Should I include the volunteer work on my resume?

What Volunteer Work to Include in a Resume?

• Answer:

  Even in an economy ripe with available jobs at all levels of the employment spectrum, an effective resume is a key in standing out among other job seekers. It stands to reason, then, that an effective resume in a down economy is all the more important. One method to employ in creating an effective resume is adding value to your existing professional experience; accomplish this through adding relevant volunteer work experience, thereby providing much-needed professional credibility, a segue into a new career path and also a filler for employment gaps. Include the Right Volunteer Work The University of California Santa Cruz states that volunteer work is in sum much the same as work experience and as such should be included on a resume. With equal regard to new graduates and those without significant professional work experience, highlighting volunteer work can serve as the equivalent of a paid position's credibility, according to ResumePower.com. Similarly, professionals in one career track looking to switch to another can find volunteer work in the specific career path they wish to enter as a way to bridge the gap from their existing professional experience into the professional experience they need to gain employment in a new profession or career, notes ResumePower.com. CharityGuide.org notes that "One way to capture the interest of an employer is to show that you are an involved citizen--someone who works to make the community a better place to live," and that adding volunteer work to a resume shows prospective employers that you do exactly that. However, in circumstances of limited experience and for professionals looking to embolden their existing work resumes, including volunteer work that may indicate certain personal affiliations or beliefs might hurt a job seeker's chance of landing a position due to an employer's reaction to the nature of the volunteer work. ResumePower.com, advises that more so than the mission or beliefs of an organization, job seekers should tout the skill sets they've learned by volunteering. Finally, job seekers should research the volunteer and philanthropic emphasis of each company to which they're applying, and choose to include volunteer work on their resumes and applications on an individual basis. This ensures that volunteer work that in one case could help land the job doesn't actually end up doing the exact opposite in another case, because of the implied belief or affiliation of the agency or organization for which the job seeker has volunteered.