How to List Volunteer Supervisors as Managers on Your Resume

When updating your resume, it's important to accurately represent your volunteer experience and the roles you held. This includes listing the supervisors or managers who played a direct role in overseeing your volunteer work. Understanding how to categorize these individuals correctly can enhance your resume and highlight the skills and responsibilities you gained during your volunteer period.

Common Titles to Consider

When documenting your volunteer experience, various titles can be used to describe the relationship between you and your supervisor. Here are some common examples:

Volunteer Supervisor

This clearly indicates that your supervisor directly monitored and guided your volunteer work. If this describes the relationship between you and your supervisor, this title should be used.

Project Leader

This title is appropriate if the person supervised a specific project or initiative you were involved in. Being a project leader suggests that they had a significant role in leading and guiding the progress of the project.

Program Coordinator

Use this title if the supervisor coordinated the volunteer program you participated in. This highlights their role in organizing and managing the overall program, which can be valuable in demonstrating your leadership and organizational skills.

Mentor

For informal and supportive roles, the term 'mentor' can be an appropriate descriptor. A mentor provides guidance and support, often on an unpaid basis, making it a suitable title for the relationship you had with your supervisor.

Accurate Job Title vs. Manager Status

It's crucial to understand that the term 'manager' is not limited to paid positions. If your supervisor oversaw your volunteer work, they can be accurately listed as a manager. Your resume should include their name, job title (such as Volunteer Supervisor), relationship to you (Manager), and contact information. Whether they were paid or not, the focus remains on their role in guiding and supervising your work.

Example: Jane Doe, Volunteer Supervisor, at the Non-Profit Animal Shelter

Even if your supervisor managed a non-profit as a volunteer, their role in guiding and supporting you makes them worthy of being listed as a manager on your resume. This can be especially beneficial when transitioning from a volunteer position to a paid role, as demonstrated by a friend who managed five people as a volunteer and later secured a paid management role.

Alternatives and Variants

Depending on the situation, you might also use titles like co-manager, supervisor for volunteer position, or coordinator. If they played a supervisory role, 'supervisor' or 'supervisor for volunteer position' are suitable. A coordinator is another appropriate title, especially if they managed a team of volunteers or coordinated the overall operations of a program.

Example: John Smith, Co-Manager for Volunteer Position, at XYZ Community Center

Highlighting Skills and Experiences

Regardless of the title you choose, make sure to emphasize the skills and experiences you gained during the volunteer period. Supervisors, project leaders, coordinators, and mentors all provide unique opportunities to develop skills in leadership, communication, and teamwork. Focus on how these roles prepared you for future positions and add these experiences to your resume to make your application stand out.

Conclusion

Accurately representing the supervisors or managers who guided your volunteer work can greatly enhance your resume. Whether they are a volunteer supervisor, mentor, or coordinator, their role is valuable and worth highlighting. By doing so, you demonstrate your dedication and the diverse set of skills you have acquired through your volunteer experiences.

Related Keywords

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