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Volunteer Needs Column

September 16, 2011

 

Tips for Including Volunteering on Your Resume

 

When you're looking for a job, your resume is going to be how an employer first gets to know you. Of course you want to include the work experience and education that makes you qualified for a job, but should you include your experience volunteering?

 

Yes!

 

Listing volunteer work on your resume also can add a lot of valuable information to your job history, especially for new job seekers or recent graduates with short resumes. Volunteer positions can fill gaps in employment - so for students whose employment history is short, volunteer work can be an especially important addition to your resume.

 

How do you include information about volunteering on your resume?

There is no 'right' way to write a resume, so there is no right way to include information about volunteering on a resume.

 

Where do I include volunteer experience?

If you're just out of school and you don't have a lot of work experience, it's okay to include volunteering along with paid work. Be prepared to answer questions about your volunteer work and how it helped to make you qualified for the job. It's important to describe the volunteer experience in a way that shows how what you've learned while volunteering applies to the job you're applying for.

 

If you have a longer work history, you can have a different section for your volunteer experience. Be sure to include information about the volunteer position that is relevant to the paid position that you're applying for.

 

What if the volunteer position title was just "volunteer?"

Including "volunteer" on your resume may be accurate, but it might leave questions from your potential employer. Think about the work that you did while volunteering and talk to your volunteer supervisor to see if there's a more appropriate title for the work that you did.

 

How should I describe the volunteer work that I did?

Describe the volunteer work in terms of what you achieved. Highlight the skills that you learned while volunteering.

Did you raise a lot of money? Did you manage a budget or accomplish goals on schedule? Did you supervise a staff of people? Even if they were volunteers too, your success required the ability to be a motivating leader.

 

If you are a student seeking your first job after school, being able to show volunteer work on a resume demonstrates that you had interests beyond the classroom. If you are returning to the paid work force after some time away, your volunteer activities can show that you kept yourself sharp and involved. If you want to change career fields, it may be your volunteer work in the new field that tells a prospective employer you're worth the risk, even if all your paid employment history is in some other field.

 

Have you included your volunteer work on your resume? Did it help you to get a job? Tell us about it! Send us an email about how it worked for you.  


Contributed by HandsOn    

 

What's New This Week?   

 

Ray of Light 

Serenity Hospice is having an open volunteer orientation next Wednesday, September 21st. If interested on how you can be involved, email Linda or call 446-9100. 

 

If interested in learning about more volunteer opportunities, contact Amy at the United Way Volunteer Center or visit:

www.uwlafayettevolunteer.org  


Week of Caring

A Huge Success! 

Rake

 

The United Way Week of Caring brings community volunteers face-to-face with local nonprofit and community organizations. Through hands on projects, community volunteers are afforded a unique education about social service programs and and opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others through service. By participating in the Week of Caring, volunteers can see first hand the link between their contributions and vital community services.

 

As we are winding down and finishing up the projects, United Way would like to thank everyone for participating in this year's Week of Caring! I have heard from several that said it has been a great experience and that they are having FUN! Don't forget to submit those pictures for the photo contest for a chance to win $100 gift certificate to either Arni's, Great Harvest, KFC or Subway! 


Volunteers are love in motion! 

 

~Author Unknown


Learn more about the United Way

Do you want to find out more about what the United Way of Greater Lafayette is all about? Visit the website

 


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I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people living ordinary lives.

 

 ~Tracy Chapman




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*On-Going Volunteer Needs*

 

Are you Hungry?

Sign up to volunteer to help feed the hungry in our community! St. John's/LUM Food Pantry are looking for people to help pass out food on any of the days, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday mornings from 8:30am - 12pm. Typically once a month. For more information email Jane or call 463-6158.


Are you Cool for Cool School? 

Tippecanoe County Child Care's after school program "Cool School" is looking for volunteers to help children with homework Monday - Thursday from 3:00 - 4:00pm at Miller and Earhart elementary schools. This can be ongoing or once, part or full week and/or all of the hour and a half. If interested in becoming a Cool School helper, email Jennifer or call 765-742-4033 x 119.

 

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 

Tippecanoe Villa are looking for a group of 4 volunteers on November 22nd and 23rd from 8 or 9am - 12 or 1pm to set up Christmas trees with the lights only. They need to be set up and ready to decorate before Thanksgiving. If interested, email Judi.  

 

Take Your Aggression Out on the Weeds

Therapeion Therapeutic Riding Center is in need of people who hate weeds to help with the garden clean up! The weeds need pulled and the flowers deadheaded as they spruce up the barn for fall classes. For more information visit the website  or call 765-414-8066 and ask for Libby. 

 

Let your inner Zombie Out! 

Indiana Fields of Fear are taking applications for actors and actresses (or would be actors and actresses) to utilize their talents as cast members of a Haunted House Attraction. If you can't wait to really get into character, if your favorite think is being someone or "something" else for a while, if you think scaring people would be the best thing possible, this is exactly what you have been looking for. Contact fieldsoffear@yahoo.com and find out how you can be a Zombie this Halloween season!

 Help Feed a Hungry Family

Bauer Family Resources is looking for a volunteer to assist families in receiving food assistance at their food pantry. Volunteer would be responsible for completing intake paperwork and determining eligibility. This position would be on Thursdays from 12 - 2:30pm.  If this is right for you, please email Cassie or call her at 765-742-5046. Great opportunity to give back to the community!