This training presents volunteer selection as a reciprocal process that allows both the organization and the prospective volunteer to determine whether the role, expectations, conditions of engagement, and supervision needs are a good mutual fit. Its goal is to support successful volunteer placements by balancing equity, inclusion, safety, and the specific realities of each volunteer role.
Participants will learn to distinguish between volunteer selection, screening, reference validation, and official background checks, and to determine which measures are genuinely necessary based on the role’s responsibilities, the service context, the level of access entrusted to the volunteer, the associated risks, and the supervision mechanisms already in place. The training also encourages participants to recognize biases that may influence decision-making and to adopt practices that are transparent, proportionate, and respectful.
Finally, the training addresses common situations encountered during the selection process, such as applicants who are only a partial match for a role, response timelines, the influence of first impressions, and communicating decisions, with the aim of supporting clear, objective, and consistent practices.
Participants will learn how to:
- Distinguish between volunteer selection, screening, reference validation, and official background checks;
- Identify the essential requirements of a role, the elements that can be adapted, and individual preferences;
- Choose a selection process that is proportionate to the responsibilities and context of the role;
- Prepare for and conduct meaningful, fair, and reciprocal conversations or interviews;
- Determine what information and validation measures are genuinely necessary;
- Distinguish facts, impressions, and interpretations when making decisions;
- Document and communicate decisions objectively and respectfully;
- Maintain clear communication with volunteer applicants throughout the process;
- Confirm a mutually agreed volunteer placement or conclude the selection process respectfully.
Duration: 3 hours
