{"id":24862,"date":"2024-05-20T16:39:54","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T06:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/?p=24862"},"modified":"2024-10-28T14:32:58","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T03:32:58","slug":"supercharge-your-resume-with-volunteer-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/supercharge-your-resume-with-volunteer-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercharge Your Resume With Volunteer Experience!"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Volunteering Can Transform Your Resume<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When taking the first steps towards your dream job, it can be tricky trying to pull together a resume. After all, we all start out with no experience, right?<\/p>\n

To curate a resume that\u2019s padded with impressive skills and practical know-how, you\u2019ll need a starting point, and there\u2019s no better initiation than a volunteer job! Unlike career-ish paid positions, volunteering roles don\u2019t usually require any experience, which means you can get started today!<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, future employers love <\/em>to see volunteer experience on your resume. A.K.A., by picking up a volunteer job today, you\u2019ll be better positioned to land a career tomorrow.<\/p>\n

What is <\/em>a Volunteer Job?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Technically, volunteer experience refers to any unpaid work that you\u2019ve chosen to undertake, but truthfully, it\u2019s so much more than that! By donating your time to a good cause, you\u2019ll be showing the hiring manager that you value community and responsibility, and that you don\u2019t shy away from a bit of hard work.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, you\u2019ll be giving back to those who need it while gaining valuable volunteering experience; how good is that?<\/p>\n

Why Should Students Volunteer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Answering this question is tricky, only because there are so many good reasons to volunteer! To get you started, we\u2019ve put together a list of our favourites. However, be sure to note that this is not exhaustive; the pros of gaining some volunteering experience for your resume are truly endless!<\/p>\n

1. Volunteering Makes You Incredibly<\/em> Hireable!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Don\u2019t just take our word for it; ask the pros. In a super-academic study<\/a> done by the Centre for Economic and Policy Research, they figured out that those who volunteer were way more likely to land a job (and get paid more, too)!<\/p>\n

The value of volunteering isn\u2019t a passing trend. Hiring managers have loved seeing volunteer experience on resumes for a very, very <\/em>long time. Just check out this New York Times Article<\/a> from back in 2011. According to their team, people working in tech, marketing, design, communications, event planning and consultant work reap some pretty impressive rewards from volunteering. The best part? You can too!<\/p>\n

2. Volunteering Helps You Network with Pros<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A possible reason that people with volunteering experience keep getting hired is their exposure to industry pros with similar interests. When you\u2019re starting out in your career journey, opportunities to network can be pretty limited. After all, your high school and university circles are likely made up of other job hunters.<\/p>\n

When volunteering, you get to meet potential employers, references, colleagues, mentors and business partners. You know the saying \u201cit\u2019s all about who you know\u201d? It might not be totally fair, but it\u2019s pretty accurate, so you better get networking!<\/p>\n

3. Volunteering Teaches You Valuable New Skills<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Volunteering is a fantastic way to learn new processes and vastly expand your skill set. Many of the tasks you\u2019ll be doing for a non-profit are the same ones you might be asked to take on in a professional paid environment. Take this opportunity to learn as much as you can; your future self will thank you for it!<\/p>\n

Some of the most valuable (and highly transferrable) skills that you\u2019ll get through volunteering are time management, leadership, communication and teamwork. So, make sure you\u2019re making the most of it.<\/p>\n

4. Volunteering Helps You Figure Out Your Future<\/strong><\/h4>\n

By diving into all the opportunities on offer in volunteering environments, it\u2019s a whole lot easier to get an idea of what you\u2019ll want to be doing in the long run! It can be especially helpful if you land a volunteer position in an industry you\u2019re interested in joining, as it\u2019ll allow you to get a feel for it.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019re not set on any particular industry, volunteering in a few different environments can help you narrow your passions down. Essentially, volunteer experience will help you figure things out, regardless of where you\u2019re at in your career planning journey!<\/p>\n

5. Volunteering Looks Great<\/em> On Your Resume<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Last, but by no means least, volunteering looks incredible on your resume (and hiring managers eat. it. up). By including volunteering in your CV, it shows employers your skills and experience, communicates your values and passions, and suggests that you\u2019re the type of candidate to take initiative!<\/p>\n

That being said, it\u2019s important to include it on your resume in the right<\/em> way. You have to know what type of work to add, and where to include it, too. This might seem a little daunting if you\u2019re new to job applications but don\u2019t worry; we\u2019re here to help!\"Female<\/p>\n

How Do I Include Volunteer Experience In My Resume?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There\u2019s a common misconception that volunteer work isn\u2019t really<\/em> real-world experience. While paid positions are a little bit different to work experience, you\u2019ll likely be taking on the same kind of jobs, so it\u2019s definitely <\/em>relevant!<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re ready to add volunteering to your resume, you can do so in a couple of different ways, depending on the role and your other experiences. For example, you could write about it in your personal statement or put it under professional experience. However, our favourite method it to create a whole dedicated section for it.<\/p>\n

Resume Example<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re not sure how to do so, feel free to steal our example and fill it with your own details:<\/p>\n

\n

Volunteer Experience<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Explore Careers<\/em> | August 2022 – December 2023<\/p>\n

Student Engagement Volunteer<\/p>\n