Volunteering a great way to help others and improve your resume

Volunteer work is very valuable. Ask any organization that enlists volunteers and they will tell you  “volunteers make it possible to run our world!" In our Compeer Program at Far West Center and in all Compeer programs throughout the U.S., Canada and Australia, volunteers help transform peoples’ lives by offering friendship and supportive communication. Did you know that not only is volunteering good for the community and your self-esteem, but it is also a great addition to your resume? 

An article titled “Put Volunteer Work on Your Resume” by Susan J. Ellis, featured at www.volunteerguide.org, states “one way to capture the interest of an employer is to show that you are an involved citizen – someone who works to make the community a better place to live. In other words, make sure your volunteer work appears on your resume.” 

This article also points out that volunteer work listed on a college graduate’s resume shows an employer that the student has demonstrated interests outside the classroom. Ellis also suggests to individuals that are trying to return to the work force after unemployment that “volunteer activities prove that you kept yourself sharp and involved.” 

Volunteer work can say a lot about character and one’s ability to commit to a job. Volunteer work shows that you “showed up” for the job and helped an organization to accomplish service goals. The Community Service Learning Center of Grand Valley State University in Michigan says in regard to resumes: “Remember, volunteer work should be presented with the same value, importance and level of achievement as paid employment.”

In his New York Times article, titled “Volunteering Rises on Resumes,” John Leland offers some results of a September 2011 survey given to employers by LinkedIn. The LinkedIn survey showed that “41 percent of employers said they considered volunteer work as important as paid work.” This same survey reports that 20 percent of employers made a hiring decision based on an applicant’s volunteer work.

You need not look far to find a volunteer opportunity in our Westlake and Bay Village communities. There are a number of outstanding organizations in need of volunteers in order to provide services. Compeer, with an office in Westlake, is looking for adult volunteers. The many advantages to volunteering for our program include socialization, fun activities and a flexible schedule. In fact, Compeer volunteers make their own schedule which makes volunteering fit within their other commitments. 

Please visit www.compeer.org and see how rewarding it can be to be a Compeer volunteer. For more information about Westlake Compeer, call us at 440-835-6212, ext. 242, or email compeer@farwestcenter.com.

Many of our Compeer volunteers are listing their volunteer work on their resumes. We hope you will join us and be able to make Compeer a helpful addition to your resume!

Denise Ayres

The Compeer Program has been serving adults that are managing mental illness from our Far West Center office fo almost 21 years! The Compeer Program is a branch of Compeer, Inc., an international organization. Compeer matches adult volunteers with same gender adult consumers of mental health services to provide friendship, emotional support, and encouragement.

Read More on Community Service
Volume 4, Issue 20, Posted 10:25 AM, 10.02.2012