Should I Include Volunteerism on My Resume

Should I Include Volunteerism on My Resume When I first meet with a client, either over-the-phone or in-person, I perform an “interview.” This interview may not be as intense as a job interview; however, it does gather pertinent information that I need in order to craft an accurate resume. And, one of the questions I often ask is the following: “Do you have any volunteerism that you would like to include?” Typically, after I ask clients that question, they then ask me the following, “Why? Do people actually put their volunteer activities on resumes?” The answer is both a ‘yes’ and a ‘maybe.’ In today’s competitive economy, volunteerism is one added item that may be noticed when going through a myriad of resumes. However, being noticed for your volunteerism is not the same as having your volunteerism being viewed positively. Several years ago, I had a client that wanted to get back into the workforce after being at home for 20 years. She was interested in potentially working in a medical office setting. Her resume information was sparse and I thought it was going to be difficult to showcase her skills. However, she then said the following, “Oh, I’ve also volunteered at a local hospital for about 15 years â€" do you think that would be worth putting on the resume?” YES! I couldn’t believe that she hadn’t mentioned it sooner. However, it makes sense â€" in the past, resumes were viewed as simply a list of WORK related activities â€" not volunteerism. If, as in the case of my client, the volunteer activities directly pertain to the potential career path, then put the information on the resume. By contrast, some people decide to put all volunteerism on their resumes, from volunteering at the church to taking an active part in the local theater troupe. If that same person is applying for a financial management position, these may not be relevant. And, always view your information through the eyes of the hiring manager â€" do you want to hire someone that has so many volunteer activities that it begins to affect their work? The best advice regarding volunteerism is to volunteer within areas that directly correlate to your intended career field. You can use this information to help build references, professional skills, and a portfolio. Choose which volunteerism information to include on your resume; target this section appropriately depending upon the intended employer. And, remember, your volunteerism may just give you that extra ‘edge’ over other candidates.