software. This software helps hiring managers in throwing out irrelevant job applications even before HR starts to review resumes. You will be surprised to hear that many non-profits also use this software to find the right volunteers. 

Therefore, going past the ATS is very important if you want to give your services as a volunteer. 

Resume writing professionals know what keywords to include and what skills to highlight in order to help your volunteer CV go past the ATS. In addition to that, the custom layouts along with the right presentation also ensure that the hiring manager calls you for an interview after reviewing your resume. 

How do Resume Professionals Format a Volunteer Resume?

The sooner you know that your resume isn’t the only one at the recruiter’s desk, the better. To go through the ton of resumes, hiring managers tend to skim-read in order to save time. Thye only read complete volunteer resume’s for candidates who have followed/created an eye-catching resume format that can also be considered unique. 

CV formatting helps you make your resume look professional and makes your information appear clear and concise. For a person who mostly had a linear career path, our resume experts use a reverse chronological order for them. This means you start with your most recent position and start moving backward. 

This may work if you have previous volunteering experience, but if you are new to this then our expert will use a hybrid resume format for you. You should check our volunteering resume examples if you plan to create a resume for yourself. Our career experts may also use a functional resume format if the position is technical or complex.

Once the format is decided our professional will move the resume layout section. The layout has three basic sections that include margins, font styles, and resume length. Let’s start with the first one.

Resume Margins

Our experts usually use the same margin length for a volunteer resume as well as other resumes, anything that looks nice and presentable. Unlike others, our resume experts never shy away from creating custom resume templates to cater to the client’s specific needs. If a broader margin will look good then our resume expert will go for it no matter how much work is required to do it.  This is just one of the perks of hiring a professional resume expert . 

• The Font Style

No hiring manager wants to read a resume that looks clumsy and overcrowded nor anyone wants to make an extra effort to read the extra small text. Your font style along with the font size needs to be just perfect to engage the hiring manager with your resume. Our experts mainly use the Ubuntu or Roboto font while creating best looking volunteer resume. 

Expert Tip: Never use an informal font style like Comic Sans even in your volunteer resume.

The Overall Resume Length 

Dont overload your resume with a huge amount of text in small size just to make it a one-pager resume and vice versa. Unlike what most people believe, a one-pager resume is not the ideal length for all types of resumes. A resume that showcases all your skills and expertise along with your relevant achievements is the right length no matter if it’s a 2-pager or a 3-pager resume. 

Volunteer Resume Templates

Here are some of the Volunteer Resume Examples: 

• Non-Profit Resume Template Free
• Social Work Resume Template
• Best Volunteering Resume Template Free
• Volunteer Resume Template With Experience
• Volunteer Work on Resume Example
• CV for Volunteering 
• Student Volunteer Resume
• Community Volunteer Resume Sample

Did not get what you are looking for? Talk to our representative or place an order to get a custom-made volunteer resume created for your needs, right now!

Here is Why You Should Always Consider a Professional Resume Writing Service

There are plenty of reasons why you should always choose a professional resume-writing service to advance your career. Career experts suggest that you should always invest your time and money towards taking the next step in your career as it is worth every penny in the long run.

Creating, editing, and then reviewing your volunteer resume all by yourself won’t get you far. On top of that, knowing what skills and experiences to highlight to go past the ATS or how to optimize your resume for international standards is even more challenging. 

You can either choose to live with your current job and let your career hang in the balance with a prayer and a hope or you can take this proactive approach to your career.  Choose wisely, choose the best resume experts to help you win big, order right now, and make this life-changing investment!

Resume That Works!

Need a resume that can really work wonders for you? Well, your search for the best is now over. Our resume-writing professionals and career experts are always standing by to assist you when you decide to take the next step in your career. 

Resume That Works has been helping job seekers for more than a decade. Your success story can be the next in our service review section. Dont let your dreams be dreams!

Where to put volunteer work on a resume?

You can either list your volunteer experience under the professional work experience section or as a separate section entirely. Keep reading to know how, exactly, you can do both.

What do I put for skills on a resume?

You can include all your individual and organizational skills on your resume. These may include public speaking, leadership skills, problem-solving skills, computer skills , etc. Make sure you go past the ATS by mentioning all your relevant skills. 

What volunteer work looks good on your resume?

Volunteer work experience that may look good in a volunteer resume includes fundraising experience, meal providence experience, clothing experience, volunteer basic training experience, etc.

How do you write a resume with no job experience?

If you have no formal experience working as a volunteer then you must emphasize some of your other strong aspects. They may include your education, your projects, relevant co-curricular activities, etc. 

What skills should I put on my resume if I have no skills?

You can list some of your individual skills if you dont have any management or organizational skills. They include computer skills, active listening skills, team-playing skills, examples of volunteer activities, etc. 

How do you say you have no experience but are willing to learn?

Always do this by showing how passionate you are about the role and how you are willing to earn your way to the top. Emphasize your key learning skills and what you were able to achieve through your passion and hard work. 

Written by Simon W

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Patagonia Conservation Advocate Resume Examples

Published July 4, 2024 8 min read

This article guides you on crafting a compelling resume for a Conservation Advocate position at Patagonia, focusing on highlighting relevant environmental advocacy experience, volunteer work, and your passion for conservation, to align with Patagonia's mission and values.

Patagonia Conservation Advocate Resume Created Using Our Resume Builder

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Conservation Advocate Resume Example (Text)

Suzannah Oestreich , Conservation Advocate

[email protected]

(729) 185-7426

Professional Summary

A dedicated Conservation Advocate with 1 year of experience in promoting sustainability and environmental protection. Skilled in research, public speaking, and community engagement, with a strong foundation in ecological principles and conservation strategies. Proven track record in developing and implementing effective advocacy campaigns, fostering partnerships with environmental organizations, and influencing policy change. Passionate about raising awareness and driving action for conservation issues, with a commitment to continuous learning and professional development in environmental science and policy.

Work Experience

Senior Conservation Advocate at Sierra Club - Toiyabe Chapter, NV

Dec 2023 - Present

• Spearheaded a successful campaign that secured the preservation of 150,000 acres of wilderness in Nevada, directly leading to the passing of a landmark conservation bill in 2021. This effort involved coordinating with local communities, policymakers, and environmental organizations to advocate for the protection of vital ecosystems and wildlife habitats.
• Led a team that implemented innovative water conservation programs across Nevada, resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage among participating communities within two years (2019-2021). This initiative not only conserved millions of gallons of water but also raised awareness about sustainable water management practices through workshops, partnerships with local businesses, and public outreach campaigns.
• Developed and managed a volunteer program that grew to include over 500 volunteers within three years (2018-2021), effectively doubling the chapter's capacity for on-the-ground conservation work. This program contributed significantly to various projects including tree planting, cleanup drives, and wildlife monitoring efforts, enhancing the ecological health of multiple protected areas across Nevada.
• Negotiated with state legislators and industry leaders to implement renewable energy policies that led to a 25% increase in Nevada's renewable energy production from 2018 to 2022. My advocacy work played a key role in these negotiations by presenting compelling research on economic benefits and environmental impacts, culminating in policy changes that support solar and wind energy projects statewide.

Conservation Advocate at The Nature Conservancy in Nevada, NV

Sep 2023 - Nov 2023

• Spearheaded a statewide campaign that resulted in the permanent protection of 150,000 acres of Nevada's wilderness, effectively doubling the amount of conserved land within the state's jurisdiction and ensuring the preservation of critical habitats for endangered species such as the Greater Sage-Grouse.
• Led a coalition of over 50 local and national organizations, resulting in the successful lobbying for legislation that allocated $30 million in federal funding towards conservation efforts in Nevada, marking a 40% increase in conservation funding for the state compared to previous years.
• Developed and implemented an innovative water conservation program that saved approximately 1 billion gallons of water annually in Nevada's most drought-prone regions, through partnerships with local agricultural communities and the introduction of sustainable irrigation technologies.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at University of Nevada, Reno, NV

Sep 2019 - May 2023

Relevant Coursework: Environmental Policy and Management, Conservation Biology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Environmental Chemistry, Climate Change and Sustainability, Water Resources Management, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

• GIS Mapping
• Data Analysis
• Policy Interpretation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Environmental Law
• Sustainability Assessment
• Public Speaking

Certificates

• Certified Wildlife Biologist® (CWB)** - Offered by The Wildlife Society, this certification is designed for professionals involved in the practice of wildlife management and conservation.
• LEED Green Associate** - Granted by the U

Tips for Writing a Better Patagonia Conservation Advocate Resume

Creating a resume for a role focused on Patagonia conservation requires a unique blend of showcasing your passion for environmental protection, specific knowledge about the Patagonia region, and the skills necessary to be effective in advocacy and conservation efforts. Here are some tips to help you craft a resume that stands out:

1. Highlight Relevant Education

• Focus on Environmental Studies: If you have a degree or certifications in environmental science, conservation biology, sustainable development, or related fields, make sure these are prominently featured.
• Include Specialized Courses: Courses or workshops specifically related to conservation, environmental policy, or even South American ecosystems can be very relevant.

2. Showcase Your Experience

• Conservation Projects: Detail any projects you've worked on related to conservation, especially those focusing on Patagonia or similar ecosystems. Describe your role, actions you took, and the outcomes.
• Volunteer Work: If you've volunteered with environmental organizations, national parks, or wildlife reserves, include these experiences. Highlight any leadership roles or initiatives you led.
• Research Experience: Mention any research you've conducted or contributed to that's relevant to environmental science or conservation.

3. Demonstrate Your Skills

• Environmental Knowledge: Clearly state your understanding of ecological principles, conservation strategies, and specific challenges facing Patagonia.
• Advocacy and Communication: Showcase your ability to advocate for conservation, including public speaking engagements, writing for publications, or organizing community events.
• Language Skills: If you speak Spanish or other languages relevant to the Patagonia region, mention your proficiency levels, as this can be crucial for communication and community engagement.

4. Include Relevant Certifications and Affiliations

• Certifications: List any certifications that add value to your conservation expertise, such as GIS certification, wilderness first aid, or environmental education credentials.
• Professional Organizations: Membership in environmental or conservation-focused organizations demonstrates your commitment to the field. Include any active roles or contributions you've made.

5. Tailor Your Resume for the Job

• Match the Job Description: Carefully read the job posting and tailor your resume to highlight the experience and skills that align with the employer's needs.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate keywords from the job description related to conservation techniques, environmental policies, and specific skills they're looking for.

6. Include a Personal Statement

• Passion for Patagonia: Start with a brief personal statement that conveys your passion for Patagonia's conservation. This can set the tone and make your resume memorable.

7. Proofread and Format Professionally

• Error-Free: Ensure your resume is free of grammatical mistakes and typos. This reflects your attention to detail.
• Professional Format: Use a clean, professional format that makes your resume easy to read. Bullet points, clear section headings, and a logical flow are key.

Additional Tips:

• Network: Sometimes, connections can lead to opportunities. Engage with conservation communities online and in-person.
• Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with current issues facing Patagonia and global conservation trends. This knowledge can be a great asset during interviews.

Creating a resume for a Patagonia conservation advocate position requires a blend of showcasing your technical skills, demonstrating your passion for environmental protection, and tailoring your experiences to match the needs of the employer. With these tips, you'll be well on your way to crafting a compelling resume that stands out.

Related : Soil Conservationist Resume Examples

Key Skills Hiring Managers Look for on Patagonia Conservation Advocate Resumes

Incorporating keywords from the job description when applying for a Conservation Advocate position at Patagonia is crucial due to the company’s utilization of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Patagonia, like many other organizations, employs ATS to efficiently manage the high volume of applications received for their open positions. These systems scan resumes and cover letters for specific keywords related to the job posting, such as “conservation,” “sustainability,” “environmental policy,” and “advocacy.” By carefully integrating these terms into your application materials, you significantly increase your chances of passing the initial ATS screening. This strategic approach ensures that your application is flagged as relevant and merits further review by the human resources team. Failing to include these keywords might result in your application being overlooked, regardless of your qualifications or passion for environmental conservation. Hence, tailoring your resume and cover letter to mirror the language used in the job description is not just recommended; it's essential for advancing through the early stages of the recruitment process at Patagonia.

Below are essential skills and key terms commonly encountered when seeking conservation advocate roles at Patagonia.

Related : Soil Conservationist Skills: Definition and Examples

Common Action Verbs for Patagonia Conservation Advocate Resumes

Crafting a resume for a position as a Patagonia Conservation Advocate requires careful consideration in the selection of action verbs to vividly describe one's experiences and achievements. The challenge lies not only in avoiding the repetitive use of common verbs like "managed" or "led" but also in finding verbs that accurately capture the essence and impact of one's contributions to conservation efforts. The importance of diversifying action verbs cannot be overstated; it transforms the resume into a dynamic and engaging narrative that can capture the attention of potential employers. For a role centered on conservation advocacy, verbs such as "restored," "advocated," "orchestrated," "innovated," and "mobilized" can convey the depth of one's commitment and the breadth of their impact. These carefully chosen verbs serve to paint a vivid picture of an individual's capabilities, making the resume not just a list of past roles, but a compelling story of a passionate advocate for the preservation of Patagonia's breathtaking landscapes.

To provide you with a competitive advantage, we have curated a list of impactful action verbs designed to enhance your resume and secure your upcoming interview:

Related : What does a Soil Conservationist do?

Editorial staff

Brenna Goyette

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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When I was working with IIM Udaipur as a Career Advisor many students approached me for their CV not getting short listed. As I started digging deeper with them for the reasons, I started discovering what would make it happen. Things like right and appealing format, CV customized to meet the JD requirements started surfacing as the critical thing needed to get the CV shortlisted. But biggest realization was the preparing a Great CV takes a lot of good feedback on what will make it great. It is like playing cricket; you need to work on it, keep taking feedback till you get it right! And that is the focus of this course- to not only tell how to prepare a great CV but help you do it!

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Virginia Education, School Reports, Teachers Monthly School Reports, Apr. 1870–June 1871, Part 5

About the project.

The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, often referred to as the Freedmen’s Bureau, was established on March 3, 1865. The duties of the Freedmen’s Bureau included supervision of all affairs relating to refugees, freedmen, and the custody of abandoned lands and property. These documents come from the Records of the Superintendent of Education for Virginia, Series 4: School Reports. 

Additional resources are available on the Freedmen's Bureau Instructions Page . Please help us transcribe these records to learn more about the lives of formerly enslaved men and women in Virginia during the Reconstruction Era.

Monthly school reports of teachers, November 1865 and January 1866–June 1871, are arranged chronologically and were prepared on forms devised in the Office of the Superintendent of Education. The forms contain statistical data furnished by individual teachers concerning the number of pupils enrolled; attendance; subjects taught in day, night, and Sabbath schools; and the amount of tuition paid by students. Some forms also contain more lengthy narrative remarks by teachers. Some of the reports apparently pertain to non–Bureau schools. Filmed directly after the school reports is a bound register containing the names of teachers to whom forms and envelopes were sent, May 1869–June 1870; the names are arranged alphabetically by name of county.

About Project Difficulty

Level 1 - beginner.

Content: all typed Language: English Format: letters, diaries, flyers, pamphlets, and one-page documents Subject Area Expertise/Special Skills: none required

Content: mostly typed, handwritten in print, or otherwise very clearly written/readable Language: English Format: memorabilia, advertisements, image captions, telegrams, diaries, letters, notes Subject Area Expertise/Special Skills: none required

Level 3 - INTERMEDIATE

Content: typed and handwritten materials in cursive or print Language: English Format: newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, letters/diaries/notes that may include annotations or margin notes Subject Area Expertise/Special Skills: experience reading cursive writing may be useful

Content: handwritten materials, primarily in cursive or somewhat difficult to read (predominantly from the 19th and 20th centuries) , audio recordings that are relatively easy to hear/decipher, and scientific materials Language: English and/or other languages that use Roman script but may require the use of diacritics (French, Spanish, German, Italian, etc.) Format: audio recordings, letters, diaries, notes and other written materials, projects with templated fields and special instructions Subject Area Expertise/Special Skills: some knowledge of non-English Roman-character/script languages and diacritics may be useful, as well as experience reading cursive handwriting. A general knowledge or familiarity with scientific terminology.

Level 5 - ADVANCED

Content: handwritten materials in cursive (from the 19th century or earlier) or in a non-Roman script language, audio recordings that are difficult to hear or are not in English, specialty materials/projects such as numismatics projects and the Project Phaedra notebooks Language: foreign languages that use non-Roman characters (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Greek/Cyrillic, Native American and Indigenous languages, etc.) and English Format: audio recordings, columned data/tables, manuscripts, letters, diaries, notes, currency sheets, coins Subject Area Expertise/Special Skills: knowledge of a specific language and access to a keyboard with the characters in that language may be required for certain projects. Experience reading cursive handwriting and familiarity with 19th century (or prior) handwriting and conventions/abbreviations may be useful, as well as knowledge of scientific terminology, astrophysics data, or linguistics.

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