How Volunteering Can Improve Your CV and Increase Your Employability During the Hiring Process

​Every year, thousands of UK jobseekers compete for roles across sectors including professional services, housing, finance, HR, legal, property and operations. In increasingly competitive labour markets, employers are looking beyond academic qualifications and traditional employment history to assess transferable capability, behavioural competencies and cultural alignment.

During Volunteers' Week, it is important to recognise that volunteering is no longer viewed as simply “extra-curricular” activity. For many hiring managers and recruiters, it represents demonstrable evidence of initiative, adaptability, stakeholder engagement and commercial soft skills that directly influence hiring decisions.

For candidates entering the workforce, changing industries, returning after career breaks or experiencing employment gaps, volunteering can materially strengthen a CV and improve interview performance when positioned strategically.

Why Employers Value Volunteering Experience

From a recruitment perspective, volunteering provides measurable insight into behaviours that are difficult to assess from qualifications alone.

Hiring managers increasingly evaluate candidates against competency-based frameworks that prioritise:

• Communication capability

• Team collaboration

• Leadership potential

• Problem-solving

• Time management

• Emotional intelligence

• Community engagement

• Organisational commitment

Volunteer experience frequently evidences these competencies in practical environments.

According to the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), an estimated 14.2 million people in the UK volunteered through a group, club or organisation in 2021/22.

Research from NCVO’s Time Well Spent report also found that:

• 71% of volunteers reported gaining new skills and experience

• 74% said volunteering improved their confidence

• 69% of volunteers aged 18–24 believed volunteering improved their employment prospects

These findings are particularly relevant for graduates, entry-level professionals and career changers seeking to build commercially transferable experience.

The Recruitment Perspective: What Volunteering Signals to Employers

Within recruitment and talent acquisition, volunteer experience often functions as a behavioural indicator.

Candidates who volunteer can demonstrate:

Proactivity and Initiative

Volunteering shows an ability to contribute beyond mandatory obligations. Employers interpret this as evidence of self-motivation and growth mindset behaviour.

Commitment to Professional Development

Candidates who undertake volunteering alongside employment or education demonstrate strong organisational and prioritisation skills.

Adaptability and Learning Agility

Many volunteer positions require individuals to operate in unfamiliar environments, engage with diverse stakeholder groups and rapidly acquire new operational processes.

These are highly valued capabilities across sectors such as social housing, property management, HR, legal services and finance.

Leadership and Stakeholder Management

Volunteer projects often involve event coordination, fundraising, mentoring, administration or committee participation.

NCVO data identified events management (39%), administration (28%) and community engagement activities (27%) among the most common volunteering responsibilities.

These experiences can directly support competency-based interview examples.

How Volunteering Helps Different Types of Candidates

Graduates and Early-Career Professionals

Candidates with limited employment history can use volunteering to demonstrate workplace readiness and behavioural competencies.

This is particularly effective when volunteer activity includes:

• Project coordination

• Administrative support

• Marketing or social media management

• Fundraising campaigns

• Community outreach

• Digital communications

These responsibilities help bridge the “experience gap” that many employers identify during entry-level recruitment.

Career Changers

Professionals transitioning sectors can use volunteering strategically to gain adjacent industry exposure.

For example:

• An aspiring HR professional volunteering in people operations or mentoring

• A future housing professional supporting community outreach programmes

• A legal candidate assisting advice centres or charitable governance teams

• Marketing professionals supporting charity campaigns and communications

This creates relevant sector exposure before securing permanent employment.

Candidates Returning After Career Breaks

Volunteer experience can also mitigate perceived CV gaps by demonstrating continued engagement, skill utilisation and professional activity.

Recruiters are significantly more likely to view employment gaps positively when candidates can demonstrate meaningful contribution and ongoing development during that period.

How to Add Volunteering to Your CV Properly

One of the most common mistakes candidates make is under-selling volunteer experience.

Volunteer work should not simply be listed under “Interests”.

Instead, structure it similarly to professional employment experience.

Example Format

Community Fundraising Volunteer – Local Charity
January 2025 – Present

• Coordinated fundraising initiatives generating £5,000+ for local support programmes

• Managed stakeholder communications across social media platforms

• Supported event logistics for community engagement campaigns attended by 300+ participants

• Collaborated cross-functionally with volunteer teams to deliver operational objectives

This approach positions volunteering as commercially relevant experience rather than informal activity.

The Importance of Quantifiable Impact

Modern CV screening increasingly focuses on measurable outcomes.

Where possible, candidates should include:

• Fundraising totals

• Event attendance figures

• Volunteer hours

• Social engagement metrics

• Operational improvements

• Team sizes managed

• Community reach

This creates stronger evidence of impact and improves ATS (Applicant Tracking System) keyword relevance.

Volunteering and Soft Skills Development

Technical skills remain important, but employers consistently prioritise soft skills during hiring processes.

The UK labour market continues to experience skills shortages across communication, leadership and interpersonal capability.

Volunteering helps develop:

• Client-facing communication

• Conflict resolution

• Public speaking

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Empathy and emotional intelligence

• Organisational resilience

These are increasingly critical in customer-facing and operational roles.

Research from Royal Voluntary Service also found that volunteering contributes positively to confidence, productivity and workforce capability.

Does Volunteering Guarantee Employment?

No - and candidates should avoid overstating its impact.

Research from the Institute for Social and Economic Research found volunteering has a “significant, but weak” direct effect on employability outcomes overall.

However, volunteering becomes highly valuable when combined with:

• Strong CV positioning

• Relevant qualifications

• Effective interview preparation

• Commercial awareness

• Strategic networking

Volunteering should therefore be viewed as an employability enhancer rather than a substitute for professional experience.

Best Types of Volunteering for CV Development

Candidates should prioritise volunteering opportunities aligned to their target sector or skill gaps.

Examples include:

Strategic alignment significantly improves the commercial relevance of volunteer experience during recruitment processes.

Final Thoughts

Volunteering remains one of the most accessible ways to strengthen employability, particularly for candidates seeking to differentiate themselves in competitive UK hiring markets.

When presented correctly, volunteer experience demonstrates initiative, transferable skills, resilience and community engagement - all of which are increasingly valuable to modern employers.

During Volunteers' Week, organisations and candidates alike should recognise that volunteering is not simply charitable contribution; it is also a powerful professional development tool that can enhance long-term career prospects.

Looking for Your Next Opportunity?

Whether you are entering the workforce, changing sectors or looking to progress your career, our specialist recruitment consultants can help you identify opportunities aligned to your experience, ambitions and transferable skill set.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss current vacancies, market insights and career progression opportunities across housing, property, HR, finance, legal, procurement and governance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does volunteering count as work experience on a CV?

Yes. Volunteering can absolutely count as relevant work experience, particularly when it demonstrates transferable skills, operational responsibilities or sector-specific exposure.

Where should volunteering appear on a CV?

If the volunteering is highly relevant, include it within your main professional experience section. Less relevant volunteering can sit within a separate “Volunteer Experience” section.

Can volunteering help graduates get jobs?

Yes. Volunteering helps graduates demonstrate workplace competencies, communication skills, teamwork and initiative when commercial employment history is limited.

Do employers value volunteering in the UK?

Many employers view volunteering positively because it demonstrates proactivity, commitment and transferable soft skills. It can also support competency-based interview responses.

Should volunteering be included on LinkedIn?

Yes. LinkedIn includes a dedicated volunteer experience section, which can strengthen your professional profile and improve visibility to recruiters.

How long should you volunteer before adding it to your CV?

There is no fixed timeframe. Even short-term volunteering projects can be valuable if they demonstrate measurable contribution or relevant skills development.

Can volunteering help career changers?

Absolutely. Volunteering is often an effective way to gain sector exposure, develop relevant experience and build professional networks before transitioning careers.