Having a compelling refugee volunteer resume is vital if you want to support this noble cause. Luckily, we've prepared this comprehensive yet easy-to-follow guide to show you how to do exactly that. So, dive in and discover all the best resume templates, detailed examples and samples. These are the tips that actually work!
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Keep on reading and find out all about:
- How to properly format your refugee volunteer resume
- How to make your refugee volunteer professional summary section shine
- How to accentuate the right skills in your refugee volunteer resume
- How to effectively describe your refugee volunteer work experience
- How to make your education section stand out a mile
- What are the best extra sections to put on your refugee volunteer resume
- How to access top resources for job-seeking refugee volunteers
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. How to properly format your refugee volunteer resume?
Besides many character traits that make you a great candidate for this position, you will also need some practical skills. Being well-organized is one of them, as you may be asked to put together social activities or public events for children and adults.
And what’s a better way to demonstrate how structured you are if not by giving your resume the best possible design?
Get your formatting right with the following tips:
- Keep your page count low, opting for a two-column layout.
- Include your must-have contact details in the header. Your full name, email address, telephone number and related social media links will definitely suffice.
- Use a classic font such as Garamond, Cambria, or Calibri.
- Make your resume easy to read and easy to navigate using white space between individual segments.
- Ensure that your headings are clear and big enough.
Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.
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2. How to make your refugee volunteer professional summary section shine?
A professional summary is a short blurb that should encompass your relevant work experience, impressive accomplishments and brilliant volunteering skills in 3-5 lines.
Its purpose is clear — appeal to a hiring manager so that they keep on reading the rest of the resume.
Not that easy? It surely will be a walk in the park after you read our handy tips. Remember that although your professional summary appears right below the header, you should write it only after you’ve crafted all your other resume sections.
- Use impactful attributes, such as dependable, enthusiastic, self-driven, etc., to describe yourself as a professional.
- Mention how many years of experience you’ve had in a relevant position. If you are applying for such a role for the first time, focus more on your objective and passion for volunteering.
- Highlight your most compelling achievements, and link them with keywords from the job posting you are replying to.
- Emphasize your best skills that are integral for volunteering.
Refugee volunteer professional profile example
Enthusiastic and self-driven volunteer with 2+years of experience working in refugee camps. Coordinated a team of 13 volunteers in order to ensure smooth cooperation with organizations in the field. Facilitated distributions in the camp and provided learning activities for children and youth. As a fundraiser, managed to secure funding and donations for 6 projects that included different activities for children, youth and adults.
3. How to accentuate the right skills in your refugee volunteer resume?
Depending on responsibilities you will fulfill in a specific volunteering role, you will be required to have a particular skill-set. You may need to be able to fundraise, mend things or even cook.
There are, however, certain soft skills that any refugee volunteer should definitely possess. Perhaps the most important ones are enormous empathy, professional approach and ability to work under pressure and in difficult conditions.
Always tailor your skill-set to the job ad in question.
The best soft skills for your refugee volunteer resume
- Agility
- Ability to working under pressure
- Effective communication
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Teamwork
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Time management
- Motivation
- Conflict resolution
- Intuition
Refugee volunteer hard skills for your CV
- MS Office Suite
- In-depth knowledge of fundraising and resource mobilisation
- Scheduling
- Administrative skills
- Volunteer management tool: VolunteerHub
Find out your resume score!
4. How to effectively describe your refugee volunteer work experience?
There is no doubt that your work history is an integral part of your resume. It is, indeed, a great opportunity to show your strengths, talents, skills and preparedness for such a transformative role as a refugee volunteer.
Many candidates merely list their previous duties, and are not result oriented. Could it ruin their chances to land the job they want? It surely could.
Here’s how to avoid this mistake and effectively describe your past work experience with a focus on a specific job ad:
- List your work history reverse-chronologically, and mention first your most recent position.
- State the company name, location, your job title and dates. Remember to be transparent about the time you spent in each position.
- Tailor your work section to a specific job ad. How to make it happen? Focus on the requirements, look for the right keywords in the job posting in question, and incorporate them in your section.
- Focus on mentioning your accomplishments rather than naming your daily duties.
- Quantify your achievements whenever it’s possible.
- Keep the number of bullet points below 7, selecting only the most relevant achievements.
- Use impactful verbs, such as coordinated, facilitated, managed, etc.
Refugee volunteer work experience section example
Pomáháme lidem na útěku, Bihac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Volunteer Coordinator and Fundraiser
2018 – 2021
- Served as a dedicated volunteer in refugee camps on the Croatian borders.
- Coordinated a team of 13 volunteers in order to ensure smooth cooperation with organizations in the field.
- Attended volunteers' immediate needs and submitted regular reports for the management.
- Facilitated distributions in the camp and provided learning activities for children and youth.
- Managed to secure funding and donations for 6 projects that included different activities for children, youth and adults.
5. How to make your education section stand out a mile?
Although not every refugee volunteer role requires a background in formal education, this certainly does not mean that you should neglect it.
The way you present your highest education level can become decisive in the hiring process. How so? Including your related academic achievements or areas of interest can surely help you outstrip other candidates.
Here’s how to effectively list your education
University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
MA Hons Social Anthropology
2013-2017
- Graduated with Honours of the Second Class Division 1 (2:1) in Social Anthropology
- Areas of interest: Anthropology of Religion, anthropological study of Sex and Gender, and a critical study of international development and humanitarian action
6. What are the best extra sections to put on your refugee volunteer resume?
Additional sections serve perfectly for taking your resume to the next level.
They give the hiring manager a better idea of your character traits, language competence, social engagement, skills needed for work with people in difficult life situations, and many other factors that can make you a perfect candidate.
Pick the sections that are best related to the job ad in question, and make your refuge volunteer resume shine:
- Volunteering Activities
- Qualifications
- Extracurricular Activities
- Publications
- Certifications
- Awards
- Projects
- Interests
- Accomplishments
- Languages
- Training Courses
Listing additional sections in your refugee volunteer CV
Publications
- Education and Empowerment to #givehope to Young Girls, Human Rights Without Frontiers, March 2018, Lebanon
Extracurricular Activities
- Society President, Czech and Slovak Society, St Andrews, Scotland, September 2015 - September 2016
- Organized community events, and created room for students to discuss current events in an academic and international environment.
7. Top resources for job-seeking refugee volunteers
Looking for volunteering opportunities isn't the same as looking for regular work opportunities. You have to find one that matches not only your skills, but also your passion. Whether you're looking to volunteer locally or internationally, you can do so with these resources:
- Idealist: This is a premier website for volunteer and nonprofit job listings, including numerous opportunities to work with refugees and asylum seekers.
- UN Volunteers: How would you like to volunteer with the United Nations? Their website included offers for roles focused on refugee support and humanitarian aid, both online and on the ground.
- ReliefWeb: Offers a comprehensive list of jobs in the humanitarian field worldwide, making it a go-to resource for those looking to volunteer or work in refugee support services.
- VolunteerMatch: This platform connects volunteers with causes. You can filter your search to find volunteer opportunities with refugee organizations by entering specific keywords like “refugee volunteer.”
- Refugees International: While primarily an advocacy organization, it sometimes lists job and internship opportunities for those looking to get involved in refugee issues at a policy level. Plus, it can make you connect with likeminded people through networking opportunities.
- Global Volunteers: Finally, this platform provides volunteer opportunities worldwide in various service projects, including those that may involve supporting displaced populations and communities affected by conflict.
All of these platforms not only connect you with organizations dedicated to refugee assistance but also provide pathways for continuous learning and professional development in the field of humanitarian aid. Wherever your refugee volunteering takes you, don't forget to always update your resume so it fully reflects your experiences and skills.
Refugee Volunteer Resume FAQ
Highlight your skills by directly linking them to your specific volunteering experiences. Use bullet points under each experience to detail what you did and what skills you used or gained. For instance, if you provided language support, you might list "cross-cultural communication" as a skill.
You can, but make sure to frame them in a way that highlights your transferable skills. For example, a previous role in customer service might reflect strong communication and problem-solving skills, both relevant to volunteer work with refugees.
Typically, it's not required to include references directly on your resume, but it's wise to have them prepared on a separate sheet in case they are requested. You can then mention that "references are available upon request" in your cover letter. However, you should always follow the specific instructions given in the job posting.
Resumes typically shouldn't exceed two pages. Always focus on including your most relevant and significant experiences and skills. And remember, it's about quality, not quantity.
You can differentiate the content of your resume by using bullet points, bold headers, and neat resume sections. Consistent font and size are also important for clarity and readability. Break up information logically, such as having separate sections for Skills, Experience, Education, etc. Also, save and send your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting. But a good resume template will take care of all formatting for you.
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