How long are volunteer orientations

We will discuss why your organization should hold an orientation program, how to design and present orientations that make the most sense in your circumstances, and finally, how to evaluate what you've done. Before we go any further, an important distinction to make is that an orientation program is not the same as a training program. A training program, as discussed in the next section, goes into great detail about how to do a specific job--information that is usually over and above what you're trying to get across in an orientation session.

For example, a program in which volunteers tutor people for literacy might have a training program with several different sessions. These sessions could explain how to best teach people to read and give an overview of phonetics and adult learning. An orientation program, on the other hand, would take place before this training. It would tell new volunteers how long the program has been in existence, where they will be doing the tutoring, who they will be tutoring, what is expected of them, the benefits they can expect to receive, et cetera.

It should not, however, teach them how to teach. Orientation programs, as defined above, vary widely in terms of length, structure, method of delivery, and amount of detail. They can range from one-on-one casual conversation in the corridor, to highly structured classroom sessions in large groups lasting several days.

So which to choose? Some criteria in making decisions about your orientation program:. Larger organizations, or those that have many volunteers, will generally have a more formal orientation program.

This might take place over an hour or two and is often a requirement for becoming a volunteer. It might take place during the recruitment phase of your volunteer program, or on the volunteer's first day on the job.

Smaller groups who employ volunteers on one-time assignments, such as helping cook at the annual fundraising chili feed, may orient new volunteers individually. In these cases, the volunteer director or another member of the organization may simply show the new volunteer around, and for simpler tasks show him what he'll be doing.

This section will talk primarily about larger, more official orientation programs. Many of the ideas that follow, however, can be easily adapted to smaller, less formal situations. Again, this will depend on your organization's needs. But here are some things to consider in coming up with a solution that meets your group's needs.

Decide what you want to accomplish with your orientation program. When new volunteers leave after you have completed the orientation, what should they know? What should they be prepared to do? It sometimes helps to write down these goals. Then, you can plan how you are going to reach them. Decide how large and formal you want the orientation to be. Will you recruit many volunteers together, or only one or two at a time? Will new volunteers have to come at a specific time for the orientation program, or will it be a part of the their first day?

How much time and how many resources do you want to devote on the program? There are no set answers to these questions. It's up to your organization to answer them in ways that make the most sense in your circumstances. Decide who will be responsible for the orientation of new volunteers. The responsibility for orientation may fall to the volunteer coordinator if you have one , it can be split between two or more people, or different individuals can take on the task at different times.

However, if you are planning on having a more formal orientation program, or one that will probably be repeated, it often makes sense to have one person in charge of the orientation. That way you can be sure that the orientation program is consistent and that new volunteers hear the same things.

Also, it's human nature to get better at things the more we do them. Practice may not always make perfect, but it certainly helps! Get the word out. A brilliant and well-executed plan won't do much good if you don't have an audience. Posters might help, and postcards sent out as a reminder of the orientation session can be very helpful for busy people who might have forgotten to write the date on their calendar.

Arrange the logistics of the situation, especially when you're hosting a more formal orientation session. Will the meeting room be free when you need it? Do you have enough copies of the volunteer manual for everyone who is supposed to come, plus a few extras?

Enough chairs? Is the meeting area accessible for people with disabilities? The devil is in the details, so try not to get caught unaware! Be sure you have taken care of everyone's physical comfort when they arrive. Most businesses require or day reviews for new hires. The same should apply to volunteers. Volunteers will be more confident in their tasks with this insight, which leads to higher satisfaction with their experience.

He enjoys researching and blogging for VolunteerHub, a cloud-based volunteer management system that offers online registration, email and text messaging, report generation, and much more.

Take a look at these 40 volunteer statistics Volunteerism is one of the most important and beneficial actions that we can take as human beings. Our ability Rewarding volunteers can be gratifying and valuable without breaking the budget. Here are 5 budget-friendly ideas for volunteer recognition. We also want to discuss best practices as part of this new volunteer orientation guide. To get the best results, make sure to incorporate these best practices for volunteer orientation.

You should always follow up with volunteers after orientation to learn about their experiences. When you contact volunteers after orientation — perhaps by emailing them a short survey — try doing the following:.

Volgistics provides a flexible, intuitive, customizable platform your organization can use to manage its volunteer program more efficiently. Contact us today or schedule a demo to learn more about this time-saving platform. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Testimonials About Us Contact Us. What Does Volunteer Orientation Entail? Benefits of Volunteer Orientation Programs Volunteer orientation programs offer several different advantages for your organization: Imparting essential information: A volunteer orientation program makes it easy to ensure that all volunteers receive the information they need.

Sure, you may send out a welcome packet or have a volunteer manual in your office, but you can never be certain who will read the information. People may get busy, forget, or mislay the packet. Holding an in-person orientation allows you to make sure the essential information gets across. Getting everyone on the same page: All volunteers should have the same information so they can work well with each other and blend seamlessly into your organization.

Even if all volunteers receive the same details, each of them may interpret those details differently. Clarifying goals: One of the great benefits of using a volunteer orientation as part of your volunteer onboarding program is that it lets you explicitly tie your mundane daily activities to your overarching organizational goals. Doing this can help volunteers feel more motivated and encouraged. Many volunteers may feel reluctant to knock on doors and bother strangers at home.

But if you use your orientation to explain why the ballot initiative is so important in your community — it would get many homeless families off the streets, for example — then volunteers are much more likely to overcome their fears and reach out to people for this necessary conversation.

They may not know where the bathrooms are, where they can park, or whom they can ask for help if they need it.

Orientation provides a low-stakes place for volunteers to get acquainted with your organization and the work environment.

That way, when volunteers come in for their first shifts, they will feel more secure and confident. An orientation helps break the ice. Orientation activities offer opportunities for volunteers to begin to build relationships with one another and gives them friendly faces to say hello to on their first shifts.

According to the CNCS, one out of every three people who volunteer during a given year will not volunteer during the next. By allowing them to ask questions during the event, you will continue to provide a welcoming and positive atmosphere. Communicate information volunteers need to know prior to arriving at your event.

While some volunteers may make serving with your organization their only plan for the day, others may have it scheduled between various activities on their calendar.

For instance, if your event is scheduled to end at 3 p. It is important to factor your orientation runtime into the length of your volunteer opportunity time. By including your volunteer orientation into the overall event time, you mitigate the risk of going over the time you promoted. Ending on schedule shows your volunteers that you respect their time. The ideal time to spend on orienting volunteers is minutes.

It is enough time to cover your vision, what their impact will be, expectations, and questions, without being so long that you lose their attention.

A good way to avoid racing the clock is to create a welcome video to include in your volunteer registration process. This establishes key details needed that ensure they arrive with everything they need and that important details can be covered beforehand.

As you are welcoming volunteers and going through your orientation you are building a relationship with the team of people present. They are getting to know your organization, just as you are getting to know your volunteers. The foundation you build with volunteers during the onboarding process can help you maintain a volunteer-organization relationship during and after the event.