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4 Tips To Talk About Volunteering In Your Medicine Personal Statement

Learn how to write about volunteering in your Personal Statement for Medicine and prove that you're a strong candidate.

Volunteering is the perfect way to give back to your community, gain valuable skills and bolster your Medical School application at the same time. Follow these tips to write about volunteering in your Medicine Personal Statement .

Reflect on what you learned from volunteering

Don’t just provide a list of tasks you completed while volunteering – you really need to reflect on what you learned from the experience. This is what admissions tutors want you to write about in your Personal Statement, and also what interviewers want you to discuss at your Medical School interviews .

Did you gain any new skills from volunteering? Skills that are relevant to working in Medicine, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, are particularly good to mention. Did volunteering teach you anything about the realities of working in a medical or healthcare-related environment?

Remember that it’s relevant in a lot of ways

When writing your Personal Statement , you need to think about Motivation, Exploration and Suitability – essentially covering why you want to pursue Medicine, what you have done to explore Medicine as a career, and why you are suited to becoming a Doctor.

Volunteering (and work experience ) can be relevant in all three of these areas. For example, you might have:

• observed or experienced something while volunteering that cemented your decision to pursue Medicine (Motivation)
• learned important lessons about working in Medicine, if your volunteering was based in a medical environment (Exploration)
• gained key skills from volunteering that make you a strong candidate for Medical School (Suitability)

Obviously, your Personal Statement shouldn’t just be about volunteering – but remember that you may be able to include it in more ways than you thought!

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Link your volunteering experience to Medicine

Even if you didn’t volunteer in a medical or healthcare-related environment, you can still link your volunteering experience to Medicine.

People skills are just as important as academic skills when it comes to working as a Doctor, and many voluntary roles involve interacting with the public. It’s also likely that you worked with other volunteers, which must have involved teamwork – and balancing the time commitment of volunteer work with staying on top of your studies must have required good time management.

These are all relevant skills to working in Medicine, so you can discuss them in your Personal Statement and provide examples from your volunteering as evidence.

Don’t just focus on the positives

Volunteering can be tough at times and Doctors need to be resilient, so you might want to cite a situation where, for example, you overcame a challenge.

If you reflect on voluntary work (or work experience) in a purely positive way, admissions tutors and interviewers might think that you are bending the truth to tell them what you believe they want to hear.

In the application process, they are looking for candidates who understand the realities of working in Medicine. The ideal candidate will be able to cope with stress, failure and difficult tasks such as breaking bad news – so if any aspects of your volunteer work have made you a more resilient person, this is useful to mention in your Personal Statement.

Find out more: Medicine Personal Statement Examples

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Craft an Impactful Volunteer Personal Statement: Write an Engaging Story

Table of Contents

Learn how to write a compelling personal statement for volunteer work with our step-by-step guide. Discover the key elements, tips, and examples that will help you effectively showcase your skills, experiences, and motivation. Craft a standout personal statement that will impress organizations and increase your chances of securing meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Are you looking to make a difference in your community? Volunteering can be a rewarding experience that allows you to contribute to causes you are passionate about. However, before you embark on your journey as a volunteer, you may need to write a personal statement that highlights your skills, experiences, and motivations. Crafting an impactful personal statement is crucial in capturing the attention of potential volunteer organizations. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of writing a compelling personal statement for volunteer work, ensuring that you stand out among other applicants.

Introduction

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the community, gain valuable skills, and make a positive impact on the lives of others. When applying for volunteer work, a personal statement is often required to showcase your motivation, qualifications, and suitability for the role. Crafting an effective personal statement can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can create a compelling and persuasive document that highlights your strengths and passion for volunteering.

Understand the Purpose

Before you start writing your personal statement, it’s important to understand its purpose. The purpose of a personal statement for volunteer work is to provide the organization with an insight into who you are, why you are interested in volunteering, and what relevant skills or experiences you bring to the table. It is an opportunity for you to showcase your commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm for the cause.

Research the Organization

Prior to writing your personal statement, take some time to research the organization you are applying to volunteer with. Understand their mission, values, and the specific volunteer roles they offer. This will help you tailor your personal statement to align with their goals and demonstrate your interest and understanding of their work.

Reflect on Your Motivation

Think deeply about why you are interested in volunteering for this particular organization. What motivates you to contribute your time and skills? Reflect on any personal experiences, values, or beliefs that drive your passion for the cause. Communicate this motivation clearly in your personal statement to show the organization that you are genuinely committed.

Highlight Relevant Skills and Experiences

When writing your personal statement, it’s important to highlight any relevant skills and experiences that make you a suitable candidate for the volunteer role. This could include previous volunteer work, internships, or professional experiences that have equipped you with valuable transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, or problem-solving.

Showcase Your Personal Qualities

Besides skills and experiences, organizations also value personal qualities in their volunteers. Use your personal statement to showcase traits like empathy, compassion, adaptability, and resilience that are essential when working with others or in challenging situations. These qualities will demonstrate your ability to contribute effectively to the organization’s mission.

Provide Specific Examples

Avoid making generic statements in your personal statement. Instead, provide specific examples to illustrate your skills, experiences, and personal qualities. For instance, if you mention being a good communicator, provide an example of a situation where your communication skills made a difference. This adds credibility to your statement and helps the organization understand how you might fit into their team.

Address Any Gaps or Weaknesses

If you have any gaps in your resume or weaknesses that may raise questions, address them honestly in your personal statement. For example, if you have limited previous volunteer experience, explain why you are now motivated to start giving back. Be sincere and use this opportunity to demonstrate your self-awareness and willingness to learn and grow as a volunteer.

Keep It Concise and Well-Structured

Personal statements should be concise and well-structured, ensuring that your key points are clear and easy to follow. Avoid lengthy paragraphs and unnecessary details. Use headings and subheadings to organize your thoughts and make the statement visually appealing. Remember, the organization may have numerous applications to review, so it’s important to make your personal statement stand out.

Proofread and Seek Feedback

Finally, before submitting your personal statement, proofread it thoroughly for any grammatical or spelling errors. It’s always helpful to ask a trusted friend, family member, or mentor to review your statement and provide feedback. They can offer insights and suggestions to improve the clarity and impact of your personal statement.

Writing a personal statement for volunteer work requires careful thought and preparation. By understanding the purpose, researching the organization, and showcasing your motivation, skills, and experiences, you can create a compelling personal statement that captures the attention of the organization and increases your chances of being selected as a volunteer. Remember to be sincere, concise, and thoughtful in your writing, and let your passion for making a difference shine through!

When it comes to writing a personal statement for volunteer work, it is crucial to captivate the reader from the very beginning. Start with a compelling opening statement that showcases your enthusiasm for volunteering and your motivation for supporting a specific cause. Share a brief anecdote or experience that ignited your passion for volunteer work, allowing the reader to connect with your story on a personal level.

Reflect on Experiences

Delve into your past volunteer experiences and reflect on the lessons learned, skills acquired, and the impact it had on your personal growth. Discuss how these experiences have shaped your values and influenced your decision to continue volunteering. By reflecting on these experiences, you not only demonstrate your commitment to volunteer work but also highlight the valuable skills and perspectives you have gained through your previous service.

Clarify Objectives

Clearly state your purpose for seeking volunteer opportunities and specify the goals you hope to accomplish through your service. It is important to emphasize how your skills and interests align with the mission of the organization you are applying to volunteer for. This shows that you have researched and understand the organization’s objectives, making you a more attractive candidate.

Highlight Relevant Skills

Identify the skills and qualities you possess that make you a strong candidate for the volunteer position. These may include communication abilities, teamwork, leadership, organizational skills, or any other relevant strengths. Provide concrete examples to support your claims, such as instances where you effectively communicated with team members or demonstrated leadership in a volunteer project. By highlighting your skills, you demonstrate your potential value to the organization.

Showcase Commitment

Express your dedication and commitment to volunteering, emphasizing your reliability and willingness to go above and beyond. Mention any long-term volunteering goals you have and how you plan to make a lasting impact within the organization. This demonstrates that you are not simply looking for a short-term commitment but are genuinely invested in making a difference and contributing to the organization’s success.

Showcase Adaptability

Demonstrate your ability to adapt to various situations and environments by mentioning any experiences where you successfully faced challenges or stretched your comfort zone. Highlight your flexibility and willingness to learn from new experiences. This showcases your ability to handle the unexpected and demonstrates your openness to growth and development as a volunteer.

Express Cultural Competence

Discuss your understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures and communities, emphasizing your ability to work with people from different backgrounds. Showcase any past experiences where you demonstrated cultural sensitivity and show that you are open-minded and respectful. This is particularly important in volunteer work, as it often involves interaction with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

In conclusion, summarize your personal statement by briefly restating your motivation for volunteering and reiterating your commitment to making a positive impact. End on a strong note, leaving the reader with a memorable final impression of your passion and dedication. Remember to tailor your statement to each specific organization or opportunity, and proofread it carefully to ensure it is error-free and impactful. A well-crafted personal statement can significantly increase your chances of securing a volunteer position and making a meaningful contribution to the cause you care about.

A personal statement for volunteer work is an essential document that allows individuals to showcase their skills, experiences, and passion for community service. It offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to stand out and make a lasting impression on organizations seeking dedicated individuals. To write an effective personal statement for volunteer work, consider the following points:

1. Introduction: Begin your personal statement by introducing yourself and explaining your interest in volunteering. Start with a captivating opening sentence to grab the reader’s attention.

2. Highlight your motivation: Clearly state why you want to volunteer and what drives you to contribute to a particular cause or organization. Share personal anecdotes or experiences that have inspired you to get involved.

3. Outline your skills: Emphasize the relevant skills you possess that make you a valuable volunteer. This may include leadership abilities, communication skills, problem-solving capabilities, or specific technical skills that are applicable to the volunteer role.

4. Showcase your experiences: Describe any previous volunteer work or community involvement you have participated in. Highlight specific accomplishments, responsibilities, and the impact you made during those experiences.

5. Express your commitment: Demonstrate your commitment to volunteering by discussing the amount of time you are willing to dedicate, whether it is a few hours a week or full-time availability. Organizations appreciate individuals who are reliable and consistent in their volunteer efforts.

6. Explain your goals: Clearly articulate what you hope to achieve through your volunteer work. Whether it’s gaining new skills, making a difference in the community, or pursuing a career in a related field, sharing your goals shows your dedication and long-term commitment.

7. Address any relevant challenges: If you have faced any obstacles or challenges that relate to your volunteer work, briefly discuss them and explain how you overcame them. This demonstrates resilience and the ability to adapt in various situations.

8. Show cultural sensitivity: If you plan to volunteer in a diverse community or work with individuals from different backgrounds, highlight your cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. Discuss any experiences that have broadened your understanding of different cultures and showcase your ability to work effectively in diverse environments.

9. Conclude with a strong ending: Summarize your main points and reiterate your enthusiasm for volunteering. End with a memorable statement that leaves a positive impression on the reader.

10. Proofread and edit: Finally, ensure your personal statement is free of grammatical errors and typos. Review it multiple times or ask someone else to proofread it for you. A polished and error-free personal statement shows professionalism and attention to detail.

By following these guidelines, you can craft a compelling personal statement for volunteer work that effectively communicates your passion, skills, and dedication. Remember to tailor your statement to each specific volunteer opportunity to maximize your chances of being selected as a volunteer.

Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on how to write a personal statement for volunteer work. We hope that the information we have provided has been helpful in guiding you through the process of crafting a compelling and impactful statement. Remember, your personal statement is your chance to showcase your passion, dedication, and suitability for the volunteer position you are applying for.

As we discussed earlier, it is essential to start your personal statement with a strong and engaging introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. Use this opportunity to highlight your motivations for volunteering and what you hope to gain from the experience. Be sure to mention any relevant skills or experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position.

In the body paragraphs, provide concrete examples of how your previous experiences have prepared you for the volunteer work. Use specific instances where you demonstrated qualities such as teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability. Remember to link these examples back to the requirements and responsibilities of the volunteer position to show how you are a perfect fit.

Finally, wrap up your personal statement with a powerful conclusion that reinforces your passion and commitment to volunteer work. Emphasize why you believe you are the right candidate for the position and how you can contribute to the organization or community you will be serving. End on a positive note, expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity to make a difference through volunteering.

We understand that writing a personal statement can be challenging, but with careful planning and organization, you can create a compelling narrative that sets you apart from other applicants. Remember to proofread your statement to ensure it is free from any grammatical or spelling errors. Your personal statement should be a reflection of your unique qualities and experiences, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through.

Good luck with your volunteer work application! We hope that our guide has provided you with the necessary tools and insights to write a standout personal statement. Remember, the key to success lies in showcasing your genuine passion and dedication to making a difference. We look forward to hearing about your volunteering experiences and the impact you make in your community!

People Also Ask: How to Write a Personal Statement for Volunteer Work?

What is the purpose of a personal statement for volunteer work?

A personal statement for volunteer work serves as an opportunity to showcase your motivation, skills, and experiences relevant to the volunteer position you are applying for. It allows you to express your passion for the cause, demonstrate your commitment, and highlight how you can contribute to the organization or community.

How long should a personal statement for volunteer work be?

A personal statement for volunteer work should typically be one to two pages long. It should be concise, focused, and well-structured, highlighting the most relevant information that demonstrates your suitability for the volunteer role.

What should I include in my personal statement for volunteer work?

When writing a personal statement for volunteer work, consider including the following:

• Your motivations and passion for the cause or organization
• Relevant skills and experiences, both professional and personal
• Specific examples of how you have contributed to similar initiatives in the past
• Your commitment level and availability for volunteering
• Any relevant certifications, training, or qualifications
• Your future goals and how volunteering aligns with them

How can I make my personal statement stand out to potential volunteer organizations?

To make your personal statement stand out, try the following:

• Show enthusiasm, passion, and genuine interest in the cause or organization
• Highlight unique skills or experiences that set you apart from other candidates
• Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points
• Be clear and concise, avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical terms
• Showcase your ability to work well in a team and your willingness to learn and adapt

Should I tailor my personal statement for each volunteer position?

Yes, it is highly recommended to tailor your personal statement for each volunteer position you apply to. Research the organization and the specific role you are interested in, and customize your statement to reflect how your skills, experiences, and goals align with their mission and requirements.

What should I avoid including in my personal statement for volunteer work?

Avoid including irrelevant or excessive personal information, negative experiences or opinions, and clichés in your personal statement. It’s important to maintain a professional tone and focus on highlighting your suitability for the volunteer role rather than unrelated details.

Remember, your personal statement for volunteer work is an opportunity to make a positive impression and demonstrate your commitment and abilities. Take the time to craft a well-written statement that showcases your passion and suitability for the volunteer position you are applying for.

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What's on this page?

Research is key, take an online activity, you already have skills…, activities planned for the future.

But, with the current restrictions on our lives, carrying this out in-person can be difficult. 

Don’t worry, unis and colleges understand this and will take it into consideration, and there are lots of other ways you can gain useful experience.

It’s important to research your chosen profession to  make sure it’s right for you, especially for vocational courses. In your personal statement you need to give evidence that you have a good understanding of what it would be like to study your chosen subject, and have a realistic idea of what a career in that area involves.

There are a number of ways you can carry out research:

• Virtual work experience : Some organisations are offering a virtual experience and it can be equally as valuable as doing it in-person – ask around any you’re interested in to find out if this is a possibility.  
• Talk to the professionals : Why not have a phone or video call with people working in the field you’re interested in? You can ask any questions you might have and get a real insight into what they do on a daily basis.
• Speak to students : Who better to tell you what it’s really like to study your chosen subject – chat to students on Unibuddy to find out. Unis often have student ambassadors at their events too – talk to students on similar courses to the ones you’re interested in to find out about their experiences. You can search for events here .
• Professional bodies’ websites : Check out websites for the professions you’re interested in – some give useful hints and tips on how to give evidence of your experience when you can’t do it in-person.

While you’re at home, there are lots of online activities which will expand your knowledge and give you a broader understanding of a subject. Some examples which could help you include:

• attending a virtual event or online lecture
• reading a book or article
• watching a documentary    
• listening to a podcast
• taking an online tutorial
• visiting a virtual art gallery or museum

Don’t just list what you’ve done though. Think about and analyse your experience, and then link it into evidence in your personal statement:

• What did you learn?
• What did you find particularly interesting or inspiring?
• What does it tell you about the profession?
• Did you find it challenging?

These are all great ways of building up evidence of your interest in your chosen subject. Writing about your online experiences and reflecting on them in your personal statement will help demonstrate your passion and dedication for your chosen subject and course.

Also remember, you’ll already have a lot of the skills you would use in the workplace – try to think more broadly about these – for example, teamworking experience you’ve gained when completing a school or college project, or communication skills you’ve learnt and how you’ve used them. How are these relevant and useful to the courses you’re interested in?

If you have activities planned in the future, it’s fine to mention these in your personal statement and explain what you’re hoping to get out of it. But life is unpredictable at the moment. If it doesn’t happen, do something else to demonstrate your interest in your subject instead – for example, an online project. Show you’ve used you initiative to fill that time wisely.

Even though your plans to get work experience might have to change, try to think creatively. There are plenty of other options to research and gain more knowledge of your subject and course, and to give evidence of your commitment and enthusiasm.

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Home › University › How To Write A Personal Statement? 10 Tips + Student Questions Answered › How To Write About Work Experience In Your Personal Statement

How To Write About Work Experience In Your Personal Statement

• Published October 25, 2021

We get it – you’re dying to include your work experience in your personal statement, but how do you write about work experience in your personal statement ? Work experience is an essential component of your personal statement . It shows that you are passionate and knowledgeable about your chosen course. Some courses require prior work experience before you can apply.

So if you’re looking for a way to showcase your work experience, this blog post is just what you need. Learn how to write about work experience effectively in your statement to help you stand out from the crowd and get into the university of your dreams.

Check The Course Requirements For Work Experience

Some courses require you to have work experience before applying (e.g. medical courses.) You may need to complete a certain number of working hours before you’re eligible. It’s best to check out the course requirements before writing your work experience personal statement. If you’re thinking of applying to medicine then check out our medical personal statement advice , likewise with our how to write a law personal statement .

With that said, other courses don’t require work experience. But it does elevate your personal statement if you have relevant work experiences to share.

Examples Of Work Experience

Perhaps the greatest obstacle to writing your work experience personal statement is determining whether an activity counts as “work experience” or not. Here are examples of work experience you may need to include:

• Extracurricular Activities

These are activities that are not included within your formal curriculum. Being a member of the sports team, debate club, Red Cross, or theatre group are good examples.

• Formal Work Placements

Formal work placements are exposures to real-world experience. These are often required as part of your curriculum.

• Volunteer Work

There are tons of volunteer work you could’ve participated in. Maybe you helped out at animal shelters, environmental conservation activities, or feeding programs.

• Part-Time Jobs

Part-time jobs are significant for your work experience personal statement. Working as a customer service agent, freelance writer, or salesperson at a local store demonstrates a sense of responsibility on your part. Mention what’s relevant to the course you’re applying for! Competitions. Look out for competitions in areas that interest you, for example, design, writing, maths, or business.

• Personal Projects

Your personal projects reflect what you love doing. That’s why there’s a high probability they’re related to the course you’re applying for.

If you love coding, you may have built websites. Love writing? Maybe you’ve set up your own blog! Write them down in your work experience personal statement.

• Leadership Positions

If you occupied leadership positions in your organisations relevant to your chosen course, mention them! Universities are on the lookout for motivated individuals willing to take responsibility.

The list of work experiences to include in your personal statement hopefully helps, but make sure to check out our what not to put in a personal statement .

Writing down your leadership positions can take your work experience personal statement up a higher notch.

State Your Work Experience

You now have a solid idea of relevant work experience you need to include in your personal statement. But how will you present it? Here are questions to eliminate writer’s block:

Make good use of these starters to kick off your writing. Brainstorm all relevant details of your work experience. We’ll sort them out later. And, if you’re wondering how to start a personal statement then wonder no more!

Discuss What You Learned, And Why It’s Essential

After stating the facts about your work experience, it’s time to get to the heart of the matter. You are writing your work experience personal statement not to brag about your achievements, but showing why you’re serious about your course .

That’s why discussing what you learned is essential. Beyond your role, share what insights you’ve gained that helped shape your character.

If you’re not sure how to start, let these questions unknot your ideas:

• How did this position impact you?
• What are the primary skills you’ve gained that are relevant to your course?
• How does this experience influence your decisions in pursuing your study goals?
• How does this experience relate to your general ability to succeed in your course?
• What are the major lessons you’ve learned that are helping you grow as an individual person ?
• What is your biggest takeaway from this position?
• Are there significant interactions that impacted your desire to take the course?

After answering these questions, craft a powerful paragraph that demonstrates how deep your understanding is.

The more interesting facts you share about yourself, the better. Bring your work experience personal statement to life with vivid details that convey essential ideas about who you are.

Ideas For Essential Skills

You may be unaware of skills you possess that are relevant and essential for your course. To make sure you won’t forget to mention them, here are skill ideas common across fields:

• The ability to communicate to higher-ups, colleagues, and clients
• Perseverance amidst challenges
• A sense of duty and obligation
• Eagerness to serve the community, especially the marginalised
• Critical thinking skills to overcome setbacks
• Initiative to work independently
• Knows how to work in a team setting
• Shows energy and enthusiasm to
• Motivation to work hard and do well

These are some of the common skills valuable across several fields of study. Among these, which describes you most? Go ahead and write about it!

Demonstrate Understanding Of The Course You’re Applying For

Your work experience should deepen your understanding of the course you’re applying for. Dig deeper and reflect on these points:

• How is your course making a positive change in the world? If you’re eyeing health-related courses, explain how health workers significantly impact people’s lives. Do you want to apply for education-related courses? Relay a story of how significant educators in your life changed you for the better.
• Mention the gaps and problems you see in the field. Do you see a severe lack of health facilities? Perhaps you’ve witnessed the challenges teachers and professors experience in the education system.
• What do you plan to do about it? Demonstrate that you’re applying for your chosen course because you want to help solve the problems that you see. Convince the admissions board that you’re the person for the course by writing about your desire to be an agent of change!

Reach Out To People Who’ve Been Where You Want To Be

To enhance your work experience personal statement, reach out to people who’ve been where you want to be. University students and practising staff are the perfect individuals you can approach.

Set appointments with them and ask them about their experience. What is it like to be in their position? What are the challenges that they see? What are they doing to improve their field of study?

Best of all, solicit advice on how to write your work experience personal statement. What skills do the admissions boards search for?

Then go back to your personal statement and write about your new connections. Mention how their insights and advice shed greater light on how your work experience will help you succeed in your course.

Do this, and you’re guaranteed to show a richer work experience personal statement.

Read Up On The Current Situation Of Your Chosen Field

Soak up knowledge on the current challenges and breakthroughs of your chosen field. Read journal articles, news websites, and featured stories. You can also visit blogs written by practitioners or university students.

Make sure to cite authoritative sources and figures when discussing the status quo. Then weave the information back to your work experience.

Do you have similar experiences with the figures you’ve mentioned? Have they discussed situations you experienced yourself? How are you making a difference in the field? Will your perspective matter?

What a perfect way to build credibility for your work experience personal statement!

Check Out Work Experience Personal Statement Examples

You now have a rich draft of your work experience personal statement. But you’re unsure of how to word and structure it.

Why not check out work experience personal statement examples on the web? Examine how they presented their experiences and insights. Make sure to read as many examples as you can.

Choose your top 3 favourites and save them in your documents. If you’re short of ideas, go back to them. Don’t forget to highlight paragraphs, sentences, and words that inspire you.

Be Authentic And Vulnerable 

Don’t be afraid of being vulnerable in your work experience personal statement. The admissions board needs to know if you are genuinely passionate about this course or not, so don’t hold back!

But remember to stay authentic. Don’t overdramatise mundane events. State events as they happened, and share your realisations as they are. Authenticity is a precious factor!

Action The Above To ‘Work’ On Your Personal Statement

With the suggestions mentioned above, you’ll be able to craft a more compelling and impactful work experience personal statement. Understand that this is YOUR story. Don’t copy others’ work experience personal statements.

Make your own angle and spin, and rest assured that the admissions board will want to read about YOU in your chosen course!

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How to Write a Great Community Service Essay

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Writing a Personal Statement Essay for Volunteer Job

Just like with CVs, even if the volunteering job post doesn’t require submission of motivation letter, it doesn’t mean you won’t have to send it. The interviewer can ask you to send CV + motivation letter or essay upon the completion of the interview.

That’s why it’s highly important to think about writing a personal statement at the very beginning. This will give you time to decide what to write, how to write it, and make sure the motivation letter is well-crafted before you send an email.

Although it seems like volunteering motivation letter is easy to write, it still holds a trap that you should avoid. When it comes to this type of program, most people focus only on their desire to help, contribute, learn etc. Although all these qualities are great, you shouldn’t make your motivation letter to them only. Instead, to make it stand out, do the opposite – compose a highly professional motivation letter that will STILL depict your positive characteristics.

The very first paragraph of the motivation letter should be similar to the beginning of an essay for paid position – introduce yourself as well as program wherein you want to participate.

The second paragraph should focus on your previous job experiences and accomplishments in both volunteers and paid positions. Your goal here is to show you are capable of performing tasks they might give you. But also, it’s important to demonstrate that you do understand the program and its challenges. Incorporating both paid and volunteer positions into the same paragraph is used for making a connection between the two. Both positions are similar and different at the same time.

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If you have achievements or important accomplishments, feel free to include them. Let’s say you worked for some financial company for a limited period of time and you were still voted an employee of the month. It’s an amazing achievement and could definitely bring you closer to the program, particularly if you apply for volunteering program in a field of finances and economy.

Once you complete the “professional” segment (work experiences + achievements etc.) it’s time to focus on your personality. Describe your attitude towards work and other people in a few sentences. Be precise and specific.

End the motivation letter stating the recipient should feel free to contact you for more info. Also, emphasize your availability and interest to become a part of the program. When you’re done, reread the motivation letter, correct all typos or grammatical mistakes and that’s it. The word count doesn’t really matter here, but don’t make it too long. In fact, 500 words should be a maximum.

If you are not sure about your ability to write a statement it is normal to ask professional writing service “ Help me write my personal statement “.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for a Scholarship + Examples

What’s covered:, what is the purpose of the scholarship personal statement, what to include in your personal statement, personal statement example: breakdown + analysis, how to make sure your writing is effective.

Either before or after you’ve gotten into your dream school, you’ll have to figure out how to pay for it. For most students, this involves a combination of financial aid, parent contributions, self-contributions, student loans, and scholarships/grants. Because scholarships are money out of someone else’s pocket that you never have to pay back, they are a great place to start!

Scholarships come in two forms: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarships are also often called grants. These designations tell you whether an organization looks at your financial situation when deciding about your scholarship.

Additionally, different scholarships fall under different categories based on the mission of the organization or person providing the scholarship’s financing. These missions typically emphasize different things like academic achievement, specific career goals, community service, leadership, family background, skill in the arts, or having overcome hardship. As you select scholarships to apply for and complete your applications, you should keep these missions in mind.

No matter what type of scholarship you are applying for, you will be asked to provide the review committee with standard materials. This includes your transcript, GPA, and resume/extracurriculars, but also, importantly, your personal statement. A scholarship personal statement is a bit different from your normal college essay, so we’ve put together this guide and some examples to help you get started!

The purpose of your personal statement is to help a review committee learn more about your personality, values, goals, and what makes you special. Ultimately, like with your college essays, you are trying to humanize your profile beyond your transcript, GPA, and test scores.

College essays all have one goal in mind (which is why you can apply to multiple schools at once through applications like the Common App or Coalition App): convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable addition to the university environment. The goal of your scholarship personal statement is different and differs more from one scholarship to the next. Rather than convincing various review committees that you are a generally good candidate for extra funding for college, you need to convince each review committee that your values have historically aligned with their organization’s mission and will continue to align with their organization’s mission.

Common missions amongst those who give scholarships include:

• Providing opportunities for students with career ambitions in a particular field
• Helping students who have experienced unexpected hardship
• Supporting students who show outstanding academic achievement
• Funding the arts through investing in young artists with strong technical skill
• Supporting the development of civic-minded community service leaders of the future
• Providing opportunities for historically underrepresented ethnic communities 

If a specific mission like this is outlined on an organization’s website or in the promotional material for its scholarship, the purpose of your personal statement is to show how you exemplify that mission.

Some scholarships ask for your personal statement to be guided by a prompt, while others leave things open for interpretation. When you are provided a prompt, it is obvious what you must do: answer the prompt. When you are not provided a prompt, you want to write a personal statement that is essentially a small-scale autobiography where you position yourself as a good investment. In either case, you should identify a focus or theme for what you are trying to say about yourself so that your application does not get lost in the shuffle.

Prompts include questions like:

• Why do you deserve this scholarship?
• How have you shown your commitment to (leadership/community service/diversity) in your community?
• When did you overcome adversity?
• Why is attending college important to you?

If you are provided a prompt, develop a theme for your response that showcases both your values and your achievements. This will help your essay feel focused and will subsequently help the review committee to remember which candidate you were as they deliberate.

Themes include things like:

• I deserve this community service scholarship because my compassion for intergenerational trauma has inspired me to volunteer with a local after-school program. I didn’t just sympathize. I did something about my sympathy because that’s the type of person I am. Within the program, I have identified avenues for improvement and worked alongside full-time staff to develop new strategies for increasing attendance.
• I overcame adversity when my mother had to have a major surgery two months after giving birth to my younger brother. I was just a kid but was thrown into a situation where I had to raise another kid. It was hard, but I’m the kind of person who tries to grow from hard times and, through my experience taking care of a baby, I learned the importance of listening to body language and nonverbal cues to understand the needs of others (baby and nonbaby, alike).

Without a prompt, clarity can be harder to achieve. That said, it is of the utmost importance that you find a focus. First, think about both your goals and your values.

Types of goals include:

• Career goals
• Goals for personal growth
• The type of friend you want to be
• The change you want to make in the world

Values could include:

• Authenticity
• And many more!

After you write out your goals/values, write out your achievements to see what goals/values you have “proof” of your commitment to. Your essay will ultimately be an exploration of your goal/value, what you have done about your goal/value in the past, and what you aspire to in the future.

You might be tempted to reflect on areas for improvement, but scholarships care about you living out your values. It is not enough to aspire to be exemplary in leadership, community service, or your academic field. For scholarships, you have to already be exemplary.

Finally, keep in mind that the review committee likely already has a copy of your extracurricular activities and involvement. Pick one or two accomplishments, then strive for depth, not breadth as you explore them.

My interest in the field of neuroscience began at a young age.  When I was twelve years old, my sister developed a condition called Pseudotumor Cerebri following multiple concussions during a basketball game.  It took the doctors over six months to make a proper diagnosis, followed by three years of treatment before she recovered.  During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions.  Later, my love of neuroscience was amplified when my mother began to suffer from brain-related health issues.  My mother had been a practicing attorney in Dallas for over twenty years.  She was a determined litigator who relentlessly tried difficult cases that changed people’s lives.  Now, she suffers from a cognitive impairment and is no longer able to practice law.  Oftentimes, she has headaches, she gets “cloudy,” her executive functioning slows down, she feels overwhelmed, and she forgets things.  My mother has gone from being the strong, confident, emotional and financial caretaker of our family to needing significant help on a daily basis. Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.

Due to my experiences with my mother and sister when I was in middle school, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the field of neuroscience.  I also knew that, to obtain this goal, I needed to maintain superior grades in school while also pursuing opportunities outside of school to further my education.  In school, I was able to maintain superior grades to the point where I am currently valedictorian in a class of 567 students.  In addition, in school, I challenged myself by taking 16 Advanced Placement classes and 19 Honors classes.  Two of the most beneficial classes were AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research.  AP Capstone Seminar and AP Capstone Research are research-oriented classes where students are given the opportunity to pursue whatever track their research takes them down.  As a junior in AP Capstone Seminar, I researched the effects of harmful pesticide use on the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children.  This year, as a senior in AP Capstone Research, I am learning about the effects of medical marijuana on the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  

Outside of school, I furthered my education through taking advantage of the Duke TiP summer program. Duke TiP is a summer program run by Duke University where students who score extremely well on the SAT as middle schoolers are able to take college classes at different universities throughout the summers of their middle school and high school years.  I took advantage of this opportunity twice.  First, I went to Trinity University in San Antonio to expand my horizons and learn more about debate.  However, once I was done exploring, I decided I wanted to go into neuroscience.  This led me to take an Abnormal Psychology class at Duke University’s West Campus.  This class opened my eyes to the interaction between neuroscience and mental health, mental illness, and personality.  Years later, I am currently continuing my education outside of school as an intern at the University of Texas Dallas Center for Brain Health.  Through this internship, I have been able to see different aspects of neuroscience including brain pattern testing, virtual reality therapy, and longitudinal research studies.  With this background, I have positioned myself to be accepted by top neuroscience programs throughout the nation.  So far, I have been accepted to the neuroscience department of University of Southern California, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, and Southern Methodist University, as well as the chemistry department at University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill.  

It is with this passion for neuroscience driven by my family and passion for education driven by internal motivation that I will set out to conquer my career objectives.  My educational aspirations consist of acquiring a bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science that would assist me in pursuing a medical career as a neuroscience researcher.  I decided to attain a career as a researcher since my passion has always been assisting others and trying to improve their quality of life.  After obtaining my Masters and my PhD, I plan to become a professor at a prestigious university and continue performing lab research on cognitive disorders.  I am particularly interested in disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  In the lab, I hope to find different therapies and medications to help treat the 3.5 million people around the world suffering from ASD.  Furthermore, I want to contribute back to underserved populations that struggle because they do not have as much access to medical assistance as other privileged groups.  As such, I hope to do a part of my research in less developed or developing Spanish-speaking countries. This will also allow me to pursue my love of Spanish while pursuing my love of neuroscience.  I think that following such a career path will provide me the opportunity to learn about the medical needs of the autistic community and improve their quality of health.  Furthermore, I hope to train a new generation of students to strive to research and make comparable discoveries.  Whether it be through virtual reality labs or new drug discoveries, I believe that research leads to innovation which leads to a brighter future. 

This student does a great job of making themself appear competent and dedicated to the field of neuroscience. This is primarily because they provided tangible evidence of how they have pursued their dedication in the past—through their AP Capstone courses, their Abnormal Psychology class at Duke TiP, and their internship at UTD. There is no doubt in the mind of a reader that this student is high-achieving. 

This student also engages successfully with a past-future trajectory, where they end with a vision of how they will continue to use neuroscience in the future. This helps the review committee see what they are investing in and the ways that their money will go to good use.

This student has two major areas for improvement. As we have said, the purpose of a personal statement is for a student to humanize themself to a review committee. This student struggles to depict themself separately from their academic achievements. A solution to this would be for the student to establish a theme towards the beginning of their essay that relates to both their values as a human and their achievements.

At the beginning of the essay, the student explores how their interest in neuroscience began. They explain their interest through the following sentences: “During this time, my love for neuroscience was sparked as I began to research her condition and, then, other neurocognitive conditions” and “Once again, with this illness came a lot of research on my part — research that encouraged me to pursue my dreams of exploring neuroscience.” The student made the great decision to tell the backstory of their interest, but they described their research in very mundane and redundant terms. Instead, they could have focused on their value of intellectual curiosity as a magnetic force that encouraged them to research their mother and sister’s ailments. Curiosity, then, could serve as a value-related thematic throughline to taking AP Capstone classes, taking college courses during the summer that weren’t required, and interning before even graduating high school.

A second area for improvement would be avoiding statistics. As the student identifies their valedictorian status and the number of AP classes they have taken, they might turn away certain personalities on a review committee by appearing braggy. Even further, these statistics are a waste of space. The review committee already has access to this information. These words distract from the major theme of the essay and would have been better used to humanize the student.

Throughout my academic career, I have been an avid scholar, constantly pushing myself towards ambitious goals. I held and continue to hold myself to a high standard, enrolling myself in rigorous curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses to stretch my mental potential. During my junior year of high school, I took four AP tests, two on the same day, and earned the AP Scholar with Honor Award. Additionally, I received the Letter of Commendation for the PSAT/NMSQT, and qualified for Rotary Top 100 Students both my freshman and senior year, a sign of my commitment to my studies. However, school has not been all about having the best GPA for me; beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem. I always give each class my best effort and try my hardest on every assignment. My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result. It is a major goal of mine to continue to aspire towards a high level of achievement regarding future educational and occupational endeavors; I plan on continuing this level of dedication throughout my educational career and implementing the skills I have learned and will learn into my college experience and beyond.

This fall, I will begin attending the University of California Los Angeles as an English major. I chose this major because I am fascinated by written language, especially its ability to convey powerful messages and emotions. I also enjoy delving into the works of other authors to analyze specific components of their writing to discover the meaning behind their words. In particular, I cannot wait to begin in-depth literary criticism and learn new stylistic techniques to add more depth to my writing. Furthermore, I recently went to UCLA’s Bruin Day, an event for incoming freshmen, where I was exposed to many different extracurriculars, some of which really piqued my interest. I plan on joining the Writing Success Program, where I can help students receive free writing help, and Mock Trial, where I can debate issues with peers in front of a real judge. The latter, combined with a strong writing background from my undergraduate English studies will be extremely beneficial because I plan to apply to law school after my undergraduate degree. As of now, my career goal is to become a civil rights lawyer, to stand up for those who are discriminated against and protect minority groups to proliferate equality.

As a lawyer, I wish to utilize legislation to ameliorate the plight of the millions of Americans who feel prejudice and help them receive equity in the workplace, society, and so on. Though this seems a daunting task, I feel that my work ethic and past experience will give me the jumpstart I need to establish myself as a successful lawyer and give a voice to those who are often unheard in today’s legal system. I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade and continually participate in community service for the homeless, elderly, veterans, and more. My most recent project was the Gold Award, which I conducted in the Fullerton School District. I facilitated over ten workshops where junior high students taught elementary pupils STEM principles such as density and aerodynamics via creative activities like building aluminum boats and paper airplanes. I also work at Kumon, a tutoring center, where I teach students to advance their academic success. I love my job, and helping students from local schools reach their potential fills me with much pride.

Both being a Girl Scout and working at Kumon have inspired me to help those in need, contributing significantly to my desire to become a lawyer and aid others. My extracurriculars have allowed me to gain a new perspective on both learning and teaching, and have solidified my will to help the less fortunate. In college, I hope to continue to gain knowledge and further develop my leadership skills, amassing qualities that will help me assist others. I plan to join multiple community service clubs, such as UCLA’s local outreach programs that directly aid residents of Los Angeles. I want to help my fellow pupils as well, and plan on volunteering at peer tutoring and peer editing programs on campus. After college, during my career, I want to use legal tactics to assist the underdog and take a chance on those who are often overlooked for opportunities. I wish to represent those that are scared to seek out help or cannot afford it. Rather than battling conflict with additional conflict, I want to implement peaceful but strong, efficient tactics that will help make my state, country, and eventually the world more welcoming to people of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. These goals are close to my heart and therefore I will be as diligent as I am passionate about them. My perseverance and love for learning and community service drive my ambition in both education and life as a whole, and the drive to make the world a better place is one that I will carry with me for my entire life.

This student emphasizes two values in this essay: hard work and community service. These are values that go together nicely, and definitely make sense with this student’s end goal of becoming a civil rights lawyer! That said, some changes could be made to the way the student presents their values that would make their personal statement more convincing and engaging.

Structurally, instead of using a past-future trajectory, this student starts by explaining their academic achievements, then explains their career goals, then explains their history of community service, then explains their future desires for community service. This structure loses the reader. Instead, the student should have started with either the past or the future. 

This could look like 1) identifying their career goals, 2) explaining that hard work and a commitment to community service are necessary to get there, and 3) explaining that they aren’t worried because of their past commitment to hard work and community service. Or it could look like 1) providing examples of their hard work and community service in the past, then 2) explaining how those values will help them achieve their career goals.

Additionally, like with our other example, this student shows a heavy investment in statistics and spouting off accomplishments. This can be unappealing. Unfortunately, even when the student recognizes that they are doing this, writing “beyond the numbers, I have a deep drive to learn which motivates me to do well academically. I truly enjoy learning new things, whether it be a new essay style or a math theorem,” they continue on to cite their achievements, writing “My teachers have noticed this as well, and I have received school Lancer Awards and Student of the Month recognitions as a result.” They say they are going beyond the numbers, but they don’t go beyond the awards. They don’t look inward. One way to fix this would be to make community service the theme around which the essay operates, supplementing with statistics in ways that advance the image of the student as dedicated to community service.

Finally, this student would be more successful if they varied their sentence structure. While a small-scale autobiography can be good, if organized, every sentence should not begin with ‘I.’ The essay still needs to be engaging or the review committee might stop reading.

Feedback is ultimately any writer’s best source of improvement! To get your personal statement edited for free, use our Peer Review Essay Tool . With this tool, other students can tell you if your scholarship essay is effective and help you improve your essay so that you can have the best chances of gaining those extra funds!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

6 Volunteer Cover Letter Examples

Volunteers are the unsung heroes of any organization, selflessly dedicating their time and energy to causes they believe in. Much like a volunteer, your cover letter gives selflessly, offering a glimpse into your passion, commitment, and the unique skills you bring to the table. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Volunteers, helping you to craft a narrative that showcases your dedication and altruistic spirit.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start a volunteer cover letter is by introducing yourself and expressing your enthusiasm for the volunteering opportunity. Mention the specific role you're interested in and why it appeals to you. It's also beneficial to highlight any relevant skills or experiences that make you a good fit for the role. Remember, the goal is to show the organization that you're not only capable but also genuinely interested in contributing to their cause.

Volunteers should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the role and the unique skills or experiences they bring. They should also express gratitude for the reader's time and consideration. A strong closing might be: "I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and passion to [organization's name]. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my potential contributions further." It's also important to include contact information, even if it's already on the header of the letter. This makes it easy for the reader to reach out. Finally, end with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. As a volunteer, showing enthusiasm, gratitude, and professionalism in your closing leaves a positive impression.

A volunteer's cover letter should ideally be one page long. This length is enough to succinctly present your skills, experiences, and passion for the cause without overwhelming the reader. Remember, the organization you're applying to likely receives numerous applications, so it's important to keep your cover letter concise and to the point. Use clear, direct language to explain why you're interested in the volunteer position, what you can bring to the organization, and how your past experiences (volunteer or otherwise) have prepared you for this role.

Writing a cover letter with no volunteer experience can seem challenging, but it's important to remember that everyone starts somewhere. Here are some steps to guide you: 1. Start with a professional greeting: Address the hiring manager or the person in charge of volunteers by their name if it's available. If not, use a general greeting like "Dear Volunteer Coordinator". 2. Write a compelling opening paragraph: Introduce yourself and express your interest in the volunteer position. Mention where you found the opportunity and why it appeals to you. 3. Highlight relevant skills and experiences: Even if you don't have volunteer experience, you likely have skills that are relevant to the position. Think about your past experiences in school, work, or other activities. Have you demonstrated leadership, teamwork, or problem-solving skills? Have you worked with diverse groups of people or handled challenging situations? These are all valuable in a volunteer context. 4. Show enthusiasm and commitment: Nonprofits value volunteers who are passionate about their cause and reliable in their commitment. Show that you've done your research about the organization and its mission, and express your enthusiasm for contributing to it. 5. Explain what you hope to gain: Volunteering is a two-way street. While you're offering your time and skills, you're also there to learn and grow. Whether you're hoping to gain new skills, experience in a particular field, or a deeper understanding of a cause you care about, sharing this can show that you're motivated and invested in the role. 6. Close professionally: Thank the reader for considering your application, express your hope for the opportunity to contribute, and provide your contact information. 7. Proofread: Make sure your cover letter is free of errors and is professionally presented. Remember, everyone has to start somewhere. Even without direct experience, your enthusiasm, commitment, and transferable skills can make a strong impression.

Related Cover Letters for Volunteers

Fundraising cover letter.

Social Worker Cover Letter

Program Coordinator Cover Letter

Event Planner Cover Letter

Volunteer Cover Letter

Community Volunteer Cover Letter

Student volunteer cover letter, school volunteer cover letter, community involvement cover letter, church volunteer cover letter, related resumes for volunteers, volunteer resume example.

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How to Write a Volunteer Resume [+Example for 2024]

You’ve found something you believe in.

You want to help as much as you can.

But first, you need a resume that highlights your best attributes. 

Well, allow us to help you with this resume guide for all volunteers!

• A job-winning volunteer resume example
• How to create a volunteer resume that hiring managers love
• Volunteer-specific tips and tricks to make your resume stand out

Now, before we move on, here’s a volunteer resume example, created with our very own resume builder :

Follow the steps in this guide to create a job-winning resume of your own! 

How to Format a Volunteer Resume

Here’s a fact for you:

Your resume isn’t the only one on the recruiter’s desk.

In fact, they have a TON to get through, which is why recruiters tend to skim-read as they go through the pile of resumes.

This means you need to make your information clear and concise. 

You can do this by using the best resume format for volunteer resumes. 

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, so we’d recommend this format for your resume…

There are two other popular formats that you could try:

• Functional Resume – Choose this format if you have many skills, but don’t have any real experience. Essentially, this format is ideal for volunteers who are seeking a role they have never held
• Combination Resume – As the name suggests, a combination resume is a combination of “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”. As such, this format is perfect for volunteers who have both skills and experience

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

For a professional resume layout, here’s what we recommend:

Margins - the margins are set automatically according to recruiters in the editor.

Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. 

• Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc.
• Don’t: Comic Sans

Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. If you’re having trouble fitting everything into one page? You may want to view these one-page resume templates .

Use a Volunteer Resume Template

You have a number of options when it comes to resume writing tools.

Now, Word may be your first choice, but we invite you to reconsider.

You see, building your own resume in a text-editing tool can result in massive formatting issues. 

The alternative is to use a volunteering resume template by choosing from one of the templates here .

This will ensure your resume looks professional at all times. 

What to Include in a Volunteer Resume

The main sections in a volunteer resume are:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Objective
• Work Experience/ Volunteer Experience

For a resume that stands out, even more, try adding these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification
• Personal Projects

Interests & Hobbies

It’s now time to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them...

Not sure which sections to use for your resume? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Write Your Contact Information

The tips in this guide will help with creating the best volunteer resume possible.

But those tips are worthless if mistakes are made in this section.

For your contact section, follow these rules:

• Title - Make this specific to the role you’re applying for
• Phone Number - Quadruple check this!
• Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected])
• Portfolio Link or personal website
• (Optional) Relevant Social Media - e.g.: LinkedIn, Twitter, Quora, etc.
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.

Stephen Johnson, Volunteer. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

Stephen Johnson, Volunteering Viking. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Volunteer Resume Summary or Objective

The volunteer industry is just as competitive as any other employment opportunity.

In fact, most volunteering jobs have hundreds of applicants applying to become a volunteer for the greater good. 

As such, just telling the recruiter how passionate you are won’t cut it. 

So how do you catch the recruiter’s attention and stand out?

You need to show your value straight away!

You can do this with a resume summary or objective , which are attention-grabbing paragraphs that sit at the top of your resume. 

Although the two are very similar, there are a couple of differences… 

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

Experienced and passionate volunteer with 5+ years of experience in helping various foundations with their aspirations. Notable highlights include managing an event with 2,000 attendees, scoring 99.5% positive feedback rates, and raising $67,302 revenue when leading a bake sale.]

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

A hard-working volunteer seeks a chance to make a difference with The National Trust. Experience includes working as a temp events volunteer during the summer term. Able to handle a variety of tasks, including greeting the public, preparing activities, and operating POS systems.

So, which option should a volunteer in your situation pick? 

All volunteers have their own specific background, but generally, resume summaries are the best option for those who have a relevant job history, whereas an objective summary is the best option for those with little to no work experience. 

How to Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

Regardless of the type of charity you apply for, they all have one thing in common…

They want to see your work experience .  

Sure, your core skills are important too, but experience always wins. Start with your most recent experience, and then work backwards. Here’s a winning work experience structure…

• Position name
• Company Name
• Dates Employed
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Event Volunteer

National Trust

01/2019 – 03/2020

• Prepared for a 2,000 person event in 8 hours – this involved setting up trails, preparing craft activities, and ensuring complete information and signage
• Provided a warm and friendly welcome at all events, which resulted in a 99.5% positive feedback score
• In charge of running the cake sale, which resulted in $8.302 revenue for the foundation

As shown above, you want to show some impressive achievements, not minor tasks.

So, instead of saying:

“greeted visitors”

“Provided a warm and friendly welcome at all events, which resulted in a 99.5% positive feedback score”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second statement goes into more depth about how your presence had a positive impact on the event and the foundation. This clearly shows that you’re someone who should be hired immediately. 

What if You Don’t Have Experience?

Maybe you’re a recent university graduate with no job experience?

Or maybe you have worked many jobs, but never volunteered for a charity?

Don’t worry, we have the solution.

All you need are a few core skills and a desire to learn.

And this can be shown with school projects or experiences from related jobs. 

For example, if you’ve ever worked as a customer service representative, you can talk about any crossover skills and experiences. Just like a volunteer in a public-facing role, you were friendly and dealt with various concerns. 

If you’re a recent graduate , you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Volunteer Resume POP!

Flick through a bunch of volunteering resumes, and you’ll notice one thing.

They all include these same words. 

And since you want your resume to stand out, we recommend using power words instead.

Here is a list of power words to make your achievements stand out :

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to List Your Education Correctly

Welcome to the education section!

If your experience section isn’t the best, your education is where you need to shine.

Simply list out your education entries, like this:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

B.A. Nursing Management  

University of Chicago

Courses: Anatomy and Physiology, Nursing Care, Mental Health, Sociological and Psychological Aspects of Healthcare, Approaches to Research

Before we conclude this section, here are some of the most frequent questions we get from volunteers (and their answers!):

What if I haven’t finished education?

• Whether you’re still a student, or finished school years ago, you should mention the years/courses studied so far in your life

Should I include my high school education?

• Only include your high school education if you haven’t gone on to further education

What is more important, education or experience?

• Experiences always come before education

Need more answers? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 10 Skills for a Volunteer Resume

When the recruiter is reviewing your resume, they want to see that you’re skilled enough to complete the work they require.  

You see, the resume reviewer will have been given a brief regarding the desired job skills. 

As such, the skills section should reflect the needs of the job.

Need some inspiration?

It’ll depend on the specific volunteering job that you’re applying for, but here are some of the most common and desirable skills:

Hard Skills for Volunteers:

• Point-of-Sale Systems
• Microsoft Office
• CPR Certified 
• Phone Desk Operation

Soft Skills for Volunteers:

• Communication
• Leadership 
• Strategic thinking

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 100+ must-have skills .

Other Resume Sections You Can Include on a Volunteering Resume

Now, there’s a good chance that the other candidates will have similar volunteering experiences to you.

But if this is the case, won’t your resume look the same as all the others?

Well yes. That’s why we recommend adding a few of the following sections to make your resume stand out. 

Awards & Certifications

Your volunteering work will impress the recruiter.

But don’t leave things there.

Have you completed any courses to improve your skills?

Have you ever been awarded for your duties?

Be sure to mention everything that you’re proud of. Well, only if it is relevant to the volunteering position. 

• Sales Training: Building Your Sales Career – Coursera Certificate
• Best Business Pitch Award – University of Texas
•  Learning How to Learn – Coursera Certificate
• CPR Certification

Your resume shows the assets you can offer to the foundation.

Even though being bilingual may not be an essential skill, it is another asset that your future employer can call upon.  

If this relates to you, and you have space in your resume, definitely include a languages section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

The recruiter should now be interested in hiring you.

But before they do, they will want to know more about your personal side. 

As such, it can be a good idea to talk about your hobbies and interests.  

If you’re not sure which hobbies & interests to mention, you can read our guide! 

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

You’re a volunteer because you want to make a difference.

Resumes are great for showing your skills and experiences, but you want the foundation to know WHY you want to volunteer for them. 

Cover letters show that you want to work with THIS specific charity.

As such, a cover letter can significantly boost your chances of obtaining the position.

Here’s how to get the structure right:

And here’s what to write in each section:

Contact Details

Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, and location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

Your introduction should be strong enough to hook the hiring manager, so mention:

• The volunteering position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievements as a volunteer (or most relevant)

Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are:

• Why you want to volunteer for this specific foundation
• Anything you know about the culture
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job
• If you’ve ever volunteer before

Closing Paragraph

This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations

Use a formal closing, such as “Best regards” or “Sincerely.”

View our how-to write a cover letter guide for extra guidance.

Related Resume Examples

• No Experience Resume
• Social Worker Resume
• Internship Resume
• Office Assistant Resume
• Career Change Resume

Key Takeaways

Followed the steps in this guide? Then you’re in the best position to get that role you’re applying for.

Before we finish up, let’s quickly go through everything we’ve learned:

• Select the right formatting for your resume. Try the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the best practices in regards to the layout. Remember, keep your resume needs to look professional
• Use a resume summary or objective to immediately catch the recruiter’s attention
• For the work experience section, talk more about your achievements, instead of your daily responsibilities
• Write a compelling and convincing cover letter

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30 Examples: How To List Volunteer Work on a Resume

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.

• 30 Examples: How to List Leadership Skills on Your Resume
• 30 Examples: How to List Accomplishments on a Resume
• 35 Examples: How To Highlight Work Experience on a Resume
• 4 Examples: Impressive Resume with No Work Experience for Students
• 30 Examples of Customer Service Resume Objective
• List of 21 Important Technical Skills (with Examples)

• UCAS Guide >
• Personal Statement >

How to write in Personal Statement About Work Experience?

Introduction.

Talking about your work experience is important in your personal statement, some universities have work experience as a requirement, so demonstrating that you have done work experience in your personal statement is essential.

Table of Contents

A common question we get asked is how many experiences should I mention? We recommend, in a personal statement about work experience, you reference at least 2 experiences out of your hospital, GP and volunteering placements. On top of this, try to focus on the interesting aspects too, for example if you spent 5 days at a GP surgery with 1 day being full of interesting patients you saw with the GP, focus on this instead of the other 4 days where you were doing menial tasks. 

How to write about work experience in a personal statement?

You should follow this structure for a work experience personal statement section:

• What work experience you did – was it a hospital placement, volunteering, work shadowing?
• Where you did it – was it in a hospital, GP surgery, hospice, care home?
• What you saw – was there a particularly memorable interaction that you remember, or did something you see stand out to you?
• Reflection – what did your experience tell you about medicine? Did it make you more certain that a career in medicine is right for you?

When thinking about how to talk about work experience in a personal statement, try to focus on skills demonstrated by doctors that you have seen, this will help focus your writing. Within each work experience it is important that you are:

• Reflective – don’t just state what you did or saw, but talk about what you learnt about the role of a doctor in this particular work experience setting. This is how to impress the examiner as it shows insight and maturity of your thoughts that they are looking for in medical students.
• Positive yet Realistic – It is important that your work experience has shown you the reality of becoming a doctor, as it isn’t the glamours role that it is sometimes portrayed on TV or in movies. Therefore, showing your realistic understanding is important. On top of this, showing that you are still positive about being a doctor will help to demonstrate your commitment to the profession. Try to maintain this positive tone throughout your personal statement. 

Can you lie about work experience on a personal statement? What if I have no work experience?

Absolutely not! The key thing to remember is that work experience does not need to be directly clinical if that has not been possible. Many students are asking what to do if they do not have a hospital work experience personal statement or even worse that they have a no work experience personal statement. The key thing to remember is that medical schools understand the different circumstances that students experience. The key skill that is being assessed is your ability to reflect, your ability to be self-sufficient, and your ability to continue to learn from personal experiences. You can speak about all kinds of experience in this section of the personal statement as long as you can link it back to a skill for a career in medicine.

Example: “Through my work as a barista, I have developed significantly in my time management, interpersonal skills, and stress management abilities. I work in a very busy branch and during rush hour it is vital that we work as a team. I often take on the role of team leader and work to allocate my colleagues into areas of their strengths in order to maximise the efficiency of service and to minimise the stress caused by the rush. I hope that development of these skills would be beneficial in a career in medicine and would help me to remain calm and organised even when the work environment is stressful”

Personal Statement Examples Work Experience:

“ I saw how the GP was always rushed due to the number of patients he had to see, and how stressful and challenging a job medicine is ”

Although this shows your insight into the realities of medicine, it is written in a rather negative tone. This makes the reader feel like this is a job no one would want to do, especially not someone who has seen this and identified this as a problem. Instead why no try:

“ I appreciate the GPs skills in time efficiency and management, which enabled him to see so many patients in the day ”

This instead focuses on the positive attributes of the doctor that enables him to function with more ease in a challenging role. This positive spin is still acknowledging the large number of patients that the GP has to see, however, comes across to the reader in a much more positive way. Try to replicate a similar thing with your own examples. 

So, hope you found that all useful! In a nutshell – Talk about at least 2 different work experiences, focus on the interesting aspects of your work experience, remember to reflect, as this is what the examiners are looking for, try to focus on one skill demonstrated by a doctor per experience.

Frequently Asked Question

🎤 what is a work experience personal statement.

A work experience personal statement is a section of a job application or university admission application that describes a candidate’s relevant work experience. This statement is used to demonstrate the candidate’s skills and experience to the employer or university and to show how this experience will contribute to their future success.

💎 Why is work experience important for a personal statement?

Work experience is important for a personal statement because it demonstrates the candidate’s relevant skills, knowledge, and work ethic. It can show how the candidate has applied their skills in real-world situations and how they have developed professionally. This information can be valuable to employers or universities when considering candidates.

🏆 What is the best opening sentence for a personal statement?

The best opening sentence for a personal statement is one that immediately grabs the reader’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of the statement. Here are some examples of effective opening sentences:

“As a lifelong lover of science, I have always been fascinated by the way that the natural world works.”

“Growing up in a family of artists, I have always had a deep appreciation for the power of creativity and self-expression.”

“From a young age, I knew that I wanted to make a difference in the world and help those in need.”

“As a first-generation college student, I have overcome numerous obstacles to pursue my passion for learning and personal growth.”

“Throughout my life, I have been driven by a strong sense of curiosity and a desire to explore new ideas and experiences.”

These opening sentences all effectively introduce the writer and set the stage for the rest of the personal statement. They grab the reader’s attention and provide a glimpse into the writer’s personality, passions, and motivations.

📖 What should I include in my work experience personal statement?

In your work experience personal statement, you should include a brief description of your work history, including any relevant experience, responsibilities, and achievements. You should also highlight the skills and knowledge you have gained from your work experience and explain how these skills will contribute to your future goals.

🧵 How long should my work experience personal statement be?

Your work experience personal statement should be concise and focused. It should typically be no more than two or three paragraphs in length, but this can vary depending on the requirements of the application.

📌 Can I include volunteer experience in my work experience personal statement?

Yes, you can include volunteer experience in your work experience personal statement if it is relevant to the position or program you are applying for. Volunteer experience can demonstrate your commitment to the field and show that you have developed skills and knowledge that are applicable to the position or program.

✨ How can I make my work experience personal statement stand out?

To make your work experience personal statement stand out, you should focus on the specific skills and experiences that make you a strong candidate for the position or program. You can also use examples and anecdotes to illustrate your achievements and demonstrate your passion for the field.

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17 Effective Volunteer Recruitment Strategies

Your nonprofit wouldn’t be able to make an impact without its volunteers. However, volunteers don’t just appear out of thin air! Building robust, sustainable volunteer recruitment strategies is key.

In this post, we will discuss 17 effective volunteer recruitment strategies that can be easily put into action.

What is Volunteer Recruitment?

Volunteer recruitment is the strategy your nonprofit organization uses to attract new volunteers. Volunteer recruitment aims to find new individuals excited to use their time and talents to support your nonprofit’s mission.

While organizations often intensify their efforts to recruit volunteers before significant events like galas or fundraisers, it is essential to maintain active volunteer recruitment strategies at all times.

Being proactive in recruiting volunteers ensures that you have a strong and diverse pool of talent ready to step in at a moment's notice. Whether faced with last-minute cancellations or unexpected changes, you can rely on having dedicated and well-prepared individuals available to support your organization.

Volunteer Recruitment Benefits

Enriching your organization with volunteers through recruitment sets the stage for success by broadening your volunteer base. The advantages of volunteer recruitment encompass:

• Reduced operating costs. Volunteers execute jobs that otherwise would require paid staff members, and their work is critical to nonprofits, which already run on very limited resources. An Independent Sector study found that volunteers are worth an estimated $28/hour.
• Expanded impact. Volunteers are key to scaling your nonprofit. With more volunteers, you have more resources at your disposal to expand our organization’s reach and impact.
• Enhanced fundraising efforts. Gaining new volunteers also increases your donor base. Volunteers are passionate about your cause and will discuss your program with the people in their network, who can potentially become new donors. Not to mention that volunteers are also very likely to become donors themselves!
• Increased community presence. Volunteer recruitment strategies don’t just attract new volunteers; they also market your nonprofit to your entire community. This increased local visibility will make more people aware of your mission and generate more supporters.
• Smoother personnel changes. A variety of factors can contribute to volunteers leaving your organization, and not all of them are within your control. If a key volunteer changes their schedule, moves away, or experiences a major life event, your volunteer recruitment initiatives will ensure that you have someone else who can step into their role.

Before You Begin: Crafting Volunteer Recruitment Strategies

Effective volunteer recruitment initiatives kick off with thorough planning. Kickstart the process by evaluating the specific requirements of your program:

• Where are the gaps in your current volunteer base?
• What skills does your organization need?
• Are there specific positions that need to be filled?
• Do you anticipate any personnel turnover?
• What values do you want new volunteers to embody?

After pinpointing the specific individuals you are seeking, it's time to craft a volunteer recruitment strategy that speaks to potential volunteers. Here are some key volunteer recruitment ideas to consider:

• Target your recruitment efforts. While it can be tempting to cast a wide net, focus on the people you want to recruit. Reach out to special interest groups, professional organizations, and community organizations that you know have members with the skills and values you need.
• Write clear job descriptions. Make sure that prospective volunteers have a clear vision of the roles they will fill. Job descriptions help your organization be upfront about the volunteering process, and they can also attract people with specific talents and interests.
• Evaluate your recruitment channels. Does your organization already have volunteer recruitment strategies in place, and if so, how effective are they? If you’ve been relying on word of mouth, consider expanding to other options, like social media marketing and connecting with local organizations. Having more than one recruitment channel will increase your chances of success.
• Develop a volunteer recruitment budget. While volunteer recruitment has a strong value proposition for your organization, volunteer recruitment strategies do carry a cost. Understand how much money, time, and effort your organization has to put towards recruitment and build your plan accordingly. Some volunteer recruitment ideas, like peer-to-peer advertising, are free, and others are very low cost, such as social media, website landing pages, and newsletters. Placing an advertisement online or in local newspapers may carry a higher fee, but they also promise a greater reach and can tailor your efforts towards more specific audiences.
• Have registration and training programs in place. To retain recruits, they need to be able to start the volunteer training process as soon as possible. Make sure you already have a plan for registration, training, and event sign-up.
• Create a volunteer handbook. Volunteer handbooks are essential training materials for recruits. A volunteer handbook should outline your organization’s mission, processes, and policies so that potential volunteers understand exactly what is expected of them.

 17 Volunteer Recruitment Ideas

With a solid plan in motion, it's time to kickstart your recruitment program. Dive into our carefully curated list of 17 volunteer recruitment ideas to elevate your efforts to the next level.

Mobilize Current Volunteers

Do not underestimate the power of peer-to-peer promotion. Word of mouth is incredibly valuable and cost-effective! Inform your current volunteers about your active recruitment efforts. Encourage them to share recruitment emails, flyers, and social media posts or refer a friend. You might even want to establish a formal volunteer ambassador program, equipping particularly charismatic and dedicated volunteers with persuasive pitches and recruitment materials.

Given that your current volunteers are already dedicated to your cause, chances are they know someone else who shares similar interests and skills, and they possess the inside scoop to inspire others to join. Your volunteers serve as exceptional advocates for your organization, making them an invaluable asset for your volunteer recruitment initiatives.

Reconnect with Former Volunteers

Don't overlook the potential of your former volunteers when it comes to recruitment. Reach out to see if they would be interested in rejoining your organization. Their past dedication shows they may be inclined to volunteer again! Even if they are unable to commit at the moment, they could still provide valuable referrals.

Before you reach out, consult your volunteer database or exit interview records to understand why that volunteer left. If they simply had a change of availability or needed a break, they may be more than ready to return! If the volunteer felt disengaged or under-appreciated, you can outline the ways you’ve optimized your program since they left, such as introducing more rewards and recognition or easy self-scheduling .

Engage Your Board

Your nonprofit’s board is already committed to your organization’s success, and they will be happy to support volunteer recruitment efforts. Board members are often prominent members of the community with extensive networks, and they can connect you with potential recruits, corporate volunteer programs , and local organizations that are looking for volunteering opportunities. You can even see if board members are interested in volunteering themselves!

Optimize Your Volunteer Landing Page

Harness the power of the internet as a key tool for volunteer recruitment. Your website serves as the initial point of contact for potential volunteers, so ensure you have a dedicated page specifically for volunteering that is regularly updated. This volunteer landing page should feature job openings, a registration form link, contact details for the volunteer manager, as well as testimonials and case studies showcasing your impactful initiatives.

Transform your volunteer landing page into a central hub for current volunteers, enhancing engagement and retention. Consider incorporating additional features such as event calendars, self-scheduling options, training resources, donation forms, and important announcements to further support your volunteer recruitment endeavors.

  Harness Social Media

Utilize the power of social media as a dynamic tool to engage with your supporters. Through social platforms, potential volunteers can gain a deeper insight into your organization, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of your impactful work. Announce volunteer openings, showcase dedicated volunteers, and consider running targeted ads. Ensure your volunteer recruitment content is shared across various channels, including popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and more, while actively engaging with followers to foster a sense of community.

Explore innovative strategies to leverage additional social media platforms. YouTube serves as an excellent platform for hosting recruitment videos that can be shared on various platforms such as your website or newsletters. LinkedIn, often overlooked, can be a valuable resource for connecting with volunteers possessing specific skill sets, corporate volunteer programs, and individuals seeking professional development opportunities.

Consider Online Ads

Online advertisements can play a critical role in reaching new volunteers, especially people who may not be familiar with your organization. Online ads can let you target specific search engine keywords or individuals from a specific demographic. Many online ad programs offer pay-per-click options, where you only pay when someone clicks on your ad—giving you the best return on investment.

But did you know that your organization could potentially access thousands of dollars worth of online advertising for free? The Google Ad Grant program offers eligible nonprofits $10,000 in credits per month.

Send Email Newsletters

Email newsletters have the power to effortlessly convert your supporters into dedicated volunteers and generous donors, yielding an impressive return on investment of $36-$40 for every $1 spent. While signing up for an email list at an event is a breeze, ensuring your newsletters don't get lost in the email clutter is crucial. To craft impactful emails that resonate with your audience, focus on making them stand out and deliver genuine value. Here are some key strategies to consider:

Write an eye-catching headline

• Clearly articulate your needs
• Showcase your program’s impact
• Make a personal connection through testimonials and case studies
• End with a call to action

Collaborate with Local Businesses and Sponsors

Engaging with local businesses can significantly boost your volunteer recruitment efforts. Look for companies that offer corporate volunteer programs, volunteer time off (VTO) benefits, or volunteer grant programs. When reaching out, propose collaborative volunteering events, offer roles on event committees, or suggest new initiatives that align with both your organization's mission and the company's values. Additionally, consider involving your current corporate sponsors. Since they already contribute funds and auction items, they may be open to donating volunteer time as well.

Network with Local Government

Your nonprofit shares a common mission with local government officials: enhancing the well-being of your community. With their deep understanding of the needs of constituents, government officials can offer valuable guidance on government programs, civic groups, corporate sponsors, and potential donors.

  Connect with Community Organizations

Reach out to community organizations and civic groups that share your nonprofit’s values. You can find engaged, qualified volunteers, and you may even find valuable collaboration opportunities with the organizations themselves. Be flexible and connect with a broad variety of groups. Consider engaging with networking events, civic groups like Kiwanis International, religious organizations, community theaters, music ensembles, public libraries, sports teams, scouting organizations, and book clubs.

Tap Into Professional Organizations

Volunteering can play a critical role in professional development. Volunteer positions offer valuable upskilling experience, giving individuals the chance to hone transferrable skills like communication, collaboration, and organization, as well as networking. Also, many professionals are willing to donate their talents to a good cause. Connecting with local professional organizations can give you access to new volunteers, and it can also make it easier for you to find volunteers with specific skill sets.

  Reach Out To Schools

Students offer a wealth of potential for volunteer positions! Their enthusiasm for learning and giving back to their communities is unmatched. Whether they are fulfilling volunteer hour requirements, eager to enhance their resumes, or seeking to build professional connections, students are valuable assets to any volunteer program.

Engage with colleges, high schools, and even middle and elementary schools to explore opportunities for collaboration. Consider hosting events together, promoting your organization on campus, or being featured in a volunteer opportunity database. Partnering with educational institutions can open doors to a pool of motivated and dedicated student volunteers ready to make a difference.

Pitch a Local News Story

Partnering with local media can get your message out to a wide range of potential volunteers. Craft a strong narrative around your volunteer program and pitch the story to local TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, bloggers, and influencers. You can also consider talking to local media organizations about buying ad space; many will be willing to offer discounted rates to local nonprofits.

Host Info Sessions

Info sessions give potential volunteers a chance to get to know your organization better. They can be critical steps in the volunteer recruitment process, bridging the gap between hearing about the program and registering. Organize in-person and/or virtual info sessions hosted by your volunteer coordinator and current volunteers. During the session, outline:

• Your organization’s mission
• The types of volunteer positions available
• Application and screening procedures
• The training process
• Volunteer testimonials

Make sure you leave space at the end of the session for potential recruits to ask questions!

  Prioritize Accessibility

When you prioritize accessibility, you make it easier for more people to volunteer with your organization. Consider offering:

• Virtual volunteering opportunities
• Micro-volunteering (quick, one-time task) opportunities
• Flexible scheduling
• Wheelchair accessible spaces
• Extra training

Take Advantage of Volunteer Matching Sites

Utilize volunteer matching sites as valuable tools for connecting your organization with enthusiastic volunteers. These platforms streamline the recruitment process by eliminating the need to actively seek out volunteers or persuade individuals of the value of volunteering. Instead, you can concentrate on effectively communicating your organization's mission and specific needs to attract the right volunteers.

Popular volunteer matching websites include:

• DoSomething

Leverage Volunteer Management Software

Volunteer management software like VolunteerHub is a critical ally during every step of the volunteer experience, including volunteer recruitment. Volunteer management software allows you to make the most of your volunteer recruitment resources, saving you critical time, energy, and money.

VolunteerHub’s volunteer recruitment features include:

• A secure, centralized volunteer database with segmentation options
• Volunteer landing pages
• Volunteer groups
• Automated communication
• Registration
• Liability waivers

VolunteerHub provides a user-friendly platform to attract new volunteers and maintain the engagement of current volunteers. Its features encompass self-scheduling, tracking volunteer hours, offering rewards, and providing recognition, making it an essential resource for optimizing volunteer management.

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