interviewing volunteers: what comes after hello · interviewing volunteers: what comes after hello...
TRANSCRIPT
Interviewing Volunteers: What
Comes After Hello
Presented by Lori Gotlieb
Director, Volunteer Resources The Arthritis Society and President ,Lori Gotlieb Consulting
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
WHY DO WE INTERVIEW? Determine mutual benefit and screen for risk
Client protection
Staff and volunteer satisfaction
Explore options
Understand volunteer motivation
Fit
Understand expectations
Screening tool
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
QUALITIES AND SKILLS
Openness
Warmth
Listening
Prompting
Conversation
Recording
Knowledge (know about the organization and how the role relates)
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
TIPS FOR INTERVIEWING
Have the right people doing the interview
Do the interview in a safe, quiet location
Have specific questions written down
Ask both open ended questions
Discuss scenarios
Let them know what next steps are
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
KEY CONCEPTS FOR
INTERVIEWING
• Determining fit
• 4 Key steps to interviewing
• Essential interview skills
• Prepare for special problems
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
DETERMINING FIT
Mutual screening
Protect clients and consumers
To maintain morale
Risk management
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
4 KEY STEPS © 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
BEFORE YOU MEET
Job descriptions
Interview process
Content for interview
What to look for: how
to ask
Designing relevant
questions
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
PREPARE FOR INTERVIEWING CHALLENGES
Shy
Talkative
Unmotivated
Attitude
Wants position but not qualified
Short term work
Can only interview on telephone
Online interviewing
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
ESSENTIAL INTERVIEW
SKILLS
Work the questions
Open ended questions
Listening is key
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
INTERVIEW
Telephone interview
Face to face (focus on service description and interests)
Individual or group (youth)
Investigate background
Past volunteer experience
Verify qualifications (driving)
Red flags: gut feeling
Process for acceptance
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself and some of your interests and hobbies.
2. What are a few of your special skills or strengths that make you an ideal volunteer candidate?
3. Have you volunteered before? Where? How long? What did you do? Are you still? If not, what took you away from there? What did you like about that program? Not like? Potential conflicts?
4. What do you think makes a person a good volunteer?
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
5. What attracts you to working at (Organization Name)? 6. Where do you see yourself working in the (Organization Name)? Are you interested in working in a specific area? 7. How many hours a day/week would you like to volunteer? 8. What is important to you as you think about volunteering? What do you see as the result of your volunteering? 9. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about?
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
LEADERSHIP SKILLS
What skills and qualifications do you have that will
help you in this position?
Describe a leadership role you have held?
What made that role challenging?
What did you like about serving in a leadership
role?
What did you dislike?
What keeps you motivated?
How do you like to be recognized?
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
HUMAN RELATIONS SKILLS
What kind of people do you most enjoy working
with?
Describe a time when you've been involved in a
conflict with another individual or group.
How did you handle the situation?
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
OTHER AREAS TO ASK…
Adaptability Describe a situation in which you did not get your way or when you did not
agree with a decision made.
Communication What, in your opinion, makes a good listener?
Organization Ask about a typical day or about handling a project
Dependability Describe one project/activity for which you had total responsibility from the
beginning to the end.
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
Placing unqualified or otherwise unsuitable
volunteers benefits no one
Never lower your initial screening standards
Never cut corners when screening
Document your interview and screening
Determine protocol and recognize risks
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .
HOW TO SAY “NO”
Notification
Be sensitive
Personal approach
Don’t ignore
Don’t lie
Thank you
Alternative jobs
Future
© 2013 Lori Gotlieb. All Rights Reserved .