Volunteer Interview Questions:

Here are a variety of questions to get candidates talking about their experiences. If you are interviewing several candidates for the same position, make sure you ask each one the same questions.
Keep your notes on a separate sheet of paper. Note the questions they do not answer.

1. Tell me about your first job/volunteer experience. How did you get it? What did you do?

2. Did you have a boss or mentor you admired? What did you admire about them?

3. Was there anything you disliked about him or her?

4. What did you learn from working/volunteering there?

5. How did you find out about this volunteer position?

6. What are your top three reasons for wanting this position?

7. How long do you want to volunteer with us? When could you start?

8. What do you know about our organization or program?

9. What do you know about the literacy situation in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada?

10. Do you have any previous experience in ___ (special events, computer research, literacy)?

11. What skills, abilities and qualities do you have to contribute to our organization?

12. Tell us about your best work or volunteer experience to date:

13. Tell us about your worst experience:

14. How would your family or friends describe your personality?

15. How would you describe your work style? Is there anything you would like to improve?

16. If a volunteer- related training opportunity came up, would you be willing to attend for us (we would pay)?

17. We screen all of our volunteers. May we check your references, and would you be willing to get a criminal records check or child abuse registry check done for us?

18. There are a few others interested in this position - why should we choose you?

19. Do you have any questions?

If you are satisfied that the candidate will make a suitable volunteer, you can contact their references for further information. All of this should be documented and kept in the volunteer’s file.

If the volunteer will be working with adult learners or handling finances, they must have a Criminal Record Search done through the local police or RCMP, and show proof of the search.

If the volunteer will be working with children, they must submit an application to the Provincial Child Abuse Registry, and again, show proof that they have passed the search. Samples of these forms are included in this section. Refer to the LPM Volunteer Handbook for more information on our screening policy.