Should I still put old volunteer experience on my resume?

Question

Well basically I'm looking for jobs like cashier, sales associate in retail stores, fast food, etc. Basic minimum wage stuff. And I've never had an actual job before.
My dad tells me to pretty much put anything and everything that looks decent, onto my resume - including my old volunteer experience. I haven't volunteered since I was like 14 and I'm 20 now. It wasn't even that serious of volunteering, pretty basic stuff that isn't even that relevant to the kinds of jobs I'm looking for. Isn't it dumb to put really old volunteer experience on my resume? And if I did put it should I put the dates that it was? Oh and I also did pet-sitting for my neighbor for about 2 weeks straight a few months ago, but I don't know if that matters if I'm just applying to work at a fast food place or something. I guess I just don't see how any of this old volunteering/odd job stuff matters, but at the same time I have an almost nonexistent resume so what should I do?

Answer 1

Even volunteer work is notable. For more resume tips, see http://bitly.com/1svwP3d.

Answer 2

any thing that is recent (last three years) is relevant. what you did six years ago is not.

Answer 3

list the work you did and SPECIFY it was as a volunteer.

Answer 4

you don't see it because you aren't thinking the right way. you don't say what kind of volunteer work you did but if you tell me I bet I can show you how it will show relevant experience. At the very least it shows you did something and were committed to it. You can get a reference if you have any contact with the person who supervised your volunteer work. Even the dog walking is relevant in that you did work and did it when you were supposed to, you showed up and treated your customer with respect, it shows customer service. Anything you did in school for a service club, helping out a teacher, helping at events working at a concession...its all good. This is what employers expect to see from young people just starting out in the job market. As your resume grows with more recent experiences you can start to remove the old, but for now you leave them on. I would not worry about dates. Good Luck!

Answer 5

yes