organisation and the work that volunteers undertake within it. Some organisations
have more people wanting to volunteer than they can take on so need to select; some
organisations need to screen potential volunteers carefully because of the work that
they are doing and some organisations take on anybody who is interested. However,
all organisations need to develop a system that suits their needs but also does not put
off potential volunteers or place unnecessary barriers in people's way. In the past
many groups have just adapted application forms and interview techniques from the
way that they recruit paid staff. However, this is rarely appropriate and overly formal
application processes discourage a lot of people who otherwise may well be interested
in volunteering. Many volunteer managers forget that the application process is as
much about the volunteer deciding whether they like the organisation, as about the
organisation deciding to take on the volunteer. An ideal application process will reflect
both. Organisations put a lot of time and effort into recruiting volunteers, but the wrong
kind of application process may well mean that a lot of people showing an interest are
put off before they start.
All too often organisations launch recruitment campaigns without properly considering
what they will do when people respond to them. Most potential volunteers will make
initial contact via the phone so it is important that their enquiry is dealt with in a way
that will make them want to find out more. Make sure that whoever is answering the
phone knows what to do and who to pass the call on to. If possible avoid asking
people to call back; the chances are they just won't. If no one is immediately available
it is better to take a contact number and get back to them.
instructions for people interested in volunteering in your answerphone message so
that they know they have got through to the right place. If you say that you are going
to call back make sure that you do. It is very disheartening for people to offer their time
and then to feel that the organisation could not be bothered with them. Not only will
they not contact you again but also quite possibly they will not contact any other
organisations either.
expecting to be interviewed so it is not really fair. Remember that many people find
communicating on the phone quite difficult. However, you may want to check that they
know about anything essential i.e. if you only need volunteers on a Wednesday
afternoon there is no point in them continuing with the application process if they work
all day Wednesdays.