Are volunteers an appropriate
addition to your event?
Event volunteers are a welcome necessity when you need extra hands on deck during large events, but sometimes, there is a fine line between pulling it off and it becoming a huge mess. We’ve pulled together some tips on how to prevent event volunteer failure, from designing the correct program to recruiting and managing.
When finding volunteers for your event, think about what they could do for your event and how they could specifically help. It’s always nice to get free helpers, but before taking on volunteers, make sure they have the credentials and enough tasks to fill their time.
Think of the volunteer’s needs:Before hiring event volunteers, it is useful to ask why the volunteers want to work your event.
Ask them questions like:
- “What are you looking in for return?”
- “What kind of experience are you expecting?”
- “What makes you want to volunteer for our specific event?”
Once you know more about your volunteers, you will know how to keep them happy and cheerful at your event.
Have a clearly stated criteria, job description, and benefits in return:Having a clearly stated job description for your volunteers will save everyone time and effort in explaining what the exact volunteer responsibilities are during your event. Give them as much information as possible so nothing is left unsaid.
Have repercussions for not showing up:To prevent “no-shows,” your event must have repercussions of a volunteer not showing up. Whether it’s not getting a really cool benefit of being at the event, an outstanding recommendation, or them not being able to work any of your next events.
Hold a training day:A training day for your volunteers is one of the most important aspects of volunteer success. This will show everyone what he or she will be doing and give them time to ask any last minute questions.
Give them recognition after event:Giving the volunteers some type of recognition after the event will let them know how much they are appreciated. It also gives them a reason to come back and volunteer at your next event.