Volunteer work absolutely belongs on a resume.
It can show relevant skills, fills an employment gap, or demonstrates initiative, volunteer experience can strengthen your application and help employers better understand your abilities.
Volunteering can also be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
You may choose causes that matter to you while gaining new skills or applying existing ones in different ways.
This can show employers that you are engaged, proactive, and willing to contribute beyond paid work.
However, there is more to listing volunteer work on your resume than meets the eye. In this guide, we explore:
- How, when, and where to list volunteer work on your resume
- Why volunteer experience on a resume can be impactful
- How to show proof of volunteering on your resume
- Why volunteering on a resume should always be reported truthfully
Volunteering is a valid part of anyone's career story.
Just because you were not paid does not mean the experience did not contribute to your professional development.
Should you include volunteer work on your resume?
Yes, you should include volunteer work on your resume when it adds value to your application.
Volunteer experience can demonstrate relevant skills, show initiative, explain employment gaps, or strengthen a resume with limited professional experience.
When presented clearly, it can highlight qualities that employers value such as teamwork, leadership, and community involvement.
Decision table
| Situation | Should you include volunteer work? |
|---|---|
| Student or recent graduate | Yes, it can help show transferable skills and initiative |
| Career change | Yes, especially if it demonstrates relevant abilities |
| Employment gap | Yes, it helps show productive use of time |
| Limited work experience | Yes, it strengthens your experience section |
| One-time or very short volunteer role | Usually no unless it demonstrates a valuable skill |
| Volunteer work from many years ago | Only include it if it remains relevant |
Whether volunteer work belongs on your resume depends largely on how relevant it is to the job you are pursuing.
When it demonstrates skills or responsibilities that connect to the role, it can strengthen your overall application and provide useful context for employers reviewing your experience.
How do you list volunteer work on a resume?
Volunteer work can be listed on a resume either in your work experience section or in a dedicated volunteer experience section, depending on how relevant it is to the job.
Format the role the same way you would a paid position by including the organization, your role, dates, and key accomplishments.
Volunteer experience can be especially useful if you have employment gaps in your resume, limited professional experience, or are changing careers.
When it highlights relevant skills or responsibilities, it can strengthen your resume and show employers that you are proactive and engaged.
Can volunteer work count as work experience on a resume?
Yes. Volunteer work can be included in your employment history section when it demonstrates relevant responsibilities or skills.
Even though it is unpaid, it can still show employers that you have practical experience and initiative.
You may list volunteer work in your work experience section if:
- It is directly relevant to the job you are applying for
- You have little or no paid work experience
If you spent a significant amount of time volunteering, you can format it the same way as a job entry by including the organization, your role, dates, and key achievements.
Just make sure the position is clearly labeled as a volunteer role.
If you have several volunteer roles that are not directly related to your career, consider placing them in a separate Volunteer Experience section instead.
Where to list job-related volunteer work on your resume
If a volunteer role is relevant to your job search, you can include it directly in your employment history section.
Format it the same way you would a paid position by listing the organization, your role, dates, and key accomplishments.
Here is an example of how volunteer experience might appear in a resume work history section.
Fundraising experience example
Volunteer Fundraiser, Citizens for a Cause, New York, New York, May 2013-June 2015
- Planned, coordinated, and carried out all fundraising events relating to diabetes awareness and Alzheimer's prevention, boosting attendance rates by 30% on average and contributions by 24%.
- Hosted several successful fundraising events including an art auction, wine tasting event, and holiday concert, generating over $12,000 in revenue for multiple causes.
How to list unrelated volunteer experience on a resume
If your volunteer work is not directly related to the job you are applying for, you can list it in a separate Volunteer Experience or Community Involvement section.
This allows you to highlight your commitment to your community without distracting from your most relevant professional experience.
Here is an example of a separate resume section for volunteer work unrelated to the job you are seeking.
Community service can be listed the same way as volunteer work, usually in a dedicated section toward the end of your resume.
Example
Volunteer Experience
- Volunteer two days a week with the Fuel for School breakfast program for neighborhood elementary school students in need.
- Help organize monthly trivia nights as an outreach committee member at Creekside Community Church.
- Assist with intake and post-op recovery of dogs and cats at the local animal shelter’s low-cost spay and neuter clinic every two months.
How far back should you list volunteer work on a resume?
Only include volunteer roles that are recent and relevant to the job you are applying for.
In most cases, resume experts recommend focusing on experience from the past five to ten years.
Older volunteer work can still be included if it directly relates to your target role or demonstrates valuable skills.
If you have limited work experience, volunteer roles may play a larger role on your resume and can help strengthen your experience section.
Can I lie about volunteer work on a resume?
No. You should never misrepresent volunteer work on your resume.
Employers may verify experience during background checks or reference calls, and false information can damage your credibility or even lead to termination if discovered later.
Volunteer experience should always be presented honestly and clearly labeled as unpaid work.
Even when the role was informal, describing the responsibilities accurately will help employers understand the real skills you developed.
Can volunteer work help when changing careers?
Absolutely. Volunteer work can be especially valuable when you are changing careers.
It allows you to demonstrate relevant skills and responsibilities in a new field, even if your previous paid work experience is in a different industry.
Employers want to see that you can perform the tasks required for the role.
If your volunteer work involves similar duties, you can include it in your employment history or create a dedicated volunteer section to highlight that experience.
Volunteer experience can also help explain employment gaps.
If you were volunteering while between jobs, listing that work in your employment history can show that you remained active and continued developing skills during that time.
Example of volunteer experience used to fill an employment gap
Here is an example of how volunteer experience can appear in a resume when it helps explain an employment gap.
Teacher Assistant, Rhinebeck Elementary School, Rhinbeck, NY, September 2021 to present
- Help 24 4th-grade students to reach their targets in reading and mathematics.
- Ensure that the classrooms are prepared one hour before the lesson starts
- Deal with challenging behavior by trying to get to the root of the student’s issues to allow for a harmonious environment.
Volunteer, Children's Art Council, Rhinebeck, NY, March 2018 to August 2021
- Helped plan and promote art classes for youth in the Rhinebeck community.
- Interviewed and recruited art teachers and trained them in facility protocol.
- Researched and planned art curricula for the year.
Illustrator, Drawn to It Creative Services, Rhinebeck, NY, August 2017 to February 2018
- Created 10+ designs monthly using Adobe Creative Cloud and Photoshop.
- Ensured images met the appropriate print and web standards.
- Updated and managed image library of 1000+ content pieces.
Can volunteer work appear in your resume summary or skills section?
Yes. Volunteer experience can also appear in your resume summary or skills section, especially when it highlights valuable abilities or expertise.
Mentioning it briefly in your summary can help explain your background, while specific skills gained through volunteering can strengthen your skills list.
Dedicated, licensed clinical social worker and case manager with 7+ years of experience in both residential and care home settings, collaborating with nursing teams to coordinate 150+ personal treatment plans.
Deep understanding of the needs of dementia patients and caregivers has been reinforced while volunteering as a family support group coordinator and workshop leader with the University of Michigan's Dementia Education Project.
Volunteer work can also contribute valuable skills to your resume.
If you developed abilities through volunteering that support your target role, include them in your skills section just as you would skills gained through paid work.
Examples might include:
- Sign Language for Children of Deaf Adults
- Mentorship of Immigrant High School Students
- Website Creation for a Nonprofit with No Budget
How can you show proof of volunteer work on a resume?
Sometimes employers may ask for proof of the volunteer experience listed on your resume.
Because volunteer roles do not always include formal contracts, you can request a volunteer verification letter from the organization where you served.
A volunteer verification letter confirms your role, the organization, and the time period you volunteered.
If needed, you can draft the letter yourself and ask a volunteer coordinator or supervisor to review and sign it.
Keeping contact information for volunteer supervisors or coordinators can make it easier to confirm your experience if an employer requests verification.
What is an example of volunteer experience on a resume?
Volunteer work can appear alongside paid experience on a resume when it demonstrates relevant responsibilities and achievements.
When formatted clearly, it can strengthen your overall experience and help present you as a well-rounded candidate.
Below is an example of how a resume might combine employment and volunteer experience.
Summary
Dedicated and energetic Digital Marketing Specialist with over six years of experience creating compelling multimedia web platforms, including actionable content for a nonprofit group. A passion for detail-oriented and creative writing, geared to specific target audiences. Accustomed to high levels of responsibility - sometimes with budget constraints - and collaborating with others outside the sphere of marketing. Passionate about delivering entertaining and captivating content with an unobstructed path toward achievement.
Employment history
April. 2021 - Present
Web Content Assistant, Growing Seasons Quarterly, Columbus, Ohio
- Assist content marketing associates with all administrative duties associated with the e-magazine, website, and social media platforms - YouTube, Facebook Instagram and Pinterest.
- Contributed to brainstorming sessions for the concept, design, and creation of new digital content, notably guest gardener blog with 20,000+ followers within a month.
- Researched and helped draft engaging news and feature content.
- Collaborated with the web content associate in providing feedback from followers
Digital Marketing experience
March 2017 - December 2020
HopeFull Food Bank, Columbus Ohio
- Held a volunteer position as marketing coordinator for the food bank, alongside its transition from serving 125 to 250 food hampers weekly, partly during the pandemic lockdown.
- Collaborated with a volunteer web designer to update a basic WordPress site with limited content to 140+ pages, including four blogs and feature content.
- Created and managed online ads to publicize regular fundraising and volunteer drives, plus special events.
- Worked with 15+ team members to produce creative, compelling content that resonated with community leaders, news media, and potential donors and volunteers.
Volunteer experience
January 2008 - Present
Katonah Community Shepherds
- Mentor high school students navigating as they embark on their search for a college and the application stages.
Skills
- Research and evaluation
- Understanding of teen interests and concerns
- Fundraising promotion
- Community and stakeholder communication
Why list volunteer work on your resume?
Including volunteer work on your resume can strengthen your job application when it highlights relevant skills, initiative, or community involvement.
Even if the experience is unpaid, it can still demonstrate valuable abilities and help employers better understand your background.
- Demonstrate that you are community-minded and collaborative
- Explain employment gaps with meaningful activity
- Highlight skills that may not appear in your paid work history
- Show genuine interest in a new career direction
- Include volunteer work that is relevant to the role or organization
- Treat volunteer roles like jobs and highlight the skills you developed
- Include one-day volunteer activities that did not involve meaningful responsibility
- Forget to tailor your volunteer descriptions with keywords from the job listing
It is easy to list volunteer work on your resume when you use one of our resume templates.
You might be surprised at just how easy and intuitive it is to create a powerful and inspirational resume.
Key takeaways
- Volunteer work can strengthen a resume by highlighting skills, initiative, and community involvement.
- You can list volunteer experience in your work history, a dedicated volunteer section, or briefly in your summary or skills section.
- Volunteer roles are especially valuable for students, career changers, and people with employment gaps.
- Format volunteer experience like a job entry by including the organization, role, dates, and achievements.
- Only include volunteer work that is recent, relevant, or demonstrates useful skills.
FAQs on listing volunteering experience
If you are unsure whether volunteer experience belongs on your resume, these common questions can help clarify when and how to include it.
Does volunteer work look good on a resume?
Yes, volunteer work can look very good on a resume when it demonstrates relevant skills, initiative, or community involvement.
It can strengthen your application by showing leadership, teamwork, or practical experience, especially if you have limited paid work history.
Do employers care about volunteer work?
Many employers value volunteer work because it shows initiative, responsibility, and a willingness to contribute beyond paid employment.
Volunteer experience can also demonstrate transferable skills and help employers understand your interests and character.
Do jobs verify volunteer work?
Some employers may verify volunteer work, especially during reference checks or background verification.
If asked, you may need to provide contact information for a volunteer coordinator or a verification letter from the organization.
What is another way to say volunteer work on a resume?
Volunteer work can also be described as community involvement, community service, or pro bono experience depending on the context.
On a resume, these terms are often used as section headings to group unpaid work that demonstrates relevant skills or contributions.
