Volunteering is something to be proud of. Selflessness and shaping the world around you takes time, energy, commitment, and care. You’re not doing it to show off, but to show others what it means to give back and pay it forward. You dedicate, donate, and do good. This doesn’t deserve to go unnoticed. Especially on your resume – the paper that lists out your life – from education to jobs to all the wonderful things you’ve accomplished. And that includes your volunteer work. But before you jumble up your resume with confusing details or leave off the best parts of your passions, here are some tips to list your volunteer work on your resume the right way.
What’s Appropriate for a Resume
If you’ve spent time volunteering, you appreciate the importance of everything you’ve done. But that doesn’t mean every last thing belongs on your resume. For instance, you may have helped out at soup kitchens for the past 10 holiday seasons. Listing out each and every one is not necessary. Make your “soup kitchen” efforts one solo entry and include the years you’ve volunteered doing so. Same goes for raising money for a similar cause year after year, collecting coats for the needy, caring for foster pets, and so on. While every experience was unique, detailing every moment is not what resumes are for. You can also leave off the volunteer work that wasn’t as impactful as others. For instance, a bake sale to raise money for the high school prom is not as monumental as rebuilding homes for those affected by a natural disaster. In all other cases, include all of your volunteer work on your resume, with the most recent events first, working your way back to when it all began.
Where to List on Your Volunteer Work on Your Resume
You can choose how you design your resume. If you want to lay out your life chronologically, place the volunteer work where it fell along the timeline. This could be between school and employment, between jobs, before you went to college, or someplace else. Or, you can split up your resume by sections – school, career, volunteering. Depending on the job you’re looking for, perhaps the volunteering should be front and center. Non-profits and schools may appreciate your volunteer work above all else.
Why Including Volunteer Work Has Its Perks
Employers love to learn more about their potential new hires. Being well-rounded has its rewards. Today’s hiring managers understand that it takes experience in many areas of life to be a great employee. So, don’t be shy about sharing your selflessness. It’s not looked upon as boasting or bragging. It’s a testament to what type of person you are and why you’re a valuable employee. With all else equal, the person with a core of compassion will be hired over another who has only focused on their own success.
Good luck writing your resume and continue the good work you do for others. For more help with resume writing, My Perfect Resume is a recommended site that can help you make the most of your many achievements.