If you have ever been out of work or are currently out of work, you will know just how competitive getting a job can be. Employers typically have heaps of resume’s to read through and often only have time to skim read them. This coupled with rising unemployment rates due to the global economic crisis means that it’s more important than ever that you stand out from the crowd and catch peoples attention.

Hire Me! Hire Me!

So how exactly can you make sure your resume stands out? Often in these circumstances employers will trim down their list based on what they are looking for or people that particularly grab their attention and this is the first instance where volunteer, especially volunteer abroad experience can make the difference.

Imagine you are the employer, skimming through a mountain of resume’s and putting to one side those that seem interesting and/or meet requirements. There will be the usual education, work experience, hobbies that are tenuously linked to some kind of worth in the work place, blabla etc etc, i’m bored, you’re bored, so we can be sure the employer is bored!

Then something stands out, a resume that’s a bit different and shows real character. This person appears to have spent some time as a volunteer helping children in Kenya (for example). If this person has the kind of dedication and ambition necessary to undertake something so incredible, this is the kind of person that should be working for me!

Why Does Volunteering Look Good to Employers?

There are many reasons why an employer might be impressed by a candidate that has spent time as a volunteer, and here are a few;

• Hard Working - For someone to take on what could be looked upon as work in their spare time, shows a certain dedication and hard working nature. Of course, to those that have experienced the benefits of being a volunteer, this will not seem like hard work. However to potential employers, this dedicated nature will show just how hard working you are.
• Determination to Better Themselves and Others - Taking on something like volunteering shows a determination to better yourself as a person, your impact on the world and better the situation of others. If you apply this determination and giving nature to the work place, you are sure to be an asset to any company.
• Adventurous - It takes a certain amount of courage to get out there and volunteer, particularly in a foregin country and this shows potential employers you have an adventurous nature and will not shy away from difficult or demanding tasks.
• Able to Work as Part of a Team - The majority of volunteer holidays and experiences available today involve working with others as part of a team and this is something all employers look for as this shows you will be able to integrate well within the company.

There’s some to get you started, if you can think of any please add them to the comments below!

Now that covers the first instance where having volunteer experience helps you stand out from the crowd and get an employers attention, now it’s time for your experience to get you the job!

The Game is Tied with Minutes to Go, Time to Bring on Your Super Sub

So you’ve made it to the final few candidates, good work! The problem now is that you all have similar work experience, a similar educational background and it’s down to showing the employer you have what it takes to not only get the job done, but exceed their expectations.

While others may still be highlighting their education, where they have worked previously, what they did while you are there (things the employer already knows), you have an ace up your sleeve. By mentioning education, experience etc and tying this in with your volunteering experience (where possible), or simply adding your volunteering experience, you are showing the employer that you have a wealth of experience, a strong character and all of the qualities mentioned above - and more! It is your time as a volunteer that gives you a wealth of experiences to talk about and while other candidates may simply appear as having education, you have experience, something that is by far more valuable. Your experiences will also ensure that there is plenty to talk about as people tend to be genuinely interested in someone that has got out there and made a difference.

On that note we end this article, but please feel free to ask questions on how to impress employers with your experience and debate the subject. We will soon be releasing articles on how exactly you can develop your resume and make sure you stand out from the crowd!