Volunteer Interviewing
Run interviews that reveal fit, motivation, and any red flags.
For: Volunteer coordinators and managers
What you’ll learn
- Run the interview as part of a layered screening and risk-management process
- Ask structured, behavioral questions that reveal motivation and fit
- Recognize red flags and high-risk responses before placement
- Match a candidate’s motivation to the right role and set clear expectations
- Document the interview consistently and fairly for every candidate
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
The interview is a safety tool
5 min
- 2
Why structure beats a friendly chat
5 min
- 3
Behavioral questions: past behavior predicts future behavior
6 min
- 4
Red flags and high-risk responses
6 min
- 5
Matching motivation to the right role
5 min
- 6
Setting expectations and the welcoming-but-discerning tone
5 min
- 7
Documentation, decisions, and a fair process
5 min
Sources & further reading
- Energize, Inc. — Screening, Interviewing and Placing Volunteers
- Energize, Inc. — Interviewer Traps (halo effect & common errors)
- MinistrySafe — Skillful Screening (behavioral questions & high-risk responses)
- Praesidium — Screening Out Offenders
- VolunteerMatch / Get Involved Clearinghouse — Sample Interview Questions for Volunteers
- Schmidt & Hunter (1998), Psychological Bulletin — The Validity and Utility of Selection Methods
This course is educational and provides general information about the Fair Credit Reporting Act and volunteer-screening best practices. It is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — consult a qualified attorney about your organization’s specific obligations.