Should Students Put Volunteering and Societies on a CV?
Yes. For a student, volunteering, clubs, and societies are real experience. Give your role, what you did, and a number.
Last updated: 4/10/2026 · Author: MojCV Team · Reviewed by: HR Specialists
Last updated: 4/10/2026
Author: MojCV Team · Reviewed by: HR Specialists
Direct Answer
Yes. For a student, volunteering, clubs, and societies count as real experience. Give your role, what you did, and a number where you can, such as 60 guests or 780 pounds raised.
What counts
- Volunteering at a charity, food bank, hospital, or school.
- A role in a university society, such as treasurer or social media officer.
- Sports teams, especially as captain or coach.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award and similar programs.
How to write it
- Use a Volunteering or Activities section after education.
- Start each bullet with an action word and add a result or number.
- Pick the ones that match the job and drop the rest.
A sample bullet point
Organized a quiz night for 60 guests as society treasurer, managing the venue, tickets, and budget, and raised 780 pounds for a local food bank.
Example volunteering bullet point
Where to put it
With little work experience, put a Volunteering or Activities section straight after education. If you have strong work experience, move it lower down and keep it to one or two lines.
How many to list
Two to four is plenty on a one-page CV. Choose the ones that show responsibility or skills the job needs, such as leading a team, handling money, or helping the public. Drop activities that took little time or have no link to the job.
More examples to copy
Volunteer at a hospital ward befriending service, visiting patients each week for a chat and helping with small tasks.
Volunteering
Captain of the university football team, organizing weekly training and fixtures for 18 players.
Sport
Social media officer for the theatre society, growing the account by 42% in one term.
Society
Mistakes to avoid
- Listing a club you joined once, with no role.
- Writing only the name of the society and nothing about what you did.
- Listing eight activities and filling the page with them.
Also read: See volunteering on a full page in the student CV example. More in How to write a student CV. Browse all answers in our CV and resume FAQ.