How to Add Volunteer Experience on a Resume

If you're job hunting, every line on your resume needs to pull its weight. Volunteer experience on a resume can fill employment gaps, show off real skills, or help you shift careers without starting from zero.

It works especially well if:

• You’ve been out of work and want to stay relevant

• You’re changing fields and need proof of transferable skills

• You’re a student or recent grad without much job history

Employers don’t care if you got paid; they care if you can do the work. Volunteer roles can show leadership, problem-solving, tech skills, and people skills, skills that match the job you want.

What volunteer experience to put on a resume

Not all volunteer work belongs on your resume. Focus on what shows real, relevant skills that hiring managers care about. The best volunteer experience to put on a resume is the kind that proves you’re the best candidate for an open position.

Meaning, you can include things like:

• You used professional or technical skills (writing, accounting, social media, project management, etc.)

• You led people, managed a project, or handled a budget

• You built something, fixed something, organized something, or improved something

Even informal roles count, as long as the work is real and the results are clear.

Avoid listing:

• Volunteer work with no connection to the job you want

• Anything from more than 10 years ago (unless it’s highly relevant)

• Roles where your contribution wasn’t clear or measurable

If the experience shows you’ve got what the job needs, it’s worth including.

Where to include volunteer work on a resume

There are a few different places you can include volunteer experience on your resume. The placement will depend on what the rest of your professional experience looks like and your current job goals.  

Here are three common ways to add volunteer work to your resume:

1. Professional Experience section

Use this only if:

• The volunteer work is directly related to the job you want

• You had real responsibilities and clear results

• You’re using it to cover a gap or show relevant skills

Example:

Marketing Coordinator (Volunteer) | Jan 2023–Present

Community Arts Collective, Boston, MA

• Built and managed social media calendar across 3 platforms

• Increased Instagram engagement by 45% in six months

• Led rebrand project, working with two freelance designers

2. Separate "Volunteer Experience" section

This works well if:

• The volunteer work shows good transferable skills

• It doesn’t quite fit under your work history

• You’re already employed but want to show extra experience

Label it like this:

Volunteer Experience | Mentor

Girls Who Code, Remote | 2022–Present

• Host weekly coding sessions for high school students

• Support new members through one-on-one mentoring

3. End of resume (after Education or Skills)

Use this if:

• The volunteer work isn’t central but still worth showing

• You just want to round out your profile

Example:

Additional Volunteer Work

• Food Bank Volunteer, Feeding America (2021–2022)

• Beach Cleanup Organizer, Surfrider Foundation (2020)

Don’t try to hide unpaid work, just be clear. Add “Volunteer” in the job title if needed. The work still counts.

How to list volunteer experience on a resume

Volunteer experience should follow the same format as any other job on your resume. After all, it’s real work – you just didn’t get paid for it. 

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1. Use a clear job title

Pick a title that reflects what you actually did. If there’s no official title, create one; just make sure it’s honest and understandable. Add “(Volunteer)” if needed.

Example: "Social Media Manager (Volunteer)" or "Fundraising Assistant"

2. Add the organization name and dates

Use the full name of the nonprofit or group. Include your start and end dates, or just the years if space is tight.

Example: Habitat for Humanity, March 2022 – Present

3. Write 2-4 bullet points for what you did

Keep it short, but specific. Focus on results. Show the value you added. Start each bullet with an action verb.

Example:

• Trained 20+ volunteers on safety procedures

• Raised $8,000 through monthly donation drives

• Managed inventory for weekly builds

4. Match the tone and structure of your paid work experience

No matter where you place volunteer work on a resume, be sure to write using the same format you would for a regular job. Use the organization name, your title, dates, and a few bullet points showing off your achievements.

Tips for listing volunteer experience on your resume

Have you heard of the 6-second rule? Your resume has to make an impression in a few short moments. So, it’s critical that you keep any volunteer experience you add to your resume short, relevant, and easy to read. 

Here are a few tips to make sure you’re getting it right:

1. Match the job posting

Use keywords from the job description whenever they apply to your volunteer work. That helps with both human readers and applicant tracking systems (ATS).

2. Focus on results, not duties

Don’t just list tasks. Show what you accomplished. Numbers help.

Example: 

• “Managed a team of five” is stronger than “Helped with event setup.”

3. Keep it recent and relevant

Aim to include volunteer experience from the last 5-10 years, especially if it supports your job goals. Drop anything outdated or off-topic.

4. Don’t over-explain

Volunteer experience is valid. You don’t need to justify it! Just present it cleanly, like any other work experience.

5. Label it clearly

If you’re worried about how a hiring manager will see unpaid work, just add “(Volunteer)” to the job title. It keeps things honest without underselling your role.

Common mistakes to avoid when adding volunteer experience on a resume

You may have gained the best skills and really relevant knowledge during your volunteer work. However, if you don’t list it correctly on your resume, it’ll fall flat. 

Here’s what NOT to do:

• Burying it in a long paragraph. Instead, use bullets.

• Using vague titles like “Helper.” Choose something specific.

• Listing unrelated or outdated volunteer work.

• Leaving off dates or locations. That just raises more questions about your qualifications.

• Repeating the same volunteer role across different resumes without tailoring it to the job.

Make your volunteer experience work for you

You don’t need a paycheck to prove your value. If your volunteer experience shows skills that matter to employers, it belongs on your resume. List it right, tie it to what hiring managers are looking for, and make every line work for you.

Need help positioning your volunteer experience on your resume? Let a TopResume pro help!

This article was originally written by Amanda Augustine. It’s been updated by Danielle Elmers and rewritten by Marsha Hebert.