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Volunteer CV Example

Present your volunteering experience in a way that showcases the valuable skills you have developed through unpaid work in community and charity settings.

Recommended template: MinimalPro

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Key Skills to Include

Community EngagementFundraisingEvent OrganisationCustomer ServiceTeamworkInitiativeCommunicationAdaptability

Quick Tips

  • Treat your volunteer roles with the same professionalism as paid employment on your CV.
  • Include the organisations you volunteered with and the impact of your contributions.
  • Highlight transferable skills gained through volunteering that are relevant to paid roles.
  • Mention any leadership responsibilities or training you received during your volunteering.

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How to Write Your Volunteer CV

A volunteer CV should present your unpaid experience with the same professionalism and detail as paid employment. Volunteering develops real, valuable skills — customer service, teamwork, leadership, and initiative — that employers recognise and respect. Whether you are entering the job market for the first time, returning after a career break, or supplementing limited paid experience, your volunteer roles deserve prominent placement on your CV.

CV Structure

Use a reverse-chronological format with a profile that establishes your volunteering commitment and key skills. List each volunteer role as you would a paid job — with the organisation name, your role title, and a description of duties and achievements. Include a skills section highlighting transferable abilities. Keep to one or two pages.

CV Format

Choose a clean, professional template. Do not treat volunteering as lesser than paid work — present it with equal care and formatting. Use bullet points, include measurable achievements, and ensure your commitment is evident through attendance and duration details.

CV Profile Examples

Experienced Volunteer

Committed and community-minded volunteer with four years of experience across charity shops, food banks, and community events. Skilled in customer service, fundraising support, and event coordination. Brings a reliable, positive approach to every task and has developed strong organisational and interpersonal skills through consistent voluntary work alongside full-time employment.

Charity Shop Volunteer

Friendly and dependable charity shop volunteer with three years of experience at a national heart charity. Experienced in sorting donations, pricing stock, operating the till, and creating attractive window displays. Treats every volunteer shift with the same professionalism as paid employment and is valued for a calm, helpful manner with customers.

Student Volunteer

Socially aware university student with two years of volunteering experience across food bank operations, student union events, and community clean-up projects. Brings leadership skills developed through coordinating a team of 10 student volunteers and a genuine passion for making a positive difference. Seeking to leverage volunteering experience to enter full-time employment.

Write a two-to-three sentence profile covering the organisations you have volunteered with, your strongest skills, and the duration of your commitment. Convey passion and reliability.

Key Skills for Your Volunteer CV

Community Engagement

Connecting with local communities through volunteering, outreach, and participation in social projects.

Fundraising

Supporting charity fundraising through events, campaigns, and direct engagement with donors and supporters.

Event Organisation

Helping to plan and deliver community events, charity sales, and awareness campaigns.

Customer Service

Providing a welcoming and helpful experience to customers, service users, and members of the public.

Teamwork

Working cooperatively with other volunteers and staff to achieve shared goals and deliver services.

Initiative

Identifying opportunities to improve processes, displays, or services and taking action without being asked.

Communication

Communicating clearly and sensitively with people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.

Adaptability

Adjusting to different tasks, environments, and challenges with a positive and flexible approach.

Work Experience Examples

For each volunteer role, state the organisation, your role, and your weekly commitment. Describe your duties in detail — they are real skills gained through real work. Include achievements that demonstrate your impact, such as sales increases, volunteer recruitment, or service improvements.

Charity Shop Volunteer

British Heart Foundation, Oxford

Volunteered 12 hours per week in a high-street charity shop, supporting all aspects of shop operations and customer service.

Responsibilities

  • Sorted, priced, and steamed donated clothing and accessories for sale on the shop floor.
  • Served customers at the till, processing sales, Gift Aid declarations, and loyalty card sign-ups.
  • Created window displays and in-store feature areas to attract customers and promote seasonal campaigns.
  • Assisted with stock rotation and end-of-line clearance to maintain a fresh and appealing product selection.
  • Helped train new volunteers on shop procedures, till operation, and customer service expectations.

Achievements

  • Contributed to a 15% increase in weekly sales during a three-month period through improved window displays and customer engagement.
  • Designed a Mother's Day gift display that the area manager shared as a best-practice example across 12 regional shops.
  • Maintained a 100% attendance record across two years of weekly volunteer shifts.

Food Bank Volunteer

The Trussell Trust — Oxford Food Bank

Volunteered one day per week at a community food bank, supporting food parcel preparation and distribution to local families in need.

Responsibilities

  • Sorted donated food items by type and use-by date, stocking shelves and preparing parcels based on household size.
  • Welcomed food bank users with sensitivity and respect, helping them feel comfortable during their visit.
  • Loaded and unloaded food donation deliveries from local supermarkets and community collection points.
  • Assisted with administrative tasks including recording parcel distribution data and volunteer hours.

Achievements

  • Helped distribute over 2,000 food parcels during a twelve-month volunteering period.
  • Recruited four new volunteers from the local community through word-of-mouth and social media promotion.

Education & Qualifications

List any qualifications gained through volunteering, such as safeguarding, first aid, or food hygiene. Follow with formal education. Include any awards like the Duke of Edinburgh or Saltire Awards.

Safeguarding Training

Training in protecting children and vulnerable adults, commonly required for charity and community volunteering.

DBS Check

Disclosure and Barring Service check required for volunteering roles involving children or vulnerable people.

First Aid Certificate

Practical first aid qualification gained through voluntary or workplace training.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Achievement award demonstrating volunteering, physical activity, skills development, and expedition completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include volunteering on my CV?
Absolutely. Volunteering demonstrates initiative, commitment, and the development of real skills. Treat it with the same detail and professionalism as paid employment. Many employers value volunteering experience as it shows character, community awareness, and a willingness to contribute beyond personal gain.
How do I present volunteering alongside paid work?
You can list volunteering in your work experience section if it is your primary experience, or create a separate volunteering section if you also have paid roles. Either way, include the organisation, your role, responsibilities, and achievements. Ensure it receives equal formatting and attention as paid work.
Can volunteering help me get a paid job?
Yes. Volunteering builds transferable skills, provides references, and fills gaps on your CV. Many volunteers are offered paid positions by the organisations they volunteer for. It also demonstrates reliability and motivation, qualities that employers rate highly when evaluating candidates with limited paid experience.
How much detail should I include about volunteering?
Include the same level of detail as you would for a paid role — the organisation, your responsibilities, and measurable achievements. Mention the duration and frequency of your volunteering to show consistent commitment. If you took on leadership or training responsibilities, highlight these as they demonstrate progression and trustworthiness.

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