interview

Choosing the right volunteer to lead your important initiative means knowing more than the candidates’ basic skills and experience; choosing the right volunteer leader means learning about the candidates’ adaptability and ways of thinking – and learning those things without adding hours  to the interview and selection process.

In a world in which organizations are increasingly required to be nimble, creative, and entrepreneurial in management and program delivery, we must engage volunteer leaders who bring those traits to our table and who can partner with us in our efforts towards mission fulfillment. To identify which potential volunteers are nimble, creative, and entrepreneurial themselves, we recommend using a more behaviorally-based interviewing style.

The current influx of volunteers is all the talk in our world. We have written about how we believe this is a tremendous opportunity for strategic engagement of skilled volunteers. But, how does an organization move from facing the crowds of volunteers at its proverbial door to actually selecting and placing those candidates who can have greatest impact? The interview is key!