How to List Volunteer Experience on Your Resume
Why Volunteer Experience Matters on Your Resume
Volunteer work tells a story that paid experience often can't. It shows initiative, values, and the skills you choose to develop on your own time.
I've coached hundreds of professionals on positioning volunteer work, and I've seen it make the difference between callbacks and silence. Done right, volunteering strengthens your candidacy. Done wrong, it takes up valuable resume space without adding value.
Let's get it right. For comprehensive strategies on translating your experience, our ultimate experience translation guide covers the complete framework.
When to Include Volunteer Work
Include volunteer experience when it:
Examples of High-Value Volunteer Experience
Entry-level marketing candidate:
Social Media Manager (Volunteer) at local nonprofit—shows marketing skills without paid experience
Career changer to project management:
Event Coordinator (Volunteer) for charity fundraiser—demonstrates PM skills in new context
Senior professional showing leadership:
Board Member at industry association—shows strategic thinking beyond day job
Recent graduate:
Volunteer tutoring while in school—shows responsibility and communication skills
For a complete guide on structuring your resume effectively, understand how volunteer work fits the overall document.
Where to Position Volunteer Experience
You have several options depending on the relevance and substance of your volunteer work.
Option 1: Dedicated "Volunteer Experience" Section
Best for: Standard inclusion of volunteer work that complements but doesn't replace professional experience.
Placement: After Professional Experience, before or after Education
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Marketing Volunteer | Habitat for Humanity, Austin Chapter
January 2023 - Present
• Managed social media accounts growing follower base from 2,400 to 8,100
• Created email campaigns for 3 fundraising events, generating $45,000
• Designed promotional materials for annual Builders Gala
Option 2: Integrated with Professional Experience
Best for: Substantial volunteer roles that are highly relevant to your career goals, especially for career changers or entry-level candidates.
Placement: Within your main Experience section, in chronological order
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Event Coordinator (Volunteer) | American Cancer Society, Regional Chapter
March 2022 - December 2023
• Planned and executed annual Relay for Life event with 2,500 participants
• Managed team of 25 volunteers across logistics, sponsorship, and marketing
• Secured $180,000 in sponsorships, exceeding target by 20%
• Coordinated vendor relationships and site logistics for 3-day event
Option 3: Community Involvement or Leadership Section
Best for: Brief mentions, board positions, or when you want to show breadth of involvement without extensive detail.
Placement: Near the end, often combined with professional memberships
LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY
• Board Member, Austin Tech Alliance (2022 - Present)
• Volunteer Teacher, Code.org Hour of Code (2021 - Present)
• Mentor, Big Brothers Big Sisters (2020 - 2023)
How to Format Volunteer Entries
Follow the same format as professional experience for credibility.
Essential Elements
- Organization name (and chapter/location if relevant)
- Your role/title (add "(Volunteer)" if creating an entry in your Experience section)
- Dates of involvement (Month Year - Month Year or "Present")
- Location (optional but helpful)
- 2-4 bullet points describing your contributions and achievements
Example Format
Volunteer Title | Organization Name, Location
Dates of Involvement
• [Action verb] + [What you did] + [Quantified result or impact]
• [Action verb] + [What you did] + [Quantified result or impact]
• [Action verb] + [What you did] + [Quantified result or impact]
Writing Impactful Volunteer Bullet Points
Treat volunteer bullets with the same rigor as professional experience. Quantify whenever possible.
Transformation Examples
Before (weak):
Helped organize charity events
After (strong):
Coordinated 5 fundraising events raising $125,000 for childhood literacy programs, managing teams of 10-15 volunteers per event
Before (weak):
Volunteered at food bank
After (strong):
Led weekly volunteer team of 8, implementing inventory system that reduced food waste by 30% and increased distribution efficiency
Before (weak):
Did social media for nonprofit
After (strong):
Grew nonprofit's Instagram following from 1,200 to 6,800 through content strategy overhaul, increasing event attendance by 45%
What to Quantify
Transferable Skills from Volunteer Work
Connect your volunteer achievements to professional competencies employers seek.
Leadership
Project Management
Communication & Outreach
Technical Skills
Prepare to discuss these experiences with the same STAR method structure you use for paid roles.
Special Situations
Career Changers
If you're transitioning careers, volunteer work in your target field can be crucial. Feature it prominently—even integrating it with your professional experience.
Example for aspiring web developer:
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Web Developer (Volunteer) | Local Animal Shelter
June 2023 - Present
• Rebuilt organization website from scratch using React and Next.js
• Implemented pet adoption search feature increasing adoption inquiries by 35%
• Integrated payment system for donations, processing $15K monthly
Employment Gaps
Volunteer work during unemployment shows you stayed productive and developed skills.
Frame it positively:
During career transition, led marketing efforts for local nonprofit, applying digital marketing skills while exploring new industry directions.
Entry-Level Candidates
For students and recent graduates, volunteer experience can carry equal weight to internships.
Strong entry-level example:
EXPERIENCE
President | University Marketing Association (Student Organization)
August 2022 - May 2024
• Led 45-member organization coordinating industry speakers and workshops
• Managed $8,000 annual budget, increasing sponsorship revenue by 50%
• Organized networking events connecting 200+ students with local employers
Board Positions
Board service demonstrates strategic thinking and senior-level skills. Feature it appropriately.
LEADERSHIP
Board Member | Austin Nonprofit Alliance
2022 - Present
• Serve on Finance Committee overseeing $2M organizational budget
• Led strategic planning initiative defining 5-year growth roadmap
• Recruited 3 new board members expanding organization's network
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Tailoring Volunteer Experience for Different Jobs
Match your volunteer presentation to your target role:
For Corporate Roles
Emphasize:
- Professional skill development
- Measurable results
- Team leadership
- Budget management
For Nonprofit or Mission-Driven Roles
Emphasize:
- Passion for the cause
- Understanding of nonprofit operations
- Community connections
- Long-term commitment
For Creative Roles
Emphasize:
- Portfolio-worthy projects
- Creative problem-solving
- Campaign results
- Content you created
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I put volunteer experience on my resume?
Yes, if it demonstrates relevant skills, fills employment gaps, shows industry passion, or highlights leadership not found in paid roles. Skip it only if space is limited and the experience adds nothing relevant to your target role.
Where should volunteer work go on a resume?
Place volunteer work in a dedicated "Volunteer Experience" section after professional experience, or integrate it into your main experience section if it is highly relevant and substantial. Entry-level candidates can list it prominently near the top.
How do I format volunteer experience on my resume?
Format like professional experience: Organization name, your role/title, dates, location, and 2-4 bullet points describing accomplishments using action verbs and quantified results where possible.
Can volunteer work count as experience for entry-level jobs?
Absolutely. For entry-level roles, volunteer work demonstrating relevant skills (leadership, project management, technical skills) can be as valuable as paid experience. Present it with the same professionalism as paid roles.
How far back should I list volunteer experience?
Generally list volunteer work from the past 5-10 years if relevant. Exceptions: significant board positions, ongoing commitments, or experience highly relevant to your target role. Old, brief volunteer stints can be omitted.
Build a Resume That Showcases Your Full Story
Deep Dive: Describing Volunteer Impact
The most common mistake is underselling volunteer work. Let's look at how to maximize the impact of common volunteer roles.
Role: Event Volunteer
Weak: Helped with charity 5K run. Strong: Managed registration logistics for 1,500 runners, coordinating 30 volunteers to ensure zero delays at start time.
Role: Food Bank Volunteer
Weak: Sorted food donations. Strong: Organized 500+ lbs of weekly food donations, implementing a new sorting system that reduced spoilage by 15%.
Role: Mentor / Tutor
Weak: Tutored students in math. Strong: Mentored 5 underperforming students, creating customized lesson plans that resulted in a 20% average grade improvement in one semester.
Role: Board Member
Weak: Board member for local nonprofit. Strong: Advised on strategic direction for $100k budget nonprofit, leading initiative to diversify revenue streams through corporate partnerships.
Treat every volunteer hour as professional consulting time. What problem did you solve? What value did you add?
When you frame it this way, "free work" becomes "professional experience." You aren't just a helper; you are a problem solver who applies skills to generate impact, regardless of whether a paycheck was attached. That is exactly the mindset hiring managers want.
Final Thoughts
Volunteer experience adds depth to your professional story. It shows initiative, values, and often skills you've developed by choice rather than requirement.
Position it thoughtfully based on relevance. Format it professionally. Quantify your impact just like paid work.
The best candidates aren't just skilled—they're multidimensional. Let your volunteer work show who you are beyond the paycheck.
Turning Volunteer Work into Career Opportunities
Strategic volunteering can be a direct bridge to your next role.
Networking In Action
Volunteering puts you side-by-side with other professionals in a low-pressure environment. That person painted a wall with you today might be a hiring manager tomorrow.
Tip: optimized your LinkedIn profile to include your volunteer roles. Connect with fellow volunteers. It expands your network naturally based on shared values.
Skill De-Risking
Employers hesitate to hire for unproven skills. Volunteer work lowers that risk. If you've managed a budget for a nonprofit successfully, you've proven you can do it for a company.
Strategy: Identify the one "gap" in your resume (e.g., public speaking, team management) and find a volunteer role specifically to fill it. If you are an introvert wanting to prove leadership potential, volunteer to chair a committee. It's a low-risk environment to build high-value muscles.
Cultural Fit Signal
Companies increasingly value "culture add." Your volunteer choices signal your values and interests, helping you attract employers who align with them.
Authenticity Matters: Don't just volunteer for the resume boost. Pick causes you care about. Passion is impossible to fake and incredibly compelling in interviews.
Start listing your volunteer experience today. It's not just "extra" content—it's a core part of your professional narrative.
