One of the most common mistakes made by volunteer recruiters is limiting the scope of their recruiting. They focus their efforts on people who are interested, certified, or talented in the actual work of the organization and ignore the hundreds of other potential recruits that would make their organization stronger and more efficient. A theater group, for example, works very hard to recruits actors, singers, and occasionally stagehands. They don't consider seamstresses, financiers, publicists, and basic runners. All of these people would be able to provide basic services to the organization that would be invaluable.

The advantages to recruiting a person who can't sing or dance, but is a financial wizard are multi-fold. First of all, that is their passion and they are probably much better at it than someone who just because they know how to balance their checkbook. In addition, they replace someone who is able to sing and dance. The financial wizard gets to become a part of an organization that they are interested in, maybe because a spouse is involved, and they can contribute in a way that most benefits that organization. By taking the place of an actor/singer, they reduce burnout because the actor/singer is likely to become less interested quicker if they were required to work on the finances which are of no interest to them. By broadening the scope, the organization now retains two new members that are passionate about their jobs and they are better off for it.

Learn more about this author, Kirk W. Johnson.
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