Volunteer work is looked upon positively regardless of what type of work you’re doing. As a job candidate, it says something about your character that is admirable. Of course the more relevant the Volunteer work is to your actual profession the more beneficial it’ll be, but ultimately, it is experience that you can learn from and that’ll make your resume more effective and impressive to potential employers. There are certain situations where volunteer work can be particularly helpful to your job search: 1. The New Grad. If you are a recent graduate just starting out, the only experience you may or may not have is internship experience and coursework. However, if you can refer to volunteer work experience, that may allow you to play up specific skills valued in a professional work setting. Volunteering can also lead to a paid job opportunity at the organization and it gives you access to a professional network of contacts who can potentially serve as your reference when you’re first starting out. 2. The Unemployed, Particularly The Long-Term Unemployed. The trouble with those who are unemployed is employers fear there may be a lack of current experience and skills, especially if you’ve been unemployed for a long period. However, if you can show volunteer work to help fill in the unemployment gap, it demonstrates to employers that you’ve continued to put your skills to work. Perhaps there’s also unique experiences from volunteering that adds value to your existing...

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