Resume Tips: Showcasing Volunteer Work to Boost Your CV

Table of Contents

• Why Volunteer Work Matters on Your Resume
• When to Include Volunteer Work
• How to Showcase Volunteer Work Effectively
• Resume Example with Volunteer Work
• Optimize Volunteer Work for ATS
• Formatting Tips for a Professional CV
• Use HireFlow Tools to Perfect Your CV
• Get Started with Your Volunteer-Enhanced CV

Why Volunteer Work Matters on Your Resume

Volunteer work can be a game-changer for your resume, especially in a competitive job market. In 2025, with 23,763 monthly searches for “resume checker,” job seekers are looking for ways to differentiate themselves. Volunteer experience showcases skills like leadership, teamwork, and initiative—qualities employers value across industries. Plus, 82% of hiring managers view volunteer work as a sign of a well-rounded candidate (Deloitte).

Whether you organized a community event or mentored students, volunteer work demonstrates your commitment and transferable skills. It’s particularly valuable for:

• Recent Graduates: Fills gaps in professional experience.
• Career Changers: Highlights transferable skills for new industries.
• Professionals with Gaps: Shows ongoing engagement during employment breaks.

Let’s dive into how to make your volunteer work shine on your CV.

When to Include Volunteer Work

Not every volunteer experience belongs on your resume. Focus on roles that align with your career goals or demonstrate relevant skills. Here’s when to include volunteer work:

• Relevance to the Job: Include roles that mirror job requirements, like event planning for a marketing role.
• Recent Experience: Prioritize volunteer work from the last 5-10 years to show current skills.
• Significant Impact: Highlight roles with measurable outcomes, like “Raised $10K for a charity event.”
• Skill Development: Showcase skills like “project management” or “public speaking” that transfer to the workplace.

For example, if applying for a nonprofit management role, include volunteer work like “Coordinated fundraising campaigns,” but skip unrelated tasks like one-off event setup.

How to Showcase Volunteer Work Effectively

To make your volunteer work stand out, present it professionally and align it with the job. Here are key strategies:

1. Choose the Right Placement

Where you list volunteer work depends on your experience level:

• Entry-Level or Recent Graduates: Include volunteer work in the “Experience” section if it’s substantial.
• Experienced Professionals: Create a separate “Volunteer Experience” section to complement paid roles.
• Career Changers: Highlight volunteer work in a “Skills” or “Projects” section to emphasize transferable skills.

2. Use Action Verbs and Metrics

Describe volunteer work with strong action verbs like “organized,” “led,” or “developed” and quantify results. For example, “Led a team of 10 volunteers to organize a charity event, raising $15K” is more impactful than “Helped with event planning.”

3. Align with Job Requirements

Tailor your volunteer descriptions to match the job’s needs. For a marketing role, emphasize “Developed social media campaigns for a nonprofit, increasing engagement by 20%.”

These strategies ensure your volunteer work adds value and catches recruiters’ eyes.

Resume Example with Volunteer Work

Here’s a sample resume for a marketing coordinator role, showcasing volunteer work in a way that’s ATS-friendly and recruiter-ready:

Sample Marketing Coordinator Resume

Professional Summary: Creative marketing coordinator with 3+ years of experience in digital campaigns and event promotion. Leveraged volunteer work to boost nonprofit engagement by 25% through social media strategies.

Skills:

• Social Media Marketing
• Event Planning
• Content Creation
• SEO Optimization

Work Experience:

• Marketing Assistant, Brand Co. (2023–2025): Developed email campaigns, increasing open rates by 15%.
• Freelance Marketer (2022–2023): Created content for startups, driving 10K+ website visits.

Volunteer Experience:

• Marketing Volunteer, Local Nonprofit (2022–2024): Designed social media campaigns, growing followers by 5K and boosting event attendance by 20%.
• Event Coordinator Volunteer, Community Fund (2021–2022): Organized annual fundraiser, raising $12K for local charities.

This hybrid resume format integrates volunteer work in a dedicated section, using keywords like “social media marketing” and metrics to align with the job.

Optimize Volunteer Work for ATS

To ensure your volunteer work helps your resume pass ATS filters, focus on keywords and formatting. ATS systems reject 63% of resumes due to poor keyword alignment (Jobscan). Here’s how to optimize:

Steps to Make Volunteer Work ATS-Friendly

1. Match Job Keywords: Use terms like “event planning” or “team leadership” from the job description.
2. Use Standard Headings: Label sections as “Volunteer Experience” or “Experience” to ensure ATS recognition.
3. Avoid Graphics: Skip images or complex layouts that ATS can’t parse.
4. Test with Tools: Use HireFlow’s free ATS Resume Checker to verify a 70%+ ATS score.

For example, instead of “Helped at a charity event,” write “Coordinated charity event logistics, enhancing community engagement by 15%” to include keywords and impact.

Formatting Tips for a Professional CV

A well-formatted resume ensures your volunteer work is presented professionally. Follow these tips:

• Use Clean Fonts: Stick to Arial or Calibri (10-12 pt for body, 14-16 pt for headings) for ATS compatibility.
• Keep It Concise: Aim for a one-page resume, including volunteer work only if relevant.
• Use Bullet Points: List volunteer achievements in 3-5 bullets per role for clarity.
• Optimize White Space: Set 0.5-0.75 inch margins and single spacing for a balanced look.
• Save as PDF: Use a text-based PDF or DOCX to ensure ATS readability.

A clean, single-column layout makes your resume easy to skim in the 6-8 seconds recruiters spend reviewing it.

Use HireFlow Tools to Perfect Your CV

Showcasing volunteer work is easier with HireFlow’s tools, designed to create ATS-friendly, recruiter-ready resumes:

• Free ATS Resume Checker: Analyze your CV for keywords and formatting at jobs.hireflow.net.
• Resume Builder: Access $2.99 templates that highlight volunteer experience effectively.
• AI Cover Letter Generator: Create a tailored cover letter to complement your volunteer-enhanced resume.

These tools streamline your resume creation, ensuring your volunteer work shines while passing ATS filters.

Get Started with Your Volunteer-Enhanced CV

Showcasing volunteer work on your resume in 2025 can set you apart in a crowded job market. By strategically including relevant volunteer experience, using keywords, and formatting for ATS and recruiters, you can create a CV that highlights your skills and passion. Whether you’re a recent grad or a seasoned pro, these resume tips will help you land more interviews.

Ready to boost your CV? Start with HireFlow’s free ATS Resume Checker to optimize your resume and kickstart your job search today!