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Reference/recommendation process

  • Tuesday, August 29, 2017 11:07 AM
    Message # 5054054
    Anonymous

    Hi all,

    I am looking for better/easier/safer ways to receive references and/or recommendations for volunteers. At this time, we are asking the volunteers to provide us with sealed letters of recommendation. Some coordinators are calling the references but it is not consistent throughout the system. What are you doing at your organization?

    Thank you for any suggestions you may have.

    Sharon Swanson

    Duke University Hospital 

  • Wednesday, August 30, 2017 9:21 AM
    Reply # 5055806 on 5054054
    Deleted user

    We only require references for our teens (in the form of a sealed letter). For our college students and adults we do not have the capacity to do reference checks on everyone. We find that as long as we interview the adults thoroughly enough we can find any red flags.

  • Wednesday, August 30, 2017 12:35 PM
    Reply # 5056220 on 5054054
    Deleted user

    We do not do references.  We rely on the interview and the background check.  In the first 10 years that I was here, we only ever received one negative personal reference.  Based on the cost of manpower and resources, we decide it was not cost effective.

  • Thursday, August 31, 2017 10:34 AM
    Reply # 5057820 on 5054054
    Deleted user

    We also don't collect references any longer.  Found it to be more trouble collecting than it provided any true information.  We use the interview and background check as our primary screening method, like Jamine.

    Also that gut feeling, if something doesn't feel right in the process, it probably isn't.  For example, someone who calls with way too many questions when the information is available from other sources, or seems to eager to get started, or you find yourself working too hard to get information from the applicant because the person answers the questions with one word answers.

    Stop and think, how many individuals do you actually turn down based upon a reference!  I bet you will realize you are spinning your wheels.

     

     

  • Friday, September 01, 2017 7:44 PM
    Reply # 5060007 on 5054054
    Deleted user

    We mirror Jamine and Frank.  If I a have a gut feeling about a person, I will call references/past employers, but I seldom do this.

  • Tuesday, September 05, 2017 9:07 AM
    Reply # 5063869 on 5054054
    Deleted user

    We collect a reference for all volunteers to be consistent with our HR new team member requirements. We have an electronic form that volunteers forward to a reference of their choice for completion. The form then automatically routes back to our email for review and to be saved in their file. The form also asks if they would like to receive information on volunteering - some do put that they want more info - helps with recruiting a few here and there!

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Contact us at shvl.email@gmail.com

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