Resume question:

[TheMightyFavog]

Can volunteer work be listed under work experience?

[Technowitch]

1. As a former part-time recruiter and resume screener

Absolutely.

Just be sure to list it as such.

[MnFats]

2. certainly

anything that makes you look good, goes in.

[TaleWgnDg]

3. Ahhhhhh, resumes . . .

.
Ahhhhhh, resumes . . . where even the meek amongst us are given a license to brag like hell . . . !!

Sure. Why distinguish between paid work and volunteer work? That is, as long as you reveal in your resume that it's volunteer work. But do brag like hell about all the tasks you handled (multi-tasked, of course) and all the accolades for same too.

Go for it! And the best of luck to you.

edited for typo

[Technowitch]

5. Ah, resumes, where former recruiters like me learn...

...how to separate the bullshit from the actual experience. ;) I learned all the buzzwords and -phrases, too.

• "Was responsible for (x)" = I did as little as I could get away with and still get paid
  
• "Led a team to (blah)" = I didn't do any of the actual work
  
• "Excellent at multitasking" = Utterly disorganized, my cubicles were often declared fire hazards.
  
• "Consistently met schedule requirements" = I delivered, even thought it was crap, and just hoped nobody noticed.
  
• "Always delivered quality, however much effort it took" = I never once managed to meet a deadline.
  
• "Always willing to put in extra effort to meet commitments" = I lack time management skills, forcing me to put in ridiculous amounts of overtime, which is why I am either (1) hopelessly unmarriageable or (2) recently divorced and denied custody of the kids.
  
• "Spearheaded an effort to (thus-and-such)" = They told me to try to get this thing done, we had several pointless meetings, and nothing ever came of it.
  
• "Commended for innovative thinking" = I was reprimanded for failing to follow company procedures.
  
• "Adhered to company procedures" = The opposite of the previous skill, I wouldn't know an original idea if it bit me on the ass.
  
• "Team player" = Utterly incapable of leading, I operate best in sheep-mode.
  
• "Team leader" = Utterly incapable of working well with others, I have to have my way or I throw tantrums.
  
• "Organized and extensively coordinated project efforts" = I excelled at holding as many meetings as possible, much to the annoyance of my coworkers and teammates.
  
• "Respect of my peers" = Everybody hated me and never invited me out to lunch.
  
• "Respect of my superiors" = My managers hated me, too.
  
• "Project team lead" = I was a tin-hat martinet with delusions of grandeur -- my coworkers hated me and my boss thought I was a pathetic but convenient scapegoat.
  
• "Cross-disciplinary training throughout firm" = Managers kept passing me from one to another like a tar-baby, each hoping I'd finally wise up and quit.
  

cheers!
-Technowitch
"Your Worst Nightmare!"

[TaleWgnDg]

7. ROFL . . . n/t

[zelda7743]

8. Oh, crap!

I'm about to send resumes out, and I use a lot of those phrases....should I take them out?

[TankLV]

9. Just dates, places, tasks.

Just a list of record.

I never ever used such phrases or even had a paragraph self-describing me.

Just the facts.

No more, no less.

Do people really put out such things?

Never had anyone ask for such things, either.

Name of company.
Address of company.
Dates of employment.
Responsibilities, positions held, list of projects and brief descriptions of projects and dollar value.
List of references and contacts.

Nothing that can't be verified.
No opinions.

No value judgements as to how I did this or that.

[Jamastiene]

4. Yes

You can include it. If you do it the way most colleges recommend, you'll end up with a cover letter that summarizes your education, previous work experiences, and volunteer work and even what church you attend (assuming you attend church) if you like. On the actual resume, just add your volunteer work in separately from your work experiences, but in the same section. It'll make you look PRO fessional, or so they say.

[TankLV]

11. I'd never mention anything about church attendance or non-attendance.

Has NOTHING to do with ANYTHING, unless you are applying for a CHURCH position.

And if it's the WRONG religion to the person reviewing the resume, could be a black mark.

Best to AVOID anything religious. Ever.

Never heard of anybody using such things, unless you were the head of the building task force, fundraising committee, member of the governing council, or such similar position similar to a being on the board of a condo association, that shows a leadership experience.

But just saying you are a parishoner or member that attends services of a particular church. I'd discourage that. Especially in these times.

[Jamastiene]

12. That's funny

In my hometown, it's the biggest recommendation of the people at the school to add that info. Of course, as hard as it is to get a decent paying job in this town, it might be the "code" to get you in. We only have right wing zealot type Christians here so it wouldn't matter if you listed ANY church. They'd be happy and pat you on the back for going at all. I wish things worked the way you suggest. I'd have much more confidence in my resume.

[Technowitch]

6. Oh, and a couple other pieces of actual serious advice--

(1) NEVER claim to have worked someplace or performed some duties which can be easily refuted by a single phone call to said company.
(2) NEVER give as a professional reference someone who isn't going to give a stellar recommendation.

This second amazed me sometimes... how a person would give me three names, and two of them would basically say the thought the candidate was a complete fuck-up. Well, usually not *quite* that bad. But you know it's a warning sign when the reference says, "He's very smart, but difficult to work with. Doesn't get along well with teams, and sometimes the engineers complained about him." (Close to an actual quote there.)

[TankLV]

10. Absolutely.

Especially if it relates to your field of expertise.

Member of community planning commission?

Member/officer of community organizations, condo associations, professional societies/organizations - even if a "one-shot" deal?

Help orgainzing/contributing member of some community or other group event?

Did a mayor/governor or other elected official ask you to serve on a commission or board or to give a report on some issue?

Articles written/published?

You can list them by categories.

All are valuable.