Did you take part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning? Have you run a marathon for charity? Maybe you took part in Movember or volunteered at your local animal shelter—all of these small, yet amazingly altruistic tasks, speak volumes to your character and your professional capabilities.
Each one of these charitable activities help to captivate and charm the hiring managers looking at your application, helping you to stand-out among the mass of people all vying for the same position.
Although there’s no way of knowing how many people you’re going up against, it’s fair to assume that you’re not the only applicant. That’s why it’s so important to craft the sort of CV that’s full of personality and passion (check out these CV Template and CV Advice blogs for inspiration).
Including your volunteering experience can give hiring managers an added taste of who you are while showcasing experience that is relevant for the role. In more detail…
Three great reasons why you should include volunteer experience on your CV
1. It Shows You’re Passionate
First and foremost, volunteering shows that you care deeply about something. Not everybody is willing to spend their free time helping at a homeless shelter or raising money for a good cause. But when you do, it means you’re ready to work hard and dedicate yourself to something that is deeply important to you.
People who volunteer are proactive—they seek out causes and events that they can take part in. And when you volunteer, you’re proving that you spend your time wisely. The fact that you’re doing it for free is just icing on the cake.
Many larger organisations now actively encourage staff to participate in charitable events and even going as far as launching their own charities and affording staff additional time off to fundraise and participate.
Keep in mind that by including your volunteering experience on your CV highlights your passions and interests which in turn might align perfectly with the company culture you’re applying to.
2. It Shows You’re Empathetic
Although empathy may not seem like a vital business skill, it’s a crucial part of effective communication. If you want to connect with your colleagues and your clients, you need to be able to consider things from their perspective.
People who spend times volunteering often work directly with the most vulnerable members of society, and this teaches you to be mindful of all backgrounds and experiences.
Employees who show empathy in the workplace have better power of persuasion and often are more in-tune with their customers’ needs. And it always comes in handy when you’re faced with a hostile situation—you’ll know how to handle it with tact.
3. It Shows You’re Socially Conscious
In the last decade, Millennials have influenced a shift in corporate responsibility, holding more companies accountable for their impact. As a result, more than 90% of the world’s top 250 companies are now producing annual corporate responsibility reports. In other words, companies are more likely to actively get involved in a cause.
When you include volunteer experience on your CV, you’re showing that you have similar values; that you care about more than just money. And this can make the difference between you and another candidate.
In fact, with only one in three job seekers mentioning unpaid volunteer work on their CV, you may have the advantage if you’re applying for a socially responsible organisation.
So How Can You Fit Volunteer Experience in an Otherwise Packed CV?
Everyone’s CV is different, so it’s important to figure out what works for you. For some, it means simply including volunteering as part of the work experience section. For others, it makes sense to have a separate section to showcase your altruism alongside other hobbies and interests.
But no matter how you structure it, make sure to include a few key details to help the hiring manager understand the full impact of your work:
When and where you volunteered;
The name of the charity you volunteered for;
Some of the things you achieved while you were there.
The Aurelius CV Template lends itself nicely to showcasing your volunteering experience as there is plenty of space for skills, projects and experience.
Be sure to reach out if you need assistance writing, designing or choosing your CV.
And if you Don’t Have Any Volunteer Experience?
Not a problem. There are plenty of charities happy to get you involved. And since most volunteer opportunities are part-time, you can fit it into your work and personal life. Maybe you can even convince your current company to consider corporate volunteering!
Find out what volunteering opportunities are available today.
This content was produced in collaboration with CharityJob, the largest and most specialised job board for the charity and not-for-profit sector in the UK.