Work search tools

Listing volunteer experience on your résumé

You may question whether to include volunteer experience on your résumé. Where should you list it?

In the past, employers have tended to undervalue volunteer experience and job seekers have also dismissed volunteer experience as unrelated or irrelevant to their job search because they "didn't get paid". By omtting or under-rating volunteer experience, job seekers fail to seize the opportunity to play up leadership and interpersonal skills—prerequisites to many positions.

In today's market, however, volunteer experience is seen in a new light. In developing your cover letter and résumé, your goal is to convince a recruiter that you have the skills and personal qualities to contribute positively to his or her organization. You want to land an interview. Volunteer experiences, therefore, may include some of your most relevant experiences. As such, why would you omit it from your résumé or place it at the very end? It's not uncommon now for job seekers to combine paid and unpaid experience in a résumé.

Consider the following examples. Which impresses you more? Which one supplies vital information, allowing you to assess the applicant's skills and suitability?

Applicant A (found at bottom of second page of résumé)

Applicant B (found on first page of résumé)

Recreational volleyball Toastmasters International (VP Public Relations 2004/2005) SafeWalk

Represented women's volleyball team in recreational community league. Developed team rosters and play schedules. Assisted with player and team registrations. Successfully negotiated gym use with Public School Board and YWCA. Held office of Vice-President Public Relations for Toastmasters Club 123 during 2004–2005. Completed officer training and acquired significant leadership skills. Prepared new member packages. Developed and implemented ad campaigns for major newspapers, community newsletters, campus newsletters and radio stations. Served on SafeWalk Advisory Team during 2003–2004. Assisted in the recruitment of new volunteers. Assisted in preparation and implementation of volunteer training programs. Assisted in preparation of budget and financial reports.