Why Recruit New People?
- To more evenly distribute the workload amongst members
- To keep the SES alive and diverse
- For new ideas
- To ensure the community is protected
Recruiting
Volunteers responsible for recruiting as well as all potential volunteers should have a clear understanding of what the responsibility involves. It would be helpful to think about what volunteering in your unit involves.
Give potential volunteers:
- A learning experience
- Person to person activities
- Responsible activities
- Respect for the time they commit
- A record of attendance
- Basic knowledge of the organisation
- Adequate induction and training
- Preparation for the conditions and attitudes of those the volunteer will come in contact with
- The opportunity to grow with the program
Helpful Hints to Recruit New Volunteers
- FESA has sponsored a book “Count Me In! 501 Ideas on Recruiting Volunteers” by Dr Judy Esmond. It provides practical and effective ideas on attracting the right volunteers for the job.
- Obtain a copy of the Volunteer Recruitment Ideas document from the Volunteer & Youth Services Branch at FESA House.
- Consider promoting your successes through the media. Ask your local radio station/newspaper to introduce your new members.
- Consider ways to tap into diverse groups in the community and generational mixes.
- Devote a training night/meeting to recruitment, Or form a Recruitment Committee. Pool ideas. Include the topic of Volunteer Retention.
- Create a volunteer job description. What is the role of a volunteer in your unit ? What qualifications are needed?
- Have new members complete a table of information about themselves that lists what special interests and talents they have; areas they would like to learn more about even if they don’t have the skills; and anything they don’t like to do.
- Contact the Volunteer & Youth Services Branch for ideas on making your recruitment attractive.
- At the potential volunteers first meeting, have an information pack prepared for them to take home.
- The best volunteer recruiters are those who are happy with the organisation.
Distribute a flyer on your Unit to places such as:
- Job seeker offices
- Libraries
- Post offices
- Tourist information office
- Local supermarkets
- School counsellors
- Community Centres
- Hospital waiting rooms
- Shopping malls
- Sporting/interest clubs i.e. boat club
Successes
Once you have gained a new volunteer you will want to retain them. Ideas on retention include:
- Additional training
- Reward and recognition. Saying “thanks” goes a long way
- Keep them involved – assign meaningful tasks
- Innovative programs
- Be interested in your members, no only as volunteers but as individuals
- Create opportunities that would not be available to individuals outside your service
- Allow individuals to grow into their role
- Listen to recommendations
A satisfied volunteer will:
- Do a good job for the organisation
- Have only good things to say about your organisation
- Give your organisation a good reputation
- Recruit volunteers by word and example
- Be committed and enthusiastic
