Volunteering on a CV: How to enter it correctly

Soft skills are more in demand than ever on the job market: in 2025, they were mentioned as a requirement in almost every second job, compared to just under a quarter in 2019 (stepstone.de, 2026). Teamwork, reliability, empathy: these are precisely the strengths that people develop in voluntary work. And yet many simply leave their commitment off their CV because they don’t know whether it counts or how to formulate it.

In this article, we’ll show you which honorary posts belong on your CV, how to include them correctly and how to handle them confidently in a job interview.

Contents:

1. Why volunteering counts for more on your CV than you think
2. Which voluntary work should be on your CV and which should not
3. How to enter your voluntary work correctly on your CV
4. How to use your voluntary work in a job interview
5. Find your volunteer position on vostel.de
6. FAQ: Frequently asked questions about volunteering in your CV

1. Why volunteering counts for more on your CV than you think

The job market is changing: specialist qualifications are still important, but soft skills are increasingly tipping the scales. A long-term analysis by Stepstone shows that demand for “reliability” has risen by 354% since 2019, for “independence” by 168% and for “ability to work in a team” by 138% (stepstone.de, 2026). Volunteers train precisely these skills, not in theory, but in practice.

What HR professionals see in volunteering

For HR managers, volunteering is not a nice extra, but a statement about your personality. It shows that someone is willing to take on responsibility without being paid for it. The added value increases, especially if the voluntary work matches the advertised position: for example, if you are aiming for a management position and have been leading a youth group for years, this provides good evidence of leadership experience. Specifically, the following skills can be demonstrated, depending on the voluntary position:

• Teamwork skills through collaboration with other volunteers or target groups
• Organizational talent through the planning of events and processes
• Empathy and strong communication skills through dealing with people in different life situations
• Personal initiative and reliability through regular, voluntary commitment over a longer period of time
• Leadership skills through the assumption of coordination or management tasks

Volunteering as a career opportunity, especially for young professionals

People with little professional experience benefit particularly from volunteering. This is because many people take on responsibility early on in their voluntary work that they often only get years later in their professional lives: They lead teams, organize events, coordinate processes or support people in difficult situations. In this way, they gain practical experience that is otherwise only gained on the job and can prove this on their CV (stepstone.de, 2025).

Volunteering as a valuable “gap filler” during a time-out

Volunteering can also become a bridge for career changers and people taking a break: It shows that they have remained active during this time and have developed further (karrierebibel.de, 2025).

2. Which voluntary work belongs on your CV and which should not

Not every commitment automatically fits into every job application. And it’s not about hyping up volunteering, but about presenting genuine commitment in such a way that recruiters recognize the added value at first glance.

When is volunteering a plus on your CV?

A voluntary position has the strongest impact if it matches the advertised position in terms of content or skills. For example, if you apply for a counseling center and have been working in telephone counseling for years, you emphasize empathy and communication skills in a way that no cover letter can (indeed.de, 2025).

You can look at the following questions when deciding whether to include a voluntary position on your CV. The more you can answer in the affirmative, the more you should include it:

• Is the volunteer position related to the advertised position?
• Does it demonstrate skills that are in demand on the job?
• Was it a regular, long-term activity?
• Did you take on responsibility, support people or organize processes?

What should not be on your CV?

There are situations in which naming does more harm than good:

• Activities that are too short give the impression of a lack of stamina.
• Politically sensitive engagement can be received differently depending on the employer.
• Too many current voluntary positions raise the question of whether you have enough energy left over after your job. A maximum of two or three is recommended.
• No real volunteering: Occasional babysitting or helping out once should not be declared as volunteering.
• A long-standing commitment without current relevance quickly looks like a gap filler

A single, well-described voluntary position with a clear reference to the job is more convincing than a long list without a common thread.

(Find out more at lebenslauf.de, karrierebibel.de and jobteaser.com)

Which category is the right one?

There is no “mandatory section” for voluntary work on a German CV. Depending on the situation:

• “Interests & hobbies” for commitment with a complementary character
• “Special knowledge” if the voluntary position has imparted professionally relevant skills
• Separate category “Volunteering” if the commitment is particularly relevant, you have little professional experience, there are several volunteer positions or the employer has to do with the topic of volunteering

What needs to be included and how do you formulate it?

The following information should always be included:

• Name of the organization
• Period
• Type of activity
• Two to three specific tasks

The key is a competency-based description that not only lists what you did, but what skills you used or developed in the process. Numbers make the commitment tangible: How many people did you look after? How big was the team?

(Find out more at karrierebibel.de, livecareer.de and govolunteer.com)

Some examples:

Is there proof or a certificate for the honorary position?

There is no legal entitlement to a certificate, but most organizations are happy to issue one on request (ehrenamt-deutschland.org, 2026). Some federal states also offer special platforms for this, such as the Ehrenamtsnachweis Bayern (stmas.bayern.de) or the Kompetenznachweis Niedersachsen (ms.niedersachsen.de). It is particularly worth making an inquiry if voluntary work plays a central role in the application.

4. How to use your voluntary work in a job interview

If you list an honorary position on your CV, you should expect that recruiters will want to know more about it. You can prepare yourself for this.

Why recruiters almost always ask questions

Volunteering is voluntary, and that’s what makes it interesting. HR managers want to know: What drives this person? What have they learned? Does it fit the job? At the same time, they check whether the entry is credible and whether the person really stands behind what they have stated.

You should be prepared for the following questions:

• Why are you getting involved?
• What are your tasks?
• What did you learn?
• How do you reconcile this with a full-time job?

Prepare your answers in advance, but don’t memorize them. If you tell people why volunteering is important to you in a relaxed manner and out of genuine conviction, you will come across as authentic and make a much stronger impression than someone who gives a rehearsed answer.

5. find your volunteer position on vostel.de

You now know how volunteering can have a positive impact on your CV, but you’re still looking for a suitable volunteering opportunity? On vostel.de you will find a wide range of volunteering opportunities in various areas and cities, from social work and environmental protection to education and promoting democracy. Straightforward, without a long lead time and with organizations that are happy to have your support. Just take a look and find the volunteering opportunity that suits you.

6 FAQ: Frequently asked questions about volunteering in your CV

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