The difference between Applications and Enquiries

The response to a Do-it application or enquiry is the first point of contact that the volunteer has with your organisation and they will be eager to hear from you.

The response to a Do-it application or enquiry is the first point of contact that the volunteer has with your organisation and they will be eager to hear from you. Registered users on Do-it have two options when viewing a volunteer opportunity. They can choose either to say ‘I’m definitely interested in doing this role’ or ‘I’d like to know more before applying for this role’. The first will be sent to you as an application, the latter as an enquiry. Before you start to reply to a volunteer it’s good to check whether or not you have received an application or an enquiry.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Application

• When someone submits an application this indicates they are keen to volunteer and wish to apply to the opportunity. You will know when you receive an application from a volunteer, the email you receive from Do-it will say “Please find attached details from *Volunteer Name* who is applying for *Opportunity Title*.
   
• When a volunteer applies for an opportunity they should receive a response within 10 working days, from the organisation or VC with contact details and application form and other pieces of information to allow them to apply to their requested opp.

Enquiry

• When a volunteer enquires for an opportunity they would expect to receive a detailed response giving them more information about the opportunity, expected time commitments, availability, more information about the organisation and how and who to contact.

What to do next?

• Write a template email that you can send quickly to the volunteer as soon as they apply. Also thank them for applying and explain that you are very busy and will get back to them as soon as possible with further information about the role and the organisation they want to volunteer for. See our guidance and notes here.  You could also attach your latest newsletter.
   
• Remember to reply to the volunteer with in 10 working days. When a volunteer applies for an opportunity we tell them they will hear back from you within 10 days. Why not recruit a volunteer to help you respond to your Do-it applications or upload details into V-Base?
   
• Remember to respond to the volunteers email address not to volunteers@doit.org.uk, this can happen if you click reply to the email you get from Do-it with the volunteers details.
   
• Perhaps sign post the volunteers to the magazine section of Do-it, it is full of blogs and articles about volunteering, this will keep them inspired and interested in volunteering until you have time to reply to them. You can find this section by following this link: http://www.do-it.org.uk/magazine.

In the 2009 Volunteer Satisfaction Survey we found that two in 10 volunteers were not contacted by the volunteer centre or organisation within ten days of applying for an opportunity. These volunteers were less likely to go onto volunteer, which shows how important responding to volunteers quickly is. Click here to read the full Volunteer Satisfaction Survey.