Writing a resume is much the same whether it is for a paid job or as a volunteer. The people assessing applications require relevant information about the applicant, presented in an organized and concise manner. Providing unnecessary details can hurt as much as leaving out vital points. But a good resume can help you target a highly desirable position with an established charity.
Step 1
Research your desired volunteer post. Most charity organizations are hungry for contributors. Do not assume it is necessary to overly impress in order to be accepted.
Step 2
List your main attributes. Consider what your most powerful assets are, especially those directly relevant to the position you are seeking. Both work and home-related qualities are equally valuable, but prioritize the ones most relevant by listing those first.
Step 3
Make a rough draft. Handwrite your initial points in a casual manner. Let ideas flow freely at first. You can eliminate what you don't want as you rewrite.
Step 4
Leave the writing alone for a few days. Give yourself time to become refreshed so that you view the developing resume with a clear eye. Don't just read and re-read your work--this may cause you to view it in a numb and detached manner.
Step 5
Type a finalized version: Return to your draft and put together a proper document encompassing all the necessary information clearly and concisely. Include contact details, work experience and your preferred job, but do not include irrelevant facts.
Step 6
Proofread your resume carefully. Spell-check the document using the tool on your word processor, but also assess manually. Spell-checkers catch most proofing errors, but not all.
Step 7
Before sending your resume to the recipient, let a friend, family member or neighbor read through it. Acting on their suggestions will likely improve the document beyond what a single person's perspective can achieve.
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