Have you ever done volunteer jobs in your life? Do you want to know how to add volunteer experience to LinkedIn? Are you curious about why you should add this kind of experience to your profile?
To add volunteer experience to your LinkedIn profile, go to the "Experience" section, click on the "+" button to add a new experience, and select "Volunteer Experience" from the options. Fill in the details such as the organization name, your role, and the duration of your volunteer work, and click "Save" to add it to your profile. This will showcase your volunteer experience and highlight your commitment to community involvement on your LinkedIn profile.
Volunteer experience can get you hired! Yes, experiences, skills, and education are still very important, but as New York Times claims in its LinkedIn survey, 41% of the employers said that they prefer to hire applicants with volunteering experiences in their resume and/or LinkedIn profile.
Since volunteer experiences are the perfect highlights of your characteristics and personal values, if not, consider leadership skills.
In fact, you are demonstrating your leadership skills, teamwork capabilities, passion, responsible, self-motivation, etc., and all of these qualities are very interesting and attractive in one person.
So if you are doubtful about adding any volunteer experience to your profile, let me say, just add it!
How to add volunteer experience to LinkedIn?
Now let’s talk about how to add volunteer experience to LinkedIn, shall we?
- log into your LinkedIn account
- open your profile
- click on the “Add Profile Section”
- click on the “Additional” bar
- select “Add Volunteering Experiences”
- enter the required information in the pop-out window
- hit Save
Why should you add volunteering experiences to your LinkedIn?
To add volunteer experience to LinkedIn, first click on the "Me" icon at the top of the LinkedIn homepage and select "View profile." Then, scroll down to the "Experience" section and click the "+" icon to add a new experience. Select "Volunteer Experience" from the dropdown menu and enter the relevant information, such as the name of the organization, your role, the dates of your experience, and a description of your work. Click "Save" to add your volunteer experience to your LinkedIn profile.
There are many benefits to doing so. As we said, many employers prefer job seekers with volunteer experiences more than the ones who never had them.
Since it shows you as a responsible person who minds the welfare of his/her society, it can directly mention your leadership skills.
Now, leadership is one of the most attractive skills for recruiters.
Volunteer experiences are not necessarily considered job experiences.
Yet they are the nearest thing to a job after internships. Besides, it can be very helpful if the volunteering is related to the job you are applying for.
Also, it can help you a lot if you have very little experience or even none or if there is a long gap in your work experience history for any reason.
- It’s best to have volunteer experiences that are totally related to your experiences section (don’t have that? who cares, unrelated ones are still so good!).
- For instance, if you work in the agriculture industry, you can add that one experience you had as a volunteer agriculture engineer at an NGO that wants to save the human species from starvation.
- Tell people about your responsibilities in these experiences and be precise. Try to bring data and provide reliable stats. For example, how much money you could collect for that NGO, what were your accomplishments, etc.
- Tell people what skills you’ve developed during those experiences.
Related Questions & Answers
As mentioned, the most ideal volunteer experiences are the ones that are relevant to the industry you are working in. Many people ask where to find these volunteer positions, and the answer is LinkedIn and so many other NGOs and organizations.
There are many volunteer positions available all around the world, everywhere. There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities; the truth is that there is always a shortage of volunteers! Just take a look around your house to find them.
There are Soup kitchens, Red Cross, NGOs, etc. no matter where you live, charities and non-profitable organizations are always around.
All you needed to know was that volunteering can get you hired and how to add volunteer experience to LinkedIn by adding it to its relevant section. So if you’ve ever done some volunteer jobs, it’s time to add them to your profile.
Attract recruiters to your direction by a complete profile. And that’s a wrap-up!
FAQ
How do I add volunteer experience?
To add volunteer experience to your LinkedIn profile, follow these steps:
- Log In to LinkedIn: Go to the LinkedIn website and log in to your account.
- Access Your Profile: Click on your profile picture or your name to access your LinkedIn profile.
- Edit Your Profile: On your profile page, you’ll see an “Add profile section” button. Click on it.
- Choose “Volunteer Experience”: From the dropdown menu, select “Volunteer Experience.”
- Enter Details: In the “Volunteer Experience” section, provide details about your volunteer work. Include the organization’s name, your role, the dates you volunteered, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements.
- Save Changes: After adding your volunteer experience, click the “Save” button to update your LinkedIn profile.
Including volunteer experience on your LinkedIn profile can demonstrate your commitment to social causes, community involvement, and valuable skills gained through volunteer work, which can be attractive to potential employers and professional connections.
How do you reference a volunteer example?
Referencing a volunteer experience in a job interview or on your resume involves highlighting the relevant skills and accomplishments gained through your volunteer work. Here’s how to do it:
- Select Relevant Volunteer Experience: Choose volunteer experiences that align with the job you’re applying for or the skills you want to emphasize.
- Include It on Your Resume: Add the volunteer experience to your resume’s “Experience” or “Volunteer Work” section. Mention the organization, your role, dates, and briefly describe your responsibilities and achievements.
- Discuss in Interviews: During job interviews, when asked about your experience or skills, refer to your volunteer work as examples. Emphasize how your volunteer experience has prepared you for the job or how it demonstrates your relevant skills.
For example, if you volunteered at a nonprofit and managed social media accounts, you can mention it as follows: “I gained social media management skills through my volunteer work at [Organization], where I increased their online presence by X% and engaged with the community effectively.”
By referencing your volunteer experience effectively, you can showcase your abilities and demonstrate your dedication to potential employers.
Where should volunteer experience go on a CV?
Volunteer experience should typically go in the “Experience” section of your CV or resume, following your paid work experience. Create a separate subsection for “Volunteer Experience” or “Community Involvement” to clearly highlight this aspect of your background. For each volunteer position, include the organization’s name, your role or title, the dates you volunteered, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments. This placement allows potential employers to see your volunteer work and the skills you’ve gained, which can be valuable in demonstrating your well-roundedness and dedication.
Should I put volunteer work on LinkedIn?
Yes, you should definitely put volunteer work on LinkedIn. Including volunteer experience on your LinkedIn profile can be beneficial for several reasons:
- Showcase Skills: Volunteer work often involves skills that are transferable to your professional life. It’s an opportunity to highlight skills like leadership, teamwork, project management, and more.
- Demonstrate Values: It reflects your commitment to social causes and community involvement, which can align with the values of potential employers or connections.
- Networking: Your volunteer work may connect you with professionals in your field or individuals who share similar interests, expanding your network.
- Completeness: A well-rounded LinkedIn profile that includes volunteer experience presents a more holistic view of your background and interests.
When adding volunteer experience to LinkedIn, be sure to provide details about your role, responsibilities, and any significant achievements. This can make your profile more appealing to recruiters and connections who appreciate well-rounded professionals with a commitment to making a positive impact.
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