Should I Include Volunteer Work on My Resume?

“It’s just volunteer work. You can leave it off of my resume. It doesn’t matter.” These are often statements that professionals sometimes make, but we encourage you to think critically about including your volunteer work on your resume.

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Should I Put Volunteer Work o Resume?

Relevant Work Experience

Numerous employers agree that volunteering can be a credible way of gaining actual work experience. In fact, as long as the volunteering work is relevant to the role or industry you aspire to become employed in, many employers believe that itโ€™s just as credible as paid work.

Transferrable Skills

But what if it’s not relevant? That all depends. If you can demonstrate transferable skills that would be desirable or a passion for community engagement that could support a company’s social footprint, then listing volunteer work of your resume is highly beneficial. As employers, career coaches, resume writers, and HR professionals, we work with a variety of professionals. Seeing volunteer work on resumes shows us that professionals are engaged in the community and are focused on a purpose beyond themselves. It also shows they have developed multiple beneficial skills such as leadership, commitment, teamwork, and the ability to pursue a vision.

As a volunteer, you are included in the 63 million people that help hold up the foundation of our civic society. You help your neighbors, serve in your community, and provide your expertise. The work you do is of incredible value to the staff, other volunteers, and those being served and should be celebrated. So should you include volunteer work on your resume? The answer is yes!

How to Put Volunteer Work on Resume?

If you need help showcasing volunteer work on your resume or have other questions regarding it, contact the professionals at M.Santiago Group! M.Santiago’s goal is to help people to meet their professional goals while giving back to the community Check out our resume packages to get started now!

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