Leverage Volunteer Work on Your Resume

"Volunteer work, whether in addition to a current job or an activity in between jobs, shows an employer that you are willing to try new experiences, be involved in your community and generally demonstrates a willingness to take initiative and make things happen.

So how do you leverage these positive traits on your resume? The best way to format your volunteer work depends on your career level and track. Follow these tips:

New Grads

Entry-level workers with minimal or no work experience should emphasize their volunteer work -- even make volunteerism a central part of the resume.

"Many recent college grads do not have that much work experience, so highlighting -- in a skills-oriented way -- their volunteer experiences is a great way to go. "You can highlight communication, leadership and planning skills while showing that they are adaptable and self-motivated."

You can incorporate volunteer work in the regular experience section if you have little or no paid work history. Treat the experience as if it were a paid job -- list the organization's name, location, your functional title, dates and accomplishments. Be sure to indicate your volunteer status in the description or next to the title.

Career Changers and Workers Reentering the Workforce

It should be clear you're listing volunteer experience and not paid employment. "It doesn't minimize your skills in any way, but it does indicate that you value good communication and are not in any way trying to misrepresent yourself.

Those on a Steady Career Track

"When seeking new employment, you shouldn't overemphasize volunteer experience at the sake of directly relevant career experience," says Willett. "Simply stating volunteer organization name and date may be entirely appropriate." He advises against listing every organization you have volunteered with for the past 15 years -- rather, focus on the most recent ones.

Too Much Information?

If you've volunteered with organizations that would reveal information you wouldn't want a prospective employer to know, consider leaving them off your resume. 

Target the Employer

Willett recommends researching the employer to discover how much emphasis it places on community and philanthropy. "Your volunteer section should mirror the results of your research and be modified to suit the background of the company you are interested in," he says.

If the place that you are applying to works within a specific issue or cause, it could be beneficial to highlight similar organizations you have volunteered with to show that you are familiar with the issue area or to display a long-term/ growing interest for a particular cause.

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