Voluntary work experience in CV - What do I have to bear in mind?

Your CV is the document that gives the HR manager an overview of you and your career path to date. In addition to an attractive cover letter, it is often decided on the basis of your skills and activities, which are evident from your CV, whether you can get one step further in the application process and be invited to an interview.

It is very important that your CV stands out from the CVs of all other applicants. You can achieve this by adding various skills for your CV, e.g. through a gap year or special language skills and meaningful professional experience.

But recruiters also find voluntary work particularly relevant because it shows that you are a socially committed person. Below you will find the most important information and tips on what you should know about mentioning voluntary work on your CV.

Voluntary work - what does it include?

In order for an activity to count as voluntary work, it must meet four criteria:

1. It must be voluntary
2. It must be part-time 
3. It must not be paid
4. It must be altruistic

A classic CV example of voluntary work is working in an association e.g. as a trainer or a board member. Social engagement in a church or with the Scouts also counts as voluntary work. In addition, voluntary help for people in need such as refugees, children, seniors and sick individuals represents a very respectable social commitment. 

Social engagement - Why is it so important for my career?

Social voluntary work is simply a must in a good CV! It shows the recruiter that you do more than necessary and that you do it in a completely altruistic way for others. This also suggests that you are a social and committed person which is what every company would like to have on its team! 

But watch out! Quality is more important than quantity!

Don't overload your CV with too much information about social engagement. Take a close look at the job advertised and industry and select suitable social voluntary positons specifically for the job (max. 2-3.). If you hold more than three voluntary positions, the recruiter may wonder whether your voluntary activities could have a negative impact on the main job, e.g. because you don't have enough time. 

Don't worry if you only did one thing, but over a longer period. Likewise, brief or one-off voluntary engagements could make the recruiter sceptical of whether you only did voluntary work to add to your CV. This could suggest that you are calculating and egoistic, which are not character traits that a recruiter should ascribe to you! 

Be careful when choosing which voluntary work you include in your CV!

There are certain voluntary positions that you should not include in your CV because they are sensitive or they are not relevant to the desired job. For example, a recruiter from the fashion industry will become a bit suspicious if she reads on your CV that you did voluntary work in a correctional facility. A recruiter in a tax office could become sceptical if you state that you have done voluntary work as a street worker for the homeless. On the other hand, voluntary posts for social professions such as social workers are particularly good voluntary engagements. 

Voluntary work should enhance your CV and give you positive traits that make you the most desirable applicant!

What makes voluntary work unsuitable:

There are two exclusion criteria that you can use to determine whether your voluntary work is really suitable for your CV: 

1. Short-term voluntary work

If you were engaged in voluntary work for a short period, e.g. only for a few weeks/months, this raises critical questions, which will be asked at the interview at the latest. 

For example, the recruiter may wonder why you quit so soon... Don't you have staying power? Did you just do it to put it on your CV? In addition, short voluntary positions are rather irrelevant.

2. Not true voluntary work

Think carefully about whether your alleged voluntary or social engagement is really volunteering or rather a favour you did for someone. For example, babysitting for free for friends is definitely not voluntary work, but a personal favour. Therefore, this activity has no place in your CV under the volunteering section. 

For example, you can mention babysitting as a side job if you are applying for an internship as a kindergarten teacher. 

Volunteering - How and where do I mention it in my CV?

There are 3 golden rules when mentioning social engagements in your CV! Follow them and nothing can go wrong!

1. Where does volunteering fit on your CV?

Honorary positions are not given their own section in your CV, but can be classified under one of the following three categories:

• under the "Interests and Hobbies" category
• under the "Personal Skills/Competences" category
• under the "Special Knowledge/skills" category 

If you have a lot of space left, you can list your voluntary work under a separate category in your CV. The headings "Volunteering", "Social engagement" or "Voluntary engagement" are suitable for this. 

2. How should voluntary work be indicated in your CV?

As a general rule, voluntary work should be indicated in the CV and not in the cover letter of an application You must consider the following points when mentioning your voluntary work in your CV: 

• Period and duration of voluntary work
• Type of voluntary work
• Name of the institution and its location
• Brief description of the activity 

Ideally, you can prove your social engagement or your voluntary work with an employment reference, an attestation or a certificate. This allows you to take the wind out of the recruiter's sails and prevent queries by sending proof of your voluntary work with your application.

3. Providing false information about the duration of voluntary work is a no-no!

Under no circumstances may you incorrectly extend the duration of your voluntary work in your CV! The bean counters among recruiters will check your details by doing their research, e.g. by calling and enquiring at the institution where you were involved. 

Always remember: The truth will out!

Do you have a gap in your CV due to your voluntary work? No problem! Here you will find 5 tips on what to consider if there is a gap in your CV!