2.3 Meeting/interviewing volunteers
As with paid jobs, many organisations will want to meet or interview people who have applied to volunteer. Applications might involve just an email message outlining the person’s experience, while some organisations use application forms. For some roles volunteers will have to provide references.
The next step in the recruitment process is to meet the applicant. Some organisations might organise a group meeting of several volunteers, while others will have individual meetings or even formal interviews, depending on the role. If you apply to volunteer with vulnerable adults or children, then an interview is extremely likely as well as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Activity 5 Being interviewed
Imagine you have applied for a role at the charity helping homeless people (as in Activity 4).
- What questions would you expect to be asked?
- What questions would you ask?
Comment
Given that you would be working with vulnerable people, you could expect to be asked about relevant experience and also why you want to volunteer there. A good interview or meeting for volunteering is not just about being asked questions; it is also important to see where you would be working and perhaps meet some existing volunteers.
You might ask the person showing you around what training is available and what time commitment is expected of you. The number of questions you need to ask is, of course, dependent on how well the person conducts the meeting or interview and how much information they give you first.
You have explored the main aspects of how organisations recruit volunteers. You will now look at what happens when volunteers have started working with an organisation or a group.