Using application forms

Why does Reach discourage the use of application forms?

We ask that application forms are not included in your role description, or supplied pre application, for two main reasons:

To support volunteers 

When volunteers create a profile on Reach, we ask them to share some details about their experience, skills and interests, and to provide either a CV or link to their LinkedIn profile. People who choose to apply with a guest account are asked to provide details of their work history, and encouraged to write a covering note for each application.

Reach supports a wide range of organisations with different application processes, so we ask volunteers for information that we think will be helpful to everyone. We hope that this will give you enough information about them to consider whether they might be a good fit for your role.

We have found that when volunteers have extra forms to complete, there can be a higher rate of drop out, and they may be put off from applying. We suggest that organisations consider volunteers initially based on the information they share in their application, their work history and, if they have one, their Reach profile. We understand that you may need more information than is initially supplied, but to help retain volunteers, we would advise that you only send additional forms to shortlisted candidates. 

To support Reach 

As a small charity ourselves, we remain active through recording application data, and placements, so that we can measure the impact that these have on the wider voluntary community. To ensure that volunteers are not directed away from the site before we can capture these insights, we ask that all initial contact goes through Reach. Once a volunteer has applied for your role through Reach, you are welcome to email them directly, or take conversations offline. Learn more about our impact on the sector .

I need all volunteers to complete our application form. Can I still send it to volunteers who applied via Reach’s platform? 

Of course. We recognise that organisations may sometimes need to use their own application forms. We also understand that Reach could be one of a few channels that you use to find volunteers, and that you need to be able to organise and manage applications. If this is the case for you, we ask that you follow these guidelines: 

1. Explain your process up front

Please do not attach the form to your opportunity post, but do indicate in the ‘Application instructions’ section of your opportunity that shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a form. 

2. Only ask shortlisted volunteers to complete your form

Review volunteer applications in Reach, and ask applicants who look like a good fit to complete the form. If there are candidates you aren’t taking through, let them know at this stage. We’ve seen that applicants who receive a personalised message about why they are good candidates or who have spoken with the charity already are more likely to complete forms, than when they receive a generic message.