Share your perspective on asking volunteers to not return to your organization.

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

This question frequently enters discussions about volunteer management. Although volunteers graciously donate their time and skills to an organization, sometimes they fail to fulfill their duties outlined in their position description or do not uphold the values of the organization. As such, sometimes volunteer managers have to make tough decisions. Ultimately, the interviewer wants to see that you are able to make these kinds of decisions and carry them out in a professional manner.

If you have experience firing volunteers, explain in detail the reasons why you made that decision and the steps you took to arrive at that decision. If you do not have experience letting volunteers go, explain your position on the matter and how you might go about it theoretically.

"Years ago, I had to ask a volunteer not to return after staff learned she had been accepting payments to maintain the lawn of a client she had met while visiting her home through our companionship program. The volunteer was not happy. However, I was able to walk her through my decision by using our volunteer handbook, which expressly prohibits offering services to clients in exchange for money. The volunteer had signed the page acknowledging she had read and agreed to the policy. As a result of this experience, I learned the importance of establishing clear policies in order to guide employees through difficult situations like this one."

"The organization I currently work for relies upon volunteers to staff special events (its fundraising events in particular). As a volunteer coordinator, I have to make sure that the volunteers uphold their contract to be good representatives of the organization while they are performing their volunteer duties. Part of the contract they sign when they go through volunteer orientation states that they may be terminated as a volunteer if they arrive at an event intoxicated. Unfortunately, I had to ask a volunteer to leave when it was clear from her behavior that she had been drinking. I pulled her from her post and spoke to her privately. She admitted to violating the contract, and I explained that we would have to let her go. I helped her arrange a ride home from the event. This was a difficult situation since I knew the volunteer cared for the work we do. However, I believe we need to hold our volunteers to the same standard we would hold an employee, especially in terms of public behavior. Their actions reflect on the values of the organization itself."