Last Updated on April 9, 2025
Volunteers are vital to advancing organizational missions, offering unique skills that address critical needs. Conducting thorough interviews ensures alignment between volunteer capabilities and organizational goals, benefiting both the organization and the communities served.
Why You Should Conduct an Interview With Potential Volunteers
Interviews are essential for evaluating a volunteer’s suitability by exploring their skills, experience, and motivations, ensuring they align with the role’s requirements and the organization’s mission.
Beyond assessment, interviews foster relationships with potential volunteers, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to their aspirations and encouraging long-term engagement.
Additionally, an interview is the perfect time to clarify expectations for the role. By answering any questions the potential volunteer may have, your organization can prevent misunderstandings and ensure that your future volunteer fully understands what is expected of them.
This clarity creates a more positive volunteer experience on both sides, and enhances the chances of the volunteer remaining committed to the organization.
Furthermore, an interview can help to identify any potential issues or concerns that may arise with the volunteer. For example, if a volunteer has a conflict of interest or a history of misconduct, the organization can address these issues during the interview and determine whether the volunteer is still suitable for the role.
You’ll also get a feel for how long they may dedicate to your organization both now, but in the future—do they make service a part of their lifestyle, or is it a one-off community service requirement.
What to Look for in a Volunteer’s Answers
During interviews, evaluate if the volunteer possesses the requisite skills and experience for the role by discussing their past work, education, and relevant training.
This can be determined by asking questions about their past work experience, education, and any relevant training they may have received.
Additionally, assess the volunteer’s enthusiasm for the role and the organization’s mission. Volunteers who are passionate about the work they will be doing are more likely to be engaged and committed to the organization.
Asking questions about why the volunteer is interested in the role and what they hope to achieve can help to gauge their level of enthusiasm.
It is also important to assess the volunteer’s communication skills. Effective communication is essential for successful volunteer work, as volunteers will be interacting with other team members and potentially your local community.
Questions that assess the volunteer’s ability to communicate effectively help ensure that they will be able to work collaboratively and convey information clearly.
Lastly, it is important to assess the volunteer’s availability and commitment to the role. Volunteers who are able to commit to the necessary time and are flexible when needed will be more reliable and effective in their work.
Asking questions about their availability and any potential conflicts can help to ensure that the volunteer is committed to the role.
Best Volunteer Interview Questions
Adjust and tailor these questions to the specific role at your organization to ensure that they are relevant and effective in assessing potential volunteers.
Motivation and Interest
- What motivated you to apply for this volunteer role?
- What do you hope to gain from volunteering with our organization?
- What interests you about the position you have applied for?
- What causes are you passionate about?
- What makes you feel appreciated?
Skills and Experience
- What experience do you have that makes you a good fit for this role?
- Can you tell us about a time you demonstrated leadership skills?
- What is your greatest strength? How does it help you volunteer?
- What experience do you have working with [relevant groups]?
- How would you handle a situation where a member of the community was unhappy with the service you provided?
- What is one unique skill or talent you possess that you think would be useful in this volunteer role?
- What is the most impactful volunteer experience you’ve had in the past, and why did it resonate with you?
Availability and Commitment
- Why do you want to do volunteer work?
- What is your ability to work on an as-needed basis?
- Are you able to work on short notice?
Collaboration
- Do you prefer to work independently or collaboratively?
- What role do you typically take in a group setting?
- How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with another volunteer or staff member?
- Have you ever had to work in a team environment? How did you contribute to the team’s success?
- How would you handle a situation where you didn’t know how to do something?
Organizational Fit
- Explain the type of work culture in which you best perform.
- How do you see yourself contributing to our organization?
- What is one thing you’ve learned from a failure or mistake you’ve made in the past?
- What are your long-term goals, and how do you see volunteering fitting into those goals?
Logistical Considerations
- What barriers to volunteering do you anticipate? How can we help?
- How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks?
Shannon O’Donnell is an award-winning travel writer, speaker, and author of the acclaimed “Volunteer Traveler’s Handbook.” She’s been traveling the world for over 20 years, and is passionate about helping others use travel as a force for good.
She was the 2013 National Geographic Traveler of the Year for her work in responsible travel and tourism, and has appeared everywhere from NPR to the BBC to CNN as an expert in travel and international volunteering.