Does Volunteering Look Good on Job Applications?

Ever looked at your resume and thought, “Will this random dog shelter shift actually impress anyone?” You’re not alone. These days, recruiters get a flood of similar job applications. Volunteering is one of those things that can help your application move to the “let’s call” pile. But not all volunteer work carries the same weight, and how you talk about it matters—a lot.

Recruiters want proof you’re more than just your grades or old job titles. Volunteer gigs show you’re willing to go the extra mile without a paycheck attached. Whether you cleaned beaches or taught coding to kids, those hours signal stuff like teamwork, reliability, and initiative—qualities that hiring managers eat up.

The trick? You’ve got to spell out exactly what you did, not just list it like an afterthought. Instead of saying “Volunteered at community event,” explain the result. Did you help organize a fundraising run that raised record donations? Boom—that’s impact, and recruiters notice.

• Why Employers Love Volunteer Experience
• What Kind of Volunteering Stands Out?
• Making Volunteer Work Shine on Your Resume
• Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Volunteering

Why Employers Love Volunteer Experience

If you're wondering why recruiters get excited about seeing volunteer work, it's more than just a good deed. Employers know that people who volunteer tend to show real, hands-on skills—things you can't always pick up at school or a regular job. According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report, 41% of hiring managers say they consider volunteer experience as valuable as paid work.

So, what’s the big deal? Volunteer work usually means you’re good at stuff like teamwork, communication, and solving problems—skills that every job listing seems to demand. Sometimes, you even get to try leadership roles way earlier than you would at a paid job.

"Volunteering gives candidates a chance to show initiative and adaptability. It’s a clear sign they can handle responsibility," says Lisa Harrington, Director of HR at BlueChip Careers.

Employers also know that people who volunteer are more likely to stick with a company and add to a positive workplace culture. A Deloitte Impact Survey found that 89% of employees who volunteer feel happier at work.

The main thing? When you volunteer, you aren’t just padding your resume. You’re showing employers real personality and hustle, especially if you spell out what you achieved. That’s why volunteering on a job application stands out more than you might think.

What Kind of Volunteering Stands Out?

Recruiters don’t just scan for the word "volunteer"—they look for the type of work and the impact it had. So, what kinds of volunteer experiences catch their attention? First off, anything directly related to the job you want is gold. For example, if you’re applying for marketing roles, running a local charity’s social media or designing event flyers pops right off the page. Fields like healthcare, education, and tech love to see volunteer gigs in clinics, tutoring, or teaching digital skills.

According to a LinkedIn survey, 41% of employers say they value volunteer experience just as much as paid work. That’s not a small number! You’ll also get noticed if you took charge—planning, leading, or creating something new, not just showing up each week to do routine tasks.

Here’s what tends to stand out most:

• Leadership roles (like team leader, coordinator, or organizer on projects or events)
• Relevant skills (like coding for tech jobs, fundraising for nonprofits, or language translation if you’re aiming for international work)
• Tangible impact (funds raised, people served, results achieved—use real numbers if you can)
• Long-term commitment (sticking with the same organization for over 6 months shows reliability)

Check out how certain volunteer experiences line up with job skills often searched by employers:

If you want your application to stand out, think about how your volunteer gig matches the skills and responsibilities from the job post. Don’t just list a title; spell out what you did and the results. And if you overcame big challenges—like organizing a successful charity drive on a tiny budget—make that clear.

Making Volunteer Work Shine on Your Resume

If you just tuck volunteer stuff at the bottom of your resume, it's easy for recruiters to skip right past it. But you can flip the script. If your volunteer experience gave you skills or wins that fit the job you want, it deserves a real spot. You can even weave it right into the main "Experience" section—especially if it's recent or shows off leadership, teamwork, or technical skills.

Don’t just list “Volunteered at animal shelter.” That doesn't say much. Instead, break down volunteering into concrete results and active roles. Did you organize an event? Train new volunteers? Lead a fundraiser? Use numbers if you can. Quantifying impact makes your work pop.

• "Led a team of 12 to plan and promote a school supply drive, collecting 300+ backpacks for local kids."
• "Redesigned the food bank’s intake process, cutting wait times by 40%."
• "Managed social media for a grassroots group, boosting followers from 400 to 2,100 in three months."

Here’s a practical way to format it:

• Organization Name (Volunteer), Your Role — Month Year – Month Year
• Use bullet points to show what you actually did and what changed because of you. Focus on what matches the job you want next.

Recruiters are busy—on average, they spend just six to seven seconds glancing at each resume. Make your volunteer work easy to spot. Bold your job title, put the volunteer role in “Experience,” or give it its own section called “Relevant Experience” if that makes more sense. Just don’t bury it at the end with hobbies.

A 2023 LinkedIn report said nearly 41% of employers consider volunteer experience just as valuable as paid work when it relates to the open position. Check out some numbers from real-life surveys:

Lastly, update your LinkedIn too. There’s a special part just for volunteer roles. Lots of recruiters say they check this section first, especially when piles of applicants have almost identical paid work backgrounds. Show off your best stories here—the ones you’re proudest of, with solid results, and that prove you're ready for a new challenge.

Mistakes to Avoid When Listing Volunteering

It’s easy to trip up when adding volunteer work to your resume. A lot of people just stick “Volunteered at local food bank” in a random section and call it a day. That doesn’t do you any favors. Let’s talk about common mistakes, and how to fix them—so your volunteering experience actually helps you land interviews.

• Being too vague: Details matter. If you just write “volunteered at animal shelter,” it tells recruiters almost nothing about what you learned or contributed. Did you train new volunteers? Handle fundraising? These are the things that catch attention.
• Burying it at the bottom: If your volunteer experience is a big part of your skills or is recent, move it closer to the top. It deserves more than a lonely spot under “Other.”
• Skipping results: Numbers and outcomes make a difference. Let’s say you organized an event that drew 100 participants or helped launch a recycling program that saved your workplace $500 in costs. That’s stuff hiring managers remember.
• Using the wrong section: If your volunteering taught you real job skills—like project management or customer service—it can go under your work experience, not just a “hobbies” list.
• Forgetting soft skills: Don’t just list tasks. Say what you learned. Maybe your weekly reading group improved your communication or teamwork skills. Hiring managers want to know this.

Let’s look at how much impact this could have. According to a LinkedIn survey, nearly 41% of employers say they value volunteer experience as much as paid work. But only 45% of applicants actually include it on their resumes.

Here’s a quick checklist to make your volunteering stand out:

• Clearly describe what you did and the role you played
• Show the results with numbers, if possible
• Mention skills you gained that match the job you want
• Place the section where recruiters will see it

If you avoid these mistakes, you’ll make your resume much stronger and show employers that your experience is the real deal.