Interview presentation required....please help me!

[TwoNoisyBoys]

I’ve been offered a job interview next Tuesday, for a job I really want 😊 it’s a volunteer co-ordinator for a charity that supports people with learning difficulties. I REALLY want this job. It would hopefully be a 2nd job to supplement a decrease in contracted hours in my current role.

My history, personal circumstance and current job are all focussed on this line of work, so I’m not really too nervous about the interview. What I AM nervous about though is I have to do a presentation before the interview, for no longer than 10 minutes, called “How would you find volunteers?” And I’m stumped!

Does anyone have any ideas what to do, what to incorporate, how to conduct this? I’m panicking because I have only a week (and loads of other stuff going on too, including a f2f meeting for my son’s PIP application, and a meeting with my current employer to discuss a decrease in hours...) and I can feel the anxiety levels rising already.

Any help most gratefully received!

Hopeful bump!

No real advice for you but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along soon
In the meantime have you any thoughts as to how you would find volunteers?

Hi, well I’ve thought about fb, word of mouth, the volunteering section in the local press, visiting 6th forms, colleges, army/sea cadets, events at local shopping centres, leaflet drops.....its how to make all my ideas into a presentation really, that looks at least a little bit professional, (hopefully!) 😁

Do you have to do a PowerPoint?

First things first, have they given any direction on what sort of presentation they want? ie do the want powerpoint, flip chart, chalk and talk or just a stand up and talk presentation?

If you’re going to do a PowerPoint ensure you print it out just incase there is any trouble with computer / memory stick (and have enough copies for everyone)

Look at what they do already, how they can expand that. Look at “competitor” or similar charities and how they market their opportunities. Think of incentives schemes for volunteers (even certificates with low cost work). Do you have experience in this area?

I'd focus on whether they could use something like TimeBank or similar online volunteer listings services, and build around that.
Do research into what they already do - newsletters, print (posters, billboards, print adverts, flyers), emails, reciprocal arrangements with other volunteers orgs etc. Don't repeat what they already do, build/improve/alter (carefully phrased!) etc.

Slides should have one key point plus an image/graphic per slide.

If you want to be fancy, copy their logo and colours in your presentation!
Good luck!

Tell thrm whdst you're goi g to tell them
Tell them
Then summarise whadt you've told them

Maybe prioritise the list you suggest, or talk about other people you could involve in the activities you suggest

Have you done anything similar? Mention real life experience

Powers point presentation of about ten minutes.

Use the SMART principle - ie are your ideas
S specific
M measurable
A achievable
R relevant
T time based goals.

For example. I would first access the levels of resource we currently have and what we need and by when, to help me scope out the size of the task.
This would give me specific goals and a time frame to work in.
I would then access what was needed - eg, am I recruiting the right kind of volunteers with the free time/location:skills I need, to focus my efforts of relevant areas to maximise he chance of success.
I would set myself achievable goals - for example one solid new volunteer is better than 100 maybes who never follow up.

Then, once you have identified who you need, where you need them and by when, you could develop a strategy.

For exameple:
Speak to community volunteering orgaisibatiosb like Pronce’s trust, they might match you with someone right away.
Identify what volunteering could offer and almost wrote a job spec- want a worthwhile way to spend a few hours? Want skills to add to your CV? Want relevant experience for a course or promotion? Xxxx charity has a number of volunteering roles which could help.

Think about where it is relevant to post this, remembering safeguarding, or at least acknowledging that it exists.

Ask your local paper, radio station or community mag to run a feature.

Speak to big local employers who might volunteer their staff time.

Plus all your own ideas above.

Access - assess

Also when talking about getting people to volunteer, you need to be specific about what people will be doing.
for eg - on local Freegle at the moment cat charity are asking for volunteers to collect cats, foster kittens, do home checks,fund raise etc.
Having an idea of what a charity needs volunteers to do is more attractive than just generic" volunteering"
Also highlight any training you offer.
Offering open days if appropriate

I would would start a paper planning your presentation now. E.g. I'd plan five slides and a topic and rough timing for each slide:

Slide one intro on you and your relevant experience to the presentation, 2 minute
Slide two how to recruit volunteers 3 minutes
Slide three how to retain volunteers 2mins
Slide four something about diversity and measure of success 2 mins
Slide five Summing up 1 minute

Once you've broken it down like that is easier to make notes on what you want to say, and you'll surprise yourself how quick the time goes.

Don't put too many words on the slides. Prompts only. I hate presentations where people basically read the slides. It's screams of lack of knowledge and confidence in the subject.

Thank you all so much for your messages, this is the first chance I’ve had to reply as last night was taken up with teenagers!
It’s a stand up and speak presentation, not PowerPoint, sorry I should have made that clear. I’m going to start work on it this afternoon hopefully...

There’s some really great ideas on here, thank you all!

Having just advertised for new staff I would suggest Facebook and LinkedIn. Then own advert printed up on doors nituceboards in library, on village noticeboards and join your local business group who gave meetings where you get to do a show and tell All have worked for me

use cards or large script on sheet use bullet points for each point you want to discuss write down exactly what you want to say & rehearse it with watch for timing

You may also want to mention national awareness drives e.g. National volunteers week. Many organisations piggyback these campaigns (and their hashtags on social platforms etc) to drive sign ups. The organisers of these kind of awareness weeks are often looking for case studies to use in press, which will include a mention of the charity they volunteer for so a win win for everyone involved. Just a thought :)

Also consider linking in with local University's / Universities' Psychology Departments - they are always trying to link students with volunteer opportunities as you cannot get a further degree course (Masters etc) without having volunteered.

Maybe look into the demographics of the people who already volunteer eg retired, students, etc. Then think about how to reach more people like that. Eg freshers week

Also, even if it is a stand up and speak presentation I would print out a handout with your main points summarised to hand to each person there as you finish - shows you are professional, helps them remember your key points and also, helps them remember you.
You want to come across as the most professional and prepared person interviewed.