Volunteer resume example

Keen to lend a hand in your community or looking to bolster your work experience through volunteering?

Crafting a standout volunteer resume is essential to highlight your dedication and skills to potential organisations.

Peek at our volunteer resume example below for a bit of inspiration and our friendly guide to penning your own.

 

 

 

Volunteer Resume Example

Volunteer resume 1

Volunteer resume 2

 

The above Volunteer resume is a great example of how your resume should be formatted, along with the type of content it should include.

It looks professional and creates a seamless reading experience for busy recruiters and hiring managers.

Now we will take an in-depth look at how you can write your own interview-winning Volunteer resume.

 

resume builder

 

Volunteer resume structure & format

Resume layout and structure

 

Resume structure

Structuring your resume correctly is key to making a strong impression on recruiters.

Your resume should consist of the following sections:

  • Contact details: Your personal contact information.
  • Resume summary: An engaging summary highlighting your suitability for Volunteer jobs.
  • Core skills: Specific skills pertinent to your field in a bullet-point format.
  • Work experience: Recent and relevant job positions in reverse chronological order.
  • Education: Detailed educational background applicable to your field.
  • Additional info: Optional but useful details like languages or relevant hobbies.

 

How to format your Volunteer resume

Resume format example

 

The format of your resume determines how attractive it will look to hiring managers, and how easy it will be for them to read.

Here are the main things to remember when formatting your resume.

  • Resume length: Keep your resume between 1 to 2 pages long because recruiters see tons of resumes every day and only have limited time to read each one.
  • Font & colour scheme: Use a simple font which is easy to read and avoid elaborate ones which might make reading difficult. Go for black-text-on-white background, but feel free to add a splash of colour in the design to help your resume stand out.
  • Page layout: Divide the page into clearly visible sections using bold headings or borders, so that readers can quickly pinpoint the information they want.
  • Break text up: Break text up into concise bullet points and short paragraphs to make it easy for busy recruiters to digest the info.
  • Photos: Photos are not mandatory in Australia but you can add a small headshot to the top if you like.

 

Quick tip: Achieving a professional look for your resume can be difficult and time-consuming. If you want to create an attractive resume quickly, try our Resume Builder and use one of our eye-catching professional resume templates.

 

 

Contact Details

Resume contact details

 

Employers need to know who you are, and how to contact you – so whilst your contact details section is fairly simple, it’s important to get it right.

Add these 4 essential details to the top of your resume, trying not to take up too much space:

  • Your name and a professional title: (e.g. Marketing Manager or Management Accountant) Tailor the title to match your target jobs.
  • Email address: Ensure that it look professional (e.g.shane.smith21@gmail.com) and don’t use an old one with your school nickname in like shanzeybwoySmitho666@gmail.com.
  • Phone number: Ideally your mobile so that you can be easily reached. Don’t forget to tripe check the number is correct!
  • Location: Add the general location of where you are looking to work (e.g. Sydney, Brisbane).

You can also add some of the following details optionally:

  • Webpage links: You can link out to a relevant social profile such as LinkedIn or even a portfolio. Make sure anything you link to is high-quality and kept up-to-date.
  • Photograph: Photographs aren’t normally required but employers in creative industries sometimes like to see them. If you decide to add, make sure that you look professional and don’t take up too much space on the page with it.

You do not need to add personal details such as your date of birth, full address, or gender. These details aren’t needed to make a hiring decision and will waste space on your resume.

 

Volunteer Resume Summary

Resume summary

 

The resume summary at the top of your document is a crucial, concise introduction that encapsulates your professional qualifications and readiness for the job. It sets the stage for your detailed application.

To instantly capture a recruiter’s attention and lead them into reading further into your resume, use these proven tips:

  • Keep it short: Aim for a concise summary of 3 to 5 sentences, ensuring it can be quickly scanned. You can elaborate on details later, in the work experience section.
  • Tailor to target jobs: Fill your summary with as many keywords from the job adverts you are targeting as possible. This will ensure recruiters instantly see your suitability.
  • Avoid using cliches: Avoid falling into the trap of labeling yourself as a “go-getter” or a “people person” – these phrases are overused and lack substance for employers.

 

Volunteer resume summary example

Friendly Volunteer with 5+ years of experience in generating income for causes that focus on supporting diverse individuals with severe physical and psychological conditions. Strong knowledge of fundamental retail operations, while maintaining a hazard-free environment. Adept at handling large volumes of sensitive and private information with the utmost confidentiality.

 

What to include in your Volunteer resume summary

  • Summary of your experience: Outline the variety of roles you’ve undertaken and the organisations you’ve been part of to give employers a clear overview of your career experience.
  • Relevant skills: Tell employers you have the right skills for Volunteer roles by detailing your most relevant skills for the job.
  • Qualifications: Remember to mention any qualifications applicable to Volunteer jobs, showcasing your suitability for the role.
  • Benefits of hiring you: Why should a employer hire you? Will you save them money? Improve their productivity? Or get them more customers?

 

Quick tip: Choose from hundreds of pre-written summaries across all industries, and add one to your resume with one-click in our Resume Builder. All written by recruitment experts and easily tailored to suit your unique skillset and style.

 

Core skills section

Resume core skills

 

Highlight your suitability for Volunteer roles by including a core skills section in your resume.

Present a list of your essential skills in bullet-point format, each capped at four words, ensuring they are immediately noticeable to hiring managers.

 

Skills for your Volunteer resume

First Aid Training – Acquiring the knowledge and practical competencies required to provide immediate care in medical emergencies.

Event Planning – Orchestrating events from conception through to completion, including logistics, venue selection, and coordination of activities.

Grant Writing – Preparing proposals and applications to secure funding from government bodies, foundations, and trusts for community projects.

Language Proficiency – Communicating effectively with diverse community members by speaking multiple languages fluently.

Social Media Management – Curating content, scheduling posts, and engaging with followers on platforms to raise awareness for causes and events.

Project Management – Leading initiatives with defined goals, timelines, and deliverables, ensuring projects are completed efficiently.

Volunteer Coordination – Organising volunteer activities, schedules, and assignments to optimise contribution and impact.

Graphic Design – Crafting visual content using software to create marketing materials, informational brochures, and other visual aids.

CPR Certification – Possessing the certified ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in emergency situations to potentially save lives.

Wildlife Care – Providing appropriate care for native fauna, including feeding, rehabilitation, and release back into the wild.

 

Quick tip: Our Resume Builder contains thousands of in-demand skills for every profession that can be added to your resume in seconds – saving you time and greatly improving your chances of landing job interviews and getting hired.

 

resume builder

 

Work experience section

Your work experience section gives you the opportunity to showcase the contributions you can make to potential employers.

List your past jobs starting with the most recent and focus on detailing your last 3-5 years of work.

 

Work experience order in resume

 

Structuring your jobs

To clearly convey what you accomplished in each role, format your experiences as follows.

 

Role descriptions structure

 

Outline

Kick each job off with a 1-2 sentence overview to build context for readers, including what your team/employer does, where you sit within the company and the purpose of the job.

 

Key responsibilities

Outline your primary duties in 5-8 bullet points, focusing on essential skills, tools, and expertise.

Ensure each point is succinct, indicating your interactions within the company and your contributions to its success.

 

Key achievements

Lastly, prove impact by highlight 1-3 key achievements that you made within the role.

Struggling to think of an achievement? If it had a positive impact on your company, it counts.

For example, you might have increased company profits, improved processes, or helped a customer to achieve their goals.

Add numbers to quantify your achievements if you can.

 

Example job for Volunteer resume

Outline

Play a role in the financial sustainability of an organisation which aims to fight against a wide range of diseases that affect people of all ages, sexes, and races.

Key Responsibilities

  • Participate in team meetings to communicate ideas for improving store operations.
  • Greet and assist individuals in a helpful manner, as well as offer feedback regarding the establishment, its mission, and the outcomes of donations.
  • Assist in creating appealing and eye-catching displays to attract customers.
  • Ensure the shop is clean, neat, and well-organised, and that items are appropriately quoted.

 

Quick tip: Create impressive job descriptions easily in our Resume Builder by adding pre-written job phrases for every industry and career stage.

 

 

Education section

Resume education section

 

Include your education near the bottom of your resume.

List your academic qualifications in bullet points, focusing on those most applicable to Volunteer positions.

If you possess considerable experience, you can keep this brief, however if you have less experience you should provide detailed insights into how your education has prepared you for the position.

This section can include:

  • University degrees
  • Industry specific qualifications for Volunteer jobs
  • Vocational education and training (VET) diplomas
  • Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE)

 

Additional information (optional)

Resume additional info

 

Consider placing an additional info section at the bottom of your resume for extracurricular details that might make you more attractive to employers.

This section can showcase hobbies, awards, publications, or a catalogue of technical skills.

Ensure anything you list here is relevant to your job or notably remarkable.

Refrain from mentioning generic hobbies such as watching TV or hanging out with friends, as they do not enhance your professional profile.

 

resume builder

 

Crafting an effective Volunteer resume can be challenging, but adhering to these guidelines should enable you to develop a resume that attracts recruiter attention and secures numerous interview opportunities.

Always double-check your resume for errors and customise it for each job application to demonstrate your suitability.

Good luck with your job search!