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How to Add Volunteer Service On A Resume?

Volunteer experience shows character and relevant skills. Listing it clearly on your resume helps recruiters see your full background.

Where to Put Volunteer Work

You can list it in a dedicated "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement" section, or under Experience if you have little paid experience. Use the same format as paid roles: organization, role, dates, bullets.

What to Include

  • Organization name and your role (e.g., "Volunteer Tutor," "Board Member").
  • Dates (month/year or year).
  • 2–3 bullets with strong verbs and outcomes (e.g., "Tutored 10 students weekly," "Led fundraising event that raised $X").

When to Include It

Include volunteer work when it is relevant to the role (e.g., tutoring for education, fundraising for nonprofit) or when it fills a gap or shows leadership. For early career or sparse resumes, it can round out the page.

Example

Volunteer Tutor, [Organization], 2020–Present
• Tutored 10 students weekly in math and reading.
• Coordinated with school staff to align with curriculum.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where do I put volunteer work on my resume?
    In a "Volunteer Experience" or "Community Involvement" section, or under Experience if you have little paid experience. Use the same format as paid roles.
  • Should I list volunteer work on my resume?
    Yes, when it is relevant to the role or shows leadership and skills. It can fill gaps and round out early-career resumes.
  • How do I describe volunteer work on my resume?
    List organization, role, dates, and 2–3 bullets with strong verbs and outcomes. Treat it like paid experience.
  • Does volunteer work count as experience?
    Yes. List it like other experience. It shows skills and character and can be relevant to the role.