Recently I was in classes teaching students how to write a resume and complete a job application. The common thread I found amongst all of the students was that they didn't see the volunteer work or community service that they had performed as actual job experience. Babysitting, taking care of lawns, volunteering within the church, these were just a few of the valuable experiences students shared with me that they almost left off of their resume.
A common misconception is that an experience isn't actual job experience if a paycheck isn't involved. Wrong! If you volunteer, you perform job duties, you have a supervisor, and you gain actual work experience. You have a reference who can attest to your work ethic.These are the type of experiences to tout on a resume, not omit.
Shelving items at Hospice Thrift Barn, stuffing envelopes at your church, or building houses on a mission trip are work experiences. Even if you didn't get a paycheck and you may have volunteered for a limited amount of time, these are important skills that you learned that need to be highlighted on your resume. Let those potential employers know how dynamic you are!
If you need assistance with writing a resume, make an appointment to see your school counselor.
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