How far do i go back when i cite my volunteer experience in resume?

Question

hi i'm now writing my first resume in my life and having some problems with it. (i have practiced writing it but have never used it for real)

i'm not sure how far i go back when i write about my volunteer works in the past. should i put one in 2005 or not?

also, i don't have any paid work experience, then is it okay to skip the work history section or do i have to make a section for it and say i don't have any work history?

please help me out i'm so confused !

Answer 1

Write dowm ALL your voolunteering experience. This is very important to have down.

Don't mention work history if you don't have any. But outline anything you've done in the past that is related or similiar to work activities(thats very important on there especially when you don't have any work experience). Did you help at a sausage sizzle one time?

Did you do anything team related or co-operative?

Were you part of a school council or class/school captain/student president/prefect(responsibility skills)? are a few example questions to ask yourself.

Answer 2

Rule of thumb for most resumes:

Keep your resume to 2 pages.

Most Human resource people read and absorb about 80% of the first page of a resume and 20% of the second page.

Many human Resource people will place resumes that exceed 3 pages in the Recycling bin or the Garbage bin - seldom even read the first page.

Write each resume for the job advertised.

Most important facts pertaining to the job to which you are applying.

Keep the information concise and true - do not over embellish.  Most Human resource people can detect exagerated resumes.

Good Luck

Answer 3

General rule- when writing a resume don't go further back than 10 years. It should include information from the past 10 years only. Also even if you don't have any actual paid work history  don't forget you have many other skills  that can impress a potential employer. and things you may not think are very important CAN become valuable assets, you just need to use the write words:) If you have no paid work history, you should verify reasons why you have no worked previously and 'tel your story' to attract a potential employer. Your resume is a composition that expresses a message of

“Where I’m headed” vs. a “where I’ve been” outline. If you really haven't 'been' anywhere  then focus on where you 'want to go'. Thoroughly assess your  benefits and have a comprehensible focus on the direction of your career and a particular target market.

Give a dollar value to your successes whenever possible. Determine them in some way that shows what you can offer a potential employer.

Use the CAR method to help you remember your accomplishment:

Circumstances- what was the situation you were faced with?

Action- what did you do to create a positive change?

Result- what were the results of your actions?

( you can use this technique when describing volunteer work and any other skills you have)

Employers consider that evidence of prior accomplishments will help them conclude how successful you will be in their company. The best way for you to prove your success is to discuss accomplishments meticulously instead of concentrating a great deal on job responsibilities. To create accomplishment statements, look at a problem you have been met with previously, the methods you used to solve the problem, and the related outcome of your actions. Think of the before and after picture and try to assign a number, dollar amount, or percentage shift to your results. Accomplishment statements should be presented all through the resume and the profile page of your resume should include accomplishments that help set the nature for  your candidature.

Actual 'paid' work history can be replaced with past successes from your volunteer work:)