Do you have experience recruiting interns and/or volunteers? While Human Rights Watch does not rely on a great amount of volunteer labor, we do pride ourselves on our internship program.
A large part of the success of a nonprofit organization comes from dedicated volunteers and interns. For well-established, large nonprofits like Human Rights Watch, funding is typically easier to come by, and therefore they can pay experts to fill most staff positions. As an advocacy organization, Human Rights Watch does not often use volunteers. However, they do have several internship opportunities available for students and recent graduates in offices around the world. Share your ideas for widening the applicant pool for internships and any experiences you might have recruiting in general. This is a great opportunity to include numbers.
"I was impressed to read about the variety of opportunities available to recent college graduates and current students interested in beginning a nonprofit career with Human Rights Watch. In my previous role as Community Engagement Officer, I was tasked with recruiting large numbers of volunteers to support special fundraising events. Over four years, I recruited over five thousand individuals from local universities, corporations, and religious congregations to provide volunteer support for events that raised over one million dollars for our organization. Because of this experience, I am well-equipped to make contact with universities and match qualified students to available positions."
"The current internship program at Human Rights Watch is an excellent opportunity for students and recent college graduates to learn about life as a nonprofit employee and gain experience in the field. The compensation package offered by your organization makes this program competitive and attractive to potential interns. Because I have direct experience working with universities and managing my previous organization's internship program, I know the right staff people to contact who can connect me with students seeking internships. By focusing my leads on students who are currently engaged in long-term community service work, I can ensure that I find students who are dedicated and passionate about human rights advocacy work."
Avoid pitching new volunteer opportunities until you see a specific need after you have been hired. Generally, nonprofits take advantage of as much volunteer support as possible, and if they are focusing their efforts on developing their internship program instead, they are likely more interested in long-term investments with individuals who might go on to become future employees. Instead, work within the framework already provided by the organization and show how you can add to that with your recruiting experience.
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