Timeline for recruiting members:
May 21 - Host sites announced!
June - Host Site Supervisor Orientation Training!
June 15 - AmeriCorps positions go live on UCA website and on the AmeriCorps website
June 15-August 1 - Sites advertise AmeriCorps positions, review applications and interview applicants
June 15-August 1 - Candidates submit resume and cover letters directly to host site supervisors plus complete an online application through MyAmeriCorps
August 5 - Deadline for host sites to communicate top candidate to UCA
August 5-August 27 - UCA conducts final interviews with candidates and makes official offer for candidate to join UCA/AmeriCorps
September 1-2 - UCA Orientation
September 3 - UCA Orientation with Supervisors and members
September 7 - New UCA Members begin at their host sites
Get the Word Out
Successful AmeriCorps candidates come from all walks of life and hear about the opportunities in all different ways. Here are some thoughts on how to get the word out near and far.
First off:
- Post the open position(s) on your website, on the front page if you can. Positions listed here link back to your organization's website. It is great if there is more information on the position there.
Ideas for finding candidates right under your nose:
- Announce to board members and community partners in meetings and newsletters that your organization has been selected as an AmeriCorps placement site. With announcement, ask if anyone knows someone who would benefit from a year with AmeriCorps and would be a good fit for the organization.
- Approach current and past volunteers and interns at your organization. Is there someone who might be interested in actually getting paid to continue serving?
- Announce position to current and former clients you think may be ready to give back after all the wonderful service they have received from your organization.
- If you have youth clients, and it seems appropriate, consider announcing the position to parents. Even if they do not have the time or ability, they may have good ideas about who would.
- Ask community members. Whether it's your neighbor, friend, family or the sales associate at a local store, they or someone they know might be the right fit. And yes, sometimes asking strangers works.
- Send out a general e-mail announcement to all your contacts including a call for candidates.
- Announce opportunities on your personal and/or organizational account(s) on social networking sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, , etc)
Ideas for places you can post your position description:
- Volunteer Sites, such as Volunteer Match and the Hands On Network.
- Craig's List: Click on "Oregon" on the right hand side, then choose from the city and area list on the right-hand side.
- Idealist.org: not free, costs $50 to post position description.
- Some local United Ways will post positions or send job postings out on e-mail lists.
- Schools and Universities. Registering with the on-line career services job center with Oregon universities, community colleges and private colleges is a great place to start. Talking to the heads of appropriate departments may also be useful.
- You may also want to talk with local high school teachers and guidance counselors. They may know where alums are and if any might be looking for an experience like AmeriCorps.
- Job Centers such as The Job Council in Grants Pass are great resources.
Ideas for groups of people to approach:
- Student Groups: At college, university and high school campuses. Particularly if you are looking for candidates with specific interests or qualifications, student groups may be a great source of applicants.
- Social Groups: Is there a young professionals networking group in your town? Other volunteer groups? Film club? Book club out of the library? Slam poetry fests?
- Faith-based communities: Making announcements at faith-based meetings, services or gatherings can also reach new applicant pools