Do Employers Look at Volunteer Work? What Hiring Managers Really Notice

Ever spent weekends sorting food at a local pantry, tutoring kids after school, or helping clean up a park-and wondered if it even matters on your resume? You’re not alone. Thousands of people volunteer every year, hoping it’ll give them an edge in the job market. But here’s the real question: do employers look at volunteer work?

Yes, but not because it’s ‘nice’

Employers don’t care about volunteer work because it makes you look charitable. They care because it shows something deeper: initiative, reliability, and real-world skills. A 2024 LinkedIn survey of 2,000 hiring managers across the UK found that 73% of them actively looked for volunteer experience on resumes, especially when candidates had similar qualifications. In tight job markets, where dozens apply for one role, volunteer work can be the tiebreaker.

Think about it this way: if two people have the same degree and same internship, but one spent six months coordinating a community food drive, who do you think handled logistics, managed volunteers, and met deadlines under pressure? That’s not just a hobby-it’s project management in disguise.

What kind of volunteer work catches attention?

Not all volunteer roles are equal in the eyes of hiring managers. They don’t care if you folded blankets at a shelter unless you can show impact. What stands out are roles that mirror real job functions:

• Organizing a fundraising campaign → project management
• Running social media for a nonprofit → digital marketing
• Teaching literacy to adults → communication and training
• Volunteering as an event coordinator for a charity run → logistics and operations
• Leading a team of 10+ volunteers → leadership and delegation

One recruiter in Bristol told me she hired a candidate last year because their volunteer work included managing a team of 15 volunteers for a youth mentoring program. The candidate didn’t have a management title at their day job, but they’d handled scheduling, conflict resolution, and budget tracking-all things the role needed.

How to list volunteer work on your resume

Don’t just write ‘Volunteer at Food Bank.’ That’s invisible. Treat it like a job. Use the same format you’d use for paid work:

• Role Title: Volunteer Coordinator
• Organization: Bristol Community Food Hub
• Dates: Jan 2023 - Present
• Responsibilities: Managed weekly distribution of 300+ meals; trained and scheduled 12 volunteers; tracked inventory using Google Sheets; reduced food waste by 22% through improved rotation system

Numbers matter. Even small ones. ‘Helped serve meals’ doesn’t stick. ‘Served 1,200 meals over 6 months’ does. If you don’t have exact numbers, estimate reasonably. Employers know volunteers aren’t paid-they just want to see you’re results-oriented.

Volunteer work fills gaps on your resume

If you’re returning to work after a break-whether because of caregiving, illness, or unemployment-volunteering is one of the best ways to show you stayed active and kept your skills sharp. A 2023 study by the UK’s Centre for Volunteering found that 68% of employers viewed volunteer experience as a strong signal of readiness to re-enter the workforce.

One woman in her late 40s, after taking three years off to care for her mother, started volunteering as a digital skills coach at her local library. She listed it on her resume as ‘Digital Literacy Instructor’ and got interviews for administrative roles. She didn’t have recent office experience-but she had proven she could teach, adapt, and communicate clearly.

It’s not just about skills-it’s about character

Hiring managers aren’t just looking for what you’ve done. They’re looking for who you are. Volunteer work signals empathy, consistency, and a sense of responsibility. In a world where burnout and disengagement are common, employers value people who choose to give their time without expecting anything back.

During interviews, they often ask: ‘Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.’ Volunteer experiences give you ready-made answers. You didn’t have to be told to show up. You didn’t get paid to stay late. You did it because you cared. That’s powerful.

What doesn’t work

Avoid listing vague roles like ‘Helped out at events’ or ‘Did random charity stuff.’ These raise more questions than they answer. Also, don’t pad your resume with volunteer work you only did once. One-day events won’t impress unless you held a clear role or responsibility.

And don’t treat it like a resume filler. If you’re listing five different one-off volunteer gigs, it looks scattered. Better to pick one or two meaningful roles and go deep.

Does industry matter?

Yes. Some fields care more than others. Nonprofits, education, healthcare, and public sector roles almost always value volunteer experience. But even in tech, finance, or engineering, it matters-if framed right.

A software developer who volunteers to teach coding to teens shows they can explain complex ideas simply. That’s a huge plus for teams that need to collaborate with non-technical stakeholders. A financial analyst who runs a budget for a local animal shelter? That’s budgeting experience, period.

One tech recruiter in Manchester told me she once hired a candidate who’d volunteered to build websites for small charities. The candidate didn’t have a formal design background, but they’d built five sites from scratch using WordPress. That’s portfolio-worthy experience.

Can volunteer work get you hired faster?

It won’t magically land you a job. But it can open doors you didn’t even know were closed. Many people get hired through referrals-and volunteering puts you in rooms with people who work in the industry. You meet managers, HR staff, and professionals who might not know you’re job hunting… until you ask for advice.

One man in Bristol started volunteering at a community garden run by a local environmental firm. He didn’t mention he was looking for work. But after three months, one of the staff members asked if he’d ever considered applying for their admin role. He got the job.

Bottom line: It’s not optional anymore

Volunteer work isn’t just something nice to do. It’s a strategic part of your job search. Employers are looking for more than skills-they’re looking for people who show up, who lead without titles, and who solve problems without paychecks. If you’re not including your volunteer experience on your resume, you’re leaving proof of your character-and competence-on the table.

Start today. Pick one cause you care about. Commit for three months. Do it well. Then, write it down like a job. You’ll be surprised how much it changes the conversation.