Recruiting for a ‘controversial’ subject area, for a job
perceived as ‘dangerous’ or for one that is recognized as ‘difficult’ is
obviously harder than for easy jobs. Recruitment can be particularly
difficult when the nature of the subject area or the job is likely to
provoke an initial fear reaction from the potential volunteer. The following
are some suggestions for trying to design a recruitment campaign for these
types of volunteer positions:
- Do advertising via TV, radio, or newspapers so that thousands of
potentially recruitable people see the message. In essence, saturate the
community with your recruitment message.
- Some of the people won’t be afraid.
- Solicit those who are acquainted with the problem area because they
already work with it, or in an industry related to it, and thus do not
have the same level of fear as the general public. Be sure to remember
ancillary and connected industries, such as educators who teach in subject
areas that discuss the problem area. Also remember the families of those
who work in the subject area.
- Ask those who once worked with the problem area or those who are
seeking careers related to the problem area.
- Solict former clients, their families, and their friends and
relatives. This group is less likely to be afraid of the problem area,
more likely to identify with your group because they have received
services, and quite likely to be committed to doing something about the
problem.
- Recruit via current volunteers. Emphasize ‘word of mouth’
communication. Their personal communication skill ("I work in this area
and I know that it is both safe and rewarding.") will often overcome
barriers to involvement.
- Start with recruiting people for a non-controversial job in your
agency. Develop a ‘twotier’ recruitment system. First recruit them for a
safe and easy job, then offer them a tough assignment after they’ve gotten
to know you better.
- Create an educational program to combat the fear. Start offering
seminars in the community offering the true facts about the situation.
Utilize some of your more motivated volunteers as spokespeople talking
about their experiences. Recruit those who attend the seminars.
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