Robin's Resumes (r)

Adding value to your Career Documentation | Career Coaching

Call or Text Today: 404-875-2688

career change

Volunteer Work: Where Does It Belong on a Resume?

Most often, volunteer work appears toward the end of a resume, after work history. However, if you have been out of the workforce for a while, are a recent college graduate or are changing careers, your volunteer activities may be the showcase for your most important skills and accomplishments.

As a recent college graduate or a career-changer, you might hone new skills as a volunteer in your field, in preparation for a full-time job. For example, if you want to work in the healthcare industry, you might volunteer at a hospital; if you want to become a graphic designer, you might lend your skills to a nonprofit in search of a logo.

If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, volunteering may be an excellent way to keep your skills sharp. An IT professional might volunteer to help a nonprofit organization maintain its computers; develop a program to track donors or clients; or enhance their website.

In all those cases, it might be worthwhile to mention your volunteer work early in the resume.

Wherever it is placed in a resume, even a brief mention of volunteer work is important. Most companies are conscious that they need a thriving community around them in order to succeed, both as employers and as providers of products and services. Hiring managers and recruiters know that companies appreciate a spirit of “giving back” in their employees. Your volunteer work identifies you as someone who also appreciates that spirit.

If you are unsure how to feature your volunteer work, please call Robin’s Resumes® today.

Should You Hire a Resume Writer?

Naturally, I would like you to consider my services if you plan to hire a professional resume writer. But perhaps you are debating whether working with a professional resume writer is the right choice for you. You should consider hiring a resume writer if:

  • You are changing careers, are newly entering the job market or returning after an absence, have multiple job changes over a short time or have any other work situation that seems out of the ordinary.
  • You find it difficult to get started—or to stop. A resume cannot start working for you until it is written and sent. If you cannot begin writing or if you cannot stop editing, you need help.
  • You lack confidence in your abilities. Maybe you have been unemployed for a while; or you were employed by one company for so many years that you have forgotten how to job hunt. As a professional resume writer and consultant, I enjoy the process of re-introducing job seekers to their skills and achievements. A great resume is a real boost to self-esteem.
  • You have had no success so far in attracting interviews. Let me take a look at your resume to see if we can bolster it with keywords and stronger descriptions of your skills and accomplishments.
  • You need an objective, expert champion in your corner. As a Certified Advanced Resume Writer, Certified Federal Resume Writer and Certified Professional Resume Writer, with years of experience writing technical, federal and corporate resumes at all levels, I will give you advice you can trust and a resume to be proud of.

The Essential Cover Letter: Give Employers What they Want

You have read the ads. You’ve studied the online posts. You have heard what employers want. It’s time to give it to them. It is time to work on your cover letter. Cover letters are essential—recent studies show that one-third to one-half of all hiring managers require them, and even more than that read them.

Your resume is fairly standard—the chronology of jobs, the knowledge you’ve gained in the past, your positions and your achievements are not going to change. But potential employers use ads and online posts to list the qualifications most important to them, whether it is a particular skill set or an attitude. Your cover letter is a chance to respond to that list.

Make sure your cover letter echoes the words in the ad or post. If the employer requests experience in a certain industry; familiarity with specific computer systems; the ability to exceed sales quotas—and you meet those qualifications—use your cover letter to explain why you are the perfect candidate. For example, an employer wants a Chief Financial Officer with team-building experience. If you have that experience, note it in your cover letter. (“I excel at selecting key talent and building high-performing, cohesive teams; I also improved productivity and saved $1 million annually by outsourcing support functions.”)

Furthermore, a cover letter is the ideal place to quell any concerns that your potential employer might have about your motivations. You can explain that you’re looking for new challenges or a chance to return to a previous career path.

Your cover letter is an essential part of your resume. Have you worked on it recently?

Skip to content