Is volunteer experience included in a resume?

Volunteering in Canada is very prestigious and popular. Of course, the desire to help the community should come first. But volunteering has another very big advantage. Volunteer experience can and should be included in your resume, as it can significantly increase your competitiveness in the labor market.

Why should you include volunteer experience on your resume?

There are many reasons to add volunteer experience to your resume:

  1. It is an indicator of social responsibility. Volunteering demonstrates your willingness to help others and participate in community development. It shows your responsibility and active life position.
  2. While volunteering, you acquire new skills or improve existing ones, such as project management, teamwork, communication skills, leadership, etc. This is important for employers who are looking for candidates with valuable diverse experience.
  3. If you have limited professional experience, volunteering will fill in the gaps in your resume. It will prove that you have been actively spending time developing your skills and gaining new experience.
  4. Volunteering shows your initiative and willingness to learn. This is especially important for young professionals or those who are changing careers.
  5. Volunteering allows you to expand your professional network. The contacts you make while volunteering can be useful in your job search or career development.
  6. Many companies value employees who share their values. Volunteer experience will demonstrate your alignment with the company's corporate culture.

How to include volunteer experience in your resume

If you have volunteer experience, try to describe it in an attractive way on your resume:

  • Put in a separate section “Volunteer experience” if you have a lot of experience in different organizations. You can also include it in the “Work Experience” section.
  • Include not only the name of the organization and the period of volunteering, but also the specific achievements, responsibilities, and skills you have acquired.
  • Use the same format as for your professional experience to make your resume look uniform and professional.
  • Emphasize those aspects of your volunteer experience that are most relevant to the requirements of a particular job.

Volunteer experience will be a strong argument in your favor when looking for a job if you present it properly on your resume.