Do you give back to your community by sharing your expertise?

This week, I had another opportunity to help GED students at a local high school learn about LinkedIn.

My experience volunteering with these students is incredibly gratifying, as I love introducing LinkedIn to young people. Having a LinkedIn account is just as important as having a resume, no matter how old you are.

Some of these students may not be motivated to create a LinkedIn profile now. Yet at least I will have planted a seed with them about the value of LinkedIn.

How are you sharing your expertise with your community? Consider sharing at least some of your volunteer contributions in the Volunteering section of your LinkedIn profile.

Information to Include in the Volunteer Experience Section

  • Name of the organization where you volunteer
  • Your volunteer title
  • Volunteering time period
  • A description of your role

Volunteer LinkedIn Instructor For GED Students

Here’s what I included when I referenced this role in my Volunteering section.

  • Organization: McLain Community High School
  • My position: Volunteer LinkedIn Instructor for GED Students
  • Time period: August 2022 to present
  • Description of my role: I periodically teach LinkedIn classes to the students in the GED program at McClain Community High School. This school is part of Jeffco Public Schools, located just west of Denver. According to the school’s website: “The mission of McLain Community High School is simply to provide an alternate path to a life of learning, opportunity and choice.” My classes are titled “Showcase Yourself on LinkedIn” and “Connect, Post, and Search on LinkedIn.”

Additional Tips About the Volunteering Section

If you’ve been involved with an organization for many years, I recommend that you reference key roles under one listing. I take this approach when I reference my nearly 30 years volunteering as a Toastmaster. The title of this listing is Volunteer Leadership Roles. I list my leadership roles in my current clubs and reference roles I’ve held beyond the club.

Also, if the entities where you volunteer aren’t widely known, briefly describe the entity before you describe your role.

You can place more emphasis on a volunteer position by moving it to a high spot in the section.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, become more effective social media users, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, job seekers, and others. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com.