By Klaudia Kovacs
How to Utilize Volunteers, Interns, and In-Kind Workers so Everyone Wins
The rules and regulations of Employee Handbooks do not apply to volunteers, interns, and in-kind workers even though many businesses utilize these good-hearted workers during these economic times.
The most frequent complaint I have been hearing about volunteers is that they are unreliable. You as a business owner cannot afford that – your reputation might be on the line.
So, how to make these type of relationships fruitful for both sides? First of all, define the basics:
1) What will your volunteer do? (Create an itemized list.)
2) What is the time frame you need your volunteer for? (Define the first and last day of labor.)
3) How frequently and for how long will you need your volunteer? (Create a weekly schedule.)
4) Does your volunteer indeed have the qualifications that you need? (Check out his/her resume and give him/her a test if necessary.)
5) What is your volunteer want in exchange of free labor? (Define it clearly and repeat it back to him/her so there is no misunderstanding.)
6) Are you willing to provide your volunteer what he/she needs? (Verbalize it to him/her what you are going to give in exchange.)
As the summer winds down, I’ve talked to several people who express that they feel disconnected from their goals, desirous of “getting back into the swing of things.” Some people feel overwhelmed, not sure where to start. A little anxious even. Any of this apply to you?
As I sit before clients who are searching desperately for either their first move or the next move on their career path, I’m constantly reminded that everything you’ve done in your life matters and may have a surprising answer for you.
As I continue to coach corporate women in the entertainment business, I find a recurring theme that has even shown up in my own career as an executive: being able to control your emotions. Have you ever been described as “having an angry tone of voice” or “having a bad attitude,” or called “hard-core” or “unapproachable”? I know that I have been associated with these words many times over my career and quite frankly, it has been disturbing I know that I am serious and passionate about my work and I can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to some things, but I don’t think having an “edge” in how I approach my work warrants these labels. Men are not labeled that way!
