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It’s International Day of Charity and we’re looking at the importance of volunteering experience on a candidate’s CV and its value for your business. 

As the job market grows and changes, volunteer experience has become increasingly more valuable among employers when reviewing candidate CVs. For hiring managers, 82% agreed that they are more likely to select a candidate with volunteering experience, according to research by Deloitte. But what is the value, and what can it tell you about a prospective candidate? 

This blog will explore why you should pay close attention to volunteer work and how it can be a key factor in identifying the best candidates for your organisation. 

Volunteering provides candidates with opportunities to develop and apply skills that are highly relevant to the workplace, in the same way an apprenticeship would. For instance, managing a community event can demonstrate project management skills, while coordinating volunteer teams highlights leadership and collaboration abilities.

 

Candidates who regularly engage in volunteer work often display a level of commitment and passion that can be indicative of their approach to professional responsibilities. You should view this as a sign of a candidate’s dedication and willingness to go above and beyond.

The causes a candidate chooses to support can offer a window into their personal values and how well they align with your company’s culture. For example, if your organisation prioritises community involvement, a candidate who volunteers with local charities may be a particularly strong cultural fit, enhancing both their engagement and contribution to your team.

Learn more about company culture and it's importance here. 

Volunteering can be a productive way for job seekers to fill gaps in employment, whether due to personal reasons, education, or economic factors. Rather than seeing these gaps as a red flag, instead recognise that candidates who use this time to contribute to meaningful causes are demonstrating resourcefulness and a proactive attitude, which can be invaluable in a professional setting.

Volunteering often places individuals in situations where they need to take initiative and lead others, even without formal authority. Candidates who have successfully led volunteer projects or coordinated teams demonstrate leadership potential that may not be fully evident in their paid work experience, making them valuable assets for leadership development within your company.

As well as offering significant benefits to the candidate as an employee, their volunteer experience can also be used as part of the hiring process. During interviews, use the experience as an opportunity to ask about what challenges they face, what they learned, and how they applied those lessons. 

This will offer the candidate the chance to openly speak about volunteering as well as provide deeper insights into their character and capabilities. Both will support you in making a more informed hiring decision.

Volunteer work is not just a footnote on a CV—it’s a valuable source of information about a candidate’s skills and potential. By giving this experience the attention it deserves, you can uncover hidden talents and make more strategic hiring decisions that benefit both your company and community.