Supplemental Resource

Recruitment Tips to Avoid Rejecting Volunteers¹⁵

Have you ever found yourself with too many volunteers? Or the "wrong" volunteers? Some simple changes to your recruitment posters and advertisements can help with early screening, thereby helping you avoid having to reject volunteers.

For example, if your poster or flyer just says, "Call to Volunteer" or "Volunteers Needed", you are implying that anyone can apply. So don't be surprised if don't always get what you were really looking for. And don't be surprised if potential volunteers are taken aback when you start screening or reject them early on. They just thought you needed volunteers!

Try using some of Susan Ellis' suggestions for recruitment posters, flyers and other advertising materials. Here are just a few ideas.

• We are presently accepting applications for the position of __________.
  
  
• Please call to ask us if we have the right volunteer opportunity for you!
  
  
• Let's talk about whether your skills and our needs match.
  
  
• If you have the following qualifications, we'd love to hear from you!

These few simple phrases can help you start the screening process before the very first phone call, saving both you and the volunteer time and energy. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to find the right volunteer for your program. And the more likely you are to have happy volunteers instead of frustrated, "rejected" applicants.