If you want to make your LinkedIn profile stand out, adding volunteer experience is a smart move. It highlights your skills, values, and commitment to causes you care about, which can appeal to recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s how to do it effectively:
- Use the Volunteer Experience & Causes section to showcase unpaid work that reflects your personal values and community involvement.
- Add volunteer roles to the Experience section if they align with your career goals or demonstrate leadership skills. This approach allows you to receive LinkedIn recommendations for these roles.
- Write clear, action-based descriptions for your volunteer work. Focus on measurable results and transferable skills relevant to your career.
- Enhance your entries with media like photos, certificates, or links to highlight your impact.
To add volunteer experience, go to your profile, click "Add Profile Section", and choose the appropriate section. Whether you use the Volunteer or Experience section depends on your goals – both can help strengthen your professional story.
How to Add Volunteer Experience to LinkedIn
Where to Add Volunteer Experience on LinkedIn
LinkedIn provides two main sections to feature your volunteer work. Choosing the right one depends on your goals. If your aim is to highlight community involvement alongside a solid professional background, the Volunteer Experience & Causes section works well. On the other hand, if your volunteer work ties directly to your career or helps build your professional experience, adding it to the Experience section might be more effective. Let’s break down when to use each option.
Using the Volunteer Experience Section
The Volunteer Experience & Causes section is designed for unpaid work that reflects your values and commitment to community engagement. This section is separate from your professional work history, making it ideal for showcasing roles that demonstrate your passions outside of your career.
To add this section, go to your profile and click "Add Profile Section" at the top. If you don’t see this option, click "View More" under your contact details. Then, select "Volunteer Experience & Causes" and hit "Add to Profile."
This section is perfect for roles like serving on nonprofit boards, mentoring, or organizing community events. These activities highlight your personal interests and skills that may not be evident in your paid work.
Career expert Kathy Caprino emphasizes the value of this approach:
"Showcase your volunteer experience on your resume and LinkedIn profile (under the ‘Volunteering’ section) when it helps add perspective and richness to your professional story and sheds important light on what matters to you as a person, as well as additional skills and talents that your paid work may not demonstrate." [1]
Using the Experience Section
The Experience section is better suited for volunteer roles that align closely with your career goals or demonstrate leadership and technical skills relevant to your field. This is especially useful for recent graduates, individuals re-entering the workforce, or those transitioning to a new industry. For example, if you’re moving into nonprofit management and have held significant volunteer leadership roles, listing them here ensures they carry the same weight as paid positions.
Freelance assistant Beki Herzberg points out an important consideration:
"If you want to receive a reference on LinkedIn from someone connected to volunteering, you can’t do this if the position is under the volunteering section. You can only receive a reference if it’s logged under employment." [1]
If you’re seeking LinkedIn recommendations for your volunteer work, placing it in the Experience section is the way to go. Recommendations serve as valuable social proof, especially for leadership roles or positions where you made a notable impact.
When listing volunteer roles in the Experience section, make sure to clearly indicate that the position was unpaid in the title or description. This adds transparency while still giving the role prominence on your profile.
| Volunteer Experience Section | Experience Section |
|---|---|
| Best for showcasing community involvement and personal values | Best for volunteer roles tied to professional goals |
| Ideal for those with significant professional experience | Great for new graduates or career changers |
| Highlights passions and additional skills | Demonstrates leadership and technical expertise |
| Does not allow LinkedIn recommendations | Enables LinkedIn recommendations |
| Separate from professional work history | Integrated with paid positions |
Ultimately, your decision depends on how your volunteer work supports your career objectives. Both sections can be effective if used thoughtfully and strategically.
Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Volunteer Experience
Including volunteer experience on your LinkedIn profile is a great way to showcase your dedication and skills. Here’s how to add this information effectively, depending on where you want it to appear.
Adding Volunteer Experience to the Volunteer Section
The Volunteer Experience & Causes section is specifically designed to highlight your unpaid contributions. Here’s how to add your volunteer work:
Step 1: Access Your Profile
Log in to LinkedIn and go to your profile by clicking "Me" in the top navigation bar, then selecting "View Profile."
Step 2: Locate the Add Profile Section Button
Find the "Add profile section" button, usually located below your profile banner. If needed, click "View More" under Contact Information.
Step 3: Select Volunteer Experience
From the pop-up menu, click "Additional" and choose "Add volunteer experience" or "Volunteer Experience & Causes." Then, hit the "+" button next to "Volunteer Experience."
Step 4: Complete the Form Fields
Fill out the following details:
- Organization: Enter the name of the nonprofit or organization where you volunteered.
- Role: Specify your title or describe your role, such as "Mentor", "Event Coordinator", or "Fundraising Volunteer."
- Cause: Select a cause from LinkedIn’s dropdown menu, like Education, Health, or Social Services. If none apply, you can leave this blank.
- Dates: Use the MM/YYYY format for start and end dates. For ongoing roles, check "I Currently Volunteer Here."
- Description: Write 2-3 sentences summarizing your responsibilities, achievements, and the impact of your work.
Step 5: Add Supporting Media (Optional)
You can upload photos, videos, or links that highlight your contributions. For instance, include event pictures or links to articles featuring your work.
Step 6: Save Your Entry
Once everything is complete, click "Save" to add the experience to your profile.
According to a 2025 case study [2], detailed volunteer descriptions can significantly enhance your profile’s visibility. For example, a volunteer who listed accomplishments like earning multiple Presidential Service Awards saw a noticeable boost in engagement.
Next, let’s explore how to include volunteer roles in the Experience section for greater professional emphasis.
Adding Volunteer Roles to the Experience Section
If you want your volunteer work to stand out as prominently as your paid positions, consider adding it to the Experience section. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Navigate to Experience
Scroll to the "Experience" section of your profile and click the "+" icon to add a new entry.
Step 2: Fill Out the Job Fields with Adjustments
Complete the standard fields with these key adjustments:
- Title: Include "Volunteer" in your title (e.g., "Marketing Volunteer" or "Volunteer Board Member").
- Employment Type: Select "Volunteer" or, if unavailable, choose "Other" and note that it’s unpaid.
- Company: Enter the organization’s official name.
- Location: Use the U.S. format (City, State abbreviation).
- Start Date: Stick to the MM/YYYY format for consistency.
Step 3: Write a Strong Description
Describe your role by focusing on measurable results, leadership duties, and skills you developed. Use action-oriented language, starting bullet points with verbs like "organized", "led", or "implemented."
Step 4: Indicate the Duration Clearly
Be upfront about the time frame. For ongoing roles, select the "I am currently working in this role" option.
Step 5: Position Strategically
Take note of where this role appears on your profile. LinkedIn arranges entries in reverse chronological order, so recent volunteer work will show up higher in the Experience section.
Adding volunteer work to the Experience section gives it equal weight with paid positions, making it especially useful for career changers or those with limited work history. On the other hand, the Volunteer section is better for showcasing community involvement without affecting your professional timeline. Clear, well-structured entries in either section can make your profile more appealing to recruiters.
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How to Write Better Volunteer Descriptions
Volunteer descriptions can significantly influence how recruiters perceive your skills. The key is to move beyond generic statements and present your contributions and achievements in a way that stands out.
Writing Action-Based Descriptions with Numbers
Start with strong action verbs and include measurable results. For example, instead of saying, "helped with fundraising events", you could write, "led a team of 10 volunteers to organize a fundraiser that raised $10,000 for local shelters" [2]. Words like "coordinated", "developed", "facilitated", "managed", and "implemented" show initiative and leadership [5,6]. These concise, results-driven descriptions make your profile more compelling to recruiters.
Focus on transferable skills that align with your career goals. If you’re aiming for roles in sales or marketing, highlight volunteer experiences that involved outreach, relationship building, or campaign management. For instance, instead of saying, "knocked on doors for a candidate", you might write, "conducted targeted voter outreach using CRM tools to increase local election turnout" [3].
Incorporate industry-specific keywords to improve your visibility in recruiter searches. For example, if you’re pursuing a project management role, emphasize experiences related to managing budgets, timelines, or cross-functional teams. Using bullet points for these descriptions makes your profile easier to read and helps recruiters quickly identify your key achievements.
Attaching Media and Awards
Adding visuals and awards to your profile can further reinforce your accomplishments. LinkedIn allows you to upload photos, videos, documents, and links that showcase your work. These additions provide context and credibility beyond written descriptions.
For example, you could include photos from events you organized or share links to news articles or press releases that mention your volunteer efforts. If you’ve received awards like the Gold Presidential Service Award or Silver Presidential Award, upload certificates or official documentation [2]. You can also highlight analytical contributions by sharing project reports, such as donor engagement tracking, community survey results, or marketing materials you created. Video testimonials from organization leaders or fellow volunteers can serve as powerful endorsements. Additionally, before-and-after visuals for projects you led, like redesigning a nonprofit’s website or improving volunteer coordination, can effectively demonstrate your impact.
Reordering Profile Sections for Better Visibility
How you position your volunteer experience on your LinkedIn profile can influence its impact. If your volunteer work directly relates to your career goals or fills gaps in your employment history, consider moving the Volunteer Experience section higher on your profile. This strategy is particularly useful for recent graduates, career changers, or professionals returning to the workforce.
To reorder sections on LinkedIn, hover over a section header, click the pencil icon or "Edit" option, and drag the sections to your preferred order. Placing your volunteer experience right after your summary or professional experience can strengthen your overall narrative. This ensures that your refined volunteer descriptions receive the attention they deserve.
Tailor the section order to your audience. For organizations that prioritize community involvement, placing your Volunteer Experience section prominently can highlight shared values. For more traditional corporate roles, it might be better to position volunteer work after your professional experience.
Lastly, updating your profile during peak hours (typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST) can enhance visibility, as LinkedIn’s algorithm tends to favor recently updated profiles. Use the "View profile as" feature to experiment with different arrangements and ensure your profile tells a cohesive and impactful story.
Using Closely to Highlight Volunteer Experience in Outreach
Your volunteer experience isn’t just a nice addition to your profile – it can be a powerful tool for creating meaningful connections. Once you’ve polished your LinkedIn volunteer section, you can use it strategically to enhance your outreach efforts.
Closely’s AI-powered platform helps transform your volunteer background into a foundation for building authentic relationships. Highlighting shared values and experiences through your volunteer work can lead to more engaging and genuine conversations with prospects.
AI-Powered Personalization for Outreach
Closely’s AI features take personalization to the next level by weaving your volunteer experience into LinkedIn messages and connection requests. The platform analyzes your profile alongside your prospect’s background to identify shared interests, creating natural and relatable conversation starters.
For example, the tool can craft messages referencing mutual volunteer experiences or shared causes, making your outreach feel more personal. It also allows you to dig deeper into a prospect’s volunteer history, board memberships, or charitable activities, helping you tailor messages that resonate on a more personal level.
For sales professionals, this approach can be particularly effective. Mentioning your involvement in initiatives like literacy programs when reaching out to prospects in the education sector, for instance, shows a genuine interest in their mission. This not only builds trust but also signals a shared commitment to making a positive impact.
Closely’s platform supports a multichannel strategy, enabling you to strengthen these connections across LinkedIn and email campaigns. Start with a LinkedIn message highlighting shared volunteer interests, then follow up with an email linking your mutual causes.
Tracking Engagement and Analyzing Impact
To measure the effectiveness of your outreach, Closely’s analytics dashboard provides detailed insights. You can track key metrics like deliverability, open rates, click-through rates, and conversions, giving you a clear picture of how well your volunteer-focused outreach is performing [4].
Conclusion: Building Your LinkedIn Profile with Volunteer Experience
Including volunteer experience on your LinkedIn profile is a powerful way to enhance your personal brand and stand out in a competitive job market. The numbers back this up: 41% of hiring managers view volunteer work as equally valuable as paid work experience, and 20% have even made hiring decisions based on a candidate’s volunteer contributions [5].
Volunteer work goes beyond simply filling space on your profile – it highlights your skills, values, and character. It shows initiative, leadership, and a commitment to your community, all of which are traits that recruiters actively look for. Whether you’re a recent graduate addressing gaps in your resume, transitioning careers and showcasing transferable skills, or a seasoned professional emphasizing your values, volunteer experience adds depth to your professional story.
To make the most of these roles, treat them with the same professionalism as paid positions. Write action-oriented descriptions, quantify your results, and tie your achievements to skills relevant to your career goals. For instance, instead of saying, "Volunteer at Local Food Bank", you could write, "Managed a team of 12 volunteers to coordinate weekly food distributions, serving over 200 families and improving operational efficiency by 30%."
LinkedIn provides several ways to showcase your volunteer work effectively. Use the Volunteer Experience section for maximum visibility or include certain roles in the Experience section if they’re closely aligned with your career path. You can also add media, seek recommendations, and reorganize sections to highlight key contributions.
Your volunteer background is more than just a profile addition – it’s a strategic tool for building meaningful connections. When paired with tools like Closely’s AI-powered personalization, your volunteer experience can help you establish authentic relationships with professionals who share similar interests and values. This approach turns your volunteer work into a key element of your professional identity.
Highlighting your volunteer work not only strengthens your credibility but also aligns you with the values companies care about – an increasingly important factor in today’s purpose-driven hiring landscape.
FAQs
Why should I add volunteer experience to my LinkedIn profile, and how can it help with my job search?
Adding volunteer experience to your LinkedIn profile is a smart way to highlight your skills, values, and commitment outside of your regular job. It shows recruiters and potential employers that you’re not just about work – you’re also about making a difference.
Volunteer work can also help bridge any gaps in your employment history while showcasing transferable skills like leadership, teamwork, or project management. By including this experience, you’re not only strengthening your personal brand but also demonstrating that you’re proactive, well-rounded, and aligned with the values many companies appreciate.
Should I add my volunteer experience to the Volunteer Experience section or the Experience section on LinkedIn?
The ideal spot to highlight your volunteer experience on LinkedIn depends on how closely it aligns with your career goals and the significance of your contributions. If your volunteer work directly connects to your professional ambitions, demonstrates key skills, or includes notable accomplishments, the Volunteer Experience section is the perfect place to showcase it prominently.
On the other hand, if the volunteer work is less directly tied to your career but still emphasizes transferable skills or meaningful efforts, consider adding it to the Experience section. This way, it blends seamlessly with your professional roles, providing recruiters with a well-rounded view of your expertise and background.
How can I write a strong description of my volunteer experience on LinkedIn?
To create an engaging description of your volunteer experience on LinkedIn, focus on what you did, why it was important, and the difference you made. Use strong, action-focused language and include measurable results whenever possible. For instance, instead of writing, "Helped organize events", you could say, "Led the coordination of three community fundraisers, generating over $10,000 to enhance local education initiatives."
Be clear about your role, responsibilities, and achievements. Emphasize transferable skills like leadership, collaboration, or project management that align with your career aspirations. By framing your volunteer work to highlight its relevance to your professional goals, you can make your profile more attractive to recruiters and potential connections.