Selection
Selecting volunteers involves balancing the needs of the
agency with the needs of the volunteer. It may also involve
having to tell someone that they are not suitable for a particular
volunteering opportunity.
Three approaches to selection
The non-rejection approach: i.e. all people
have something to offer and it is the responsibility of the
organisation to find something suitable for that individual
to do. Organisations with such policies emphasise the importance
of volunteering for the individual rather than the needs of
the organisation.
The recruitment approach: the organisation
decides what volunteer tasks are required and sets out to
find a person using task descriptions, person specifications
and interviews. Organisations using this model argue that
it's essential to get the best people to best serve the interests
of the organisation and its clients. The needs or interests
of the volunteer are seen as of secondary importance.
The matching approach the middle way which
accepts that the needs and interests of the volunteer and
the organisation may differ and tries to achieve a balance.
Rather than have firm role descriptions and person specifications,
the organisation has a portfolio of different tasks. The skills,
interests, and preferences of the individual will be met with
an individually tailored opportunity from the list of tasks
required that most closely matches the needs of the individual.
Key interview skills
Good interviewers use these communication skills:
- Empathising.
- Giving feedback.
- Listening.
- Questioning.
References
Should you take up references as a matter of course? Some
volunteer managers say yes, others see the practice as cumbersome
and bureaucratic and argue that they should be taken up only
for particularly sensitive posts.
It may be that asking a prospective volunteer for the name
of someone who can vouch for them might be sufficient and
less intimidating. If you decide to take up references make
sure to explain why and get the volunteer's permission first.
Find out more about other volunteer issues and examples
in the In more depth section.
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