Including volunteering in work history

[Hayfeverjogon]

I have an unexpected interview at the local Council for a job I'd absolutely love.

I've just noticed that I included my volunteer role in my work history as if it was a normal job but didn't mention it was unpaid. Should I have?

I feel awful, as if I fibbed to get an interview. Or am I catastrophising and it's completely normal?

(The CEO of where I volunteer said she'd happily be a reference! The roles are similar, administrative, IT roles)

absolutely fine to include - you can say it was a volunteer role at interview if you wish but it will make no difference to whether you get the job or not. Good luck!!

I think you should have mentioned it was unpaid, but no harm done if it was an actual job where you were accountable for what you did and were performance managed, just as you would be in a paid role. The issue for me when I am recruiting is that many volunteer roles don’t have the same degree of responsibility and accountability, so it’s hard to judge how much they have contributed to your development, or if the place you volunteered was so grateful to have anyone that your performance didn’t matter.

The fact that it was unpaid has no bearing on the skills you picked up doing it. Mention it if that role is discussed. That's all.

Thank you all! I'll mention it in the interview 😊

Even if I hadnt included it at all - I would still meet the specification as my qualifications and actual work history ticks all the boxes (and more!)

I used the Star method to answer the screening questions and used my actual previous jobs in each scenario to show accountability

Perfect! Sounds all good, then. Good luck! Local authorities are a good if pressured place to work, with many roles having some flexibility in hours, generally good conditions, eg holiday allowances etc, and a pension which, while not what it used to be, is at least still based on defined benefits.

Thanks @HeidiUpTheMountain - I'm so nervous. But also excited!

I include some of my volunteering, because I have some useful examples from it - it's where I've done some budget planning and so on.

I included it and was essential experience for the job I got , I did put volunteer role next to the job description. You still did that role and can talk about your experience whether you got paid or not

I put my volunteering in the “other information” if at all, although it was not close to full time. I think you should have said this was voluntary and you now should clarify this, the standards expected are not the same when somebody is working for free and I do think it is relevant.

I think you should clarify this. As it's public sector they may do a work history check and it'd look like you've invented a job.

I've recently returned to work for a LA after 8 years out as a sahm. I put voluntary work down in the work bit because on the form I filled in, there wasnt anywhere else to put it, although I did specify it was unpaid/voluntary. HR happily in my case accepted references from my university tutor and from my charity work.

I've had my interview and now I'm waiting for feedback and a yes or a no.

It's a horrible wait over the weekend. They said their final interview was at 5pm.

(My head is telling me that they would have made an offer to the successful applicant tonight as they were working until 6pm and let everyone else down with on Monday!)

This made me laugh out loud. What nonsense!

I clarified in the interview and they were more than pleased with my volunteering. They know the CIC really well and said it was "superb experience" & acknowledged it was a very difficult role to do (data analytics and IT) 😊

Fingers crossed for you op

Good luck!