Everyone loves a volunteer

Have you ever wondered why employers care if you have volunteer experience on your resume? Volunteer experience shows that you are not afraid to selflessly lend your time to help others in need or those less fortunate. When you volunteer it shows that you are also very well rounded and you are not all about work. I have told so many clients that it doesn’t matter how high your GPA is, how much experience you have, if you don’t volunteer experience, the other applicant who may have less experience, but have volunteer experience will most likely get hired over you. It is also good to include volunteering experience on your resume because some times your previous paid work experience might not be relevant to the position you are applying for, but your volunteering experience does.

Volunteering experience can also help you if you are a new graduate or a junior candidate entering the market. While you are applying you can volunteer your time to show that you have still remained active in the community. It would be even more beneficial if you were able to volunteer in a field that related to your professional goals or career. If you were someone who was laid off or had to take a career break, volunteer experience can help bridge the gap between your previous activity in the market to now on your resume.

If you haven’t started volunteering, now’s as great time to begin. There is no specific kind of volunteering needed or no specific length of time. Some places let you volunteer for 2-3 hours a week on an ongoing basis or for over a period of 2-3 months. Pick the type of volunteering activity that works for you. Also, it is a plus if you can find something that will help you later on in your career. If it so happens that it doesn’t relate, do it any way. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and giving back to the community. In addition, it looks awesome on a resume. Everyone loves a volunteer.