How long before you can ask for a reference from volunteer role?

[BigDogJR]

I know they might not agree to it anyway, but I thought I’d canvass opinions.

3 months?

Maybe if only 1 day per week then 6 months?

After about 50 hours, however long that takes to achieve?

I think if they know you're job hunting then I don't think there needs to be a minimum time. I would just preface it with "you don't have to but could you provide a reference for this job application please, I understand if you can't". Probably makes sense if you've been doing volunteering 3 months or more as they'd know more about you by then, but tbh I don't think anyone is scrutinising the timeline too much. Good luck op!

I manage a team of volunteers and for me it would depend on how involved they'd been at the point of asking, and how many hours they'd put in.

No point in asking me for a reference if they've only been there a few weeks, and put in 2 or 3 hours per week.

I would just politely ask now. I mean if I was running it and you volunteered there for a week and were good then I'd write a reference.

They could say 'in the two weeks OP has been volunteering here I've found her to be...(insert various positive attributes.)'

I can't really see why they would refuse unless it's some strict employer/volunteer policy. But surely even then an informal reference could be given from anyone there who's an employee/senior who you worked with and got on with? Or just a tombstone one declaring you've done x hours/shifts or your start date.

Could you not just state they were capable of the work and acknowledge their tenure?

No set time, more about if you know you've been an asset and have managers who think well of you. Xxx

6 months where I used to work.

I wouldn't be sure how capable they were in such a short timeframe.

But to be honest, most references tend to state how long you'll need to have known the person for anyway.

Fair enough. thank you.

How often and for how long are you volunteering? I would suggest a couple of months minimum for a few hours a week.

I manage volunteers.

I know other managers working for the same charity say three months. Apparently that's company policy but I've never seen or heard that anywhere officially.

Personally I'm willing to provide a reference for a volunteer who's not been there long, but just a basic "I can confirm they have been a volunteer since x date" type of reference.

I manage a lot of volunteers.

I would be writing a very different reference for someone who has been with us for 3 months Vs 3 years, but there isnt a minimum time. If we dont know you well, it will be a very basic reference detailing length of service, hours completed and I'll attach the role description.

What does annoy me is people inflating their volunteer experience. I've had people apply for a paid role in my service and on their CV they've listed all their experience in the role...when in reality they were there a week and then disappeared. Don't do that 🙄

I do 4 hours once a week.