Advice on dealing with an unresponsive volunteer coordinator

[loveoforganic]

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I'm attempting to set myself up to volunteer in a local hospital for the coming year. I called the coordinator and left a voicemail with my reason for calling and callback info approximately a week and a half ago. No callback. I went into the hospital in person, the coordinator wasn't in the office, so I was given an application and told to try to meet with the coordinator at another time because the coordinator likes to get to know the applicants. The person in the coordinator's office did however say that the coordinator has been busy with a new project. I sent an email three days ago in attempts to set up a meeting, but have yet to hear back.

Any advice on how to approach this tactfully? I understand being busy with other things, but to not get a callback or email after this time? Am I being unreasonably impatient?

Thanks.

 

[deleted212936]

Ask others about the coordinator's work hours.
Make another phone call. If she doesn't pick up, leave messages, asking to meet her in person at specific date & time.
Isn't there someone else - like a secretary or a receptionist - to help you schedule an appointment with her, btw?

 

[hands]

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[loveoforganic]

Ask others about the coordinator's work hours.
Make another phone call. If she doesn't pick up, leave messages, asking to meet her in person at specific date & time.
Isn't there someone else - like a secretary or a receptionist - to help you schedule an appointment with her, btw?

The secretary there gave me the impression that I'd need to contact the coordinator directly. I'll call again though, with that message in mind, thanks.


And I'm not going to give any indication which hospital I'm referring to, sorry.

 

[mic2377]

I have also had trouble with volunteer coordinators. Despite the fact it is their job to "coordinate," frequently they are inept at it.

The best solution is to nail them down on a time and a place. Also, the sooner you want to start, the more you need to anticipate having to chase down the opportunity. Otherwise you could end up waiting months.

 

[fried rice]

I have also had trouble with volunteer coordinators. Despite the fact it is their job to "coordinate," frequently they are inept at it.

The best solution is to nail them down on a time and a place. Also, the sooner you want to start, the more you need to anticipate having to chase down the opportunity. Otherwise you could end up waiting months.

I turned in an online application for my volunteer position. I waited weeks to get an e-mail or maybe a phone call. Finally, I contacted them through the website. When I got an e-mail in response, I found out that they'd sent me some papers in the mail. I got a kick out of the fact that they contacted me through snail mail instead of the far more convenient options they had available.

 

[Forbes]

I have also had trouble with volunteer coordinators. Despite the fact it is their job to "coordinate," frequently they are inept at it.

The best solution is to nail them down on a time and a place. Also, the sooner you want to start, the more you need to anticipate having to chase down the opportunity. Otherwise you could end up waiting months.

True and false. In many towns with large academic centers (IE: Tons of premeds) Supply > Demand for unskilled labor, so if you are not persistent and market yourself as more useful than "that guy" it will generally take longer. Get people excited about having you as a part of the hospital and the process unfolds for you.

 

[hands]

The secretary there gave me the impression that I'd need to contact the coordinator directly. I'll call again though, with that message in mind, thanks.


And I'm not going to give any indication which hospital I'm referring to, sorry.

Fair enough.

But if it is, the volunteer coordinator there is really cool (so don't worry about making him mad or anything) and you just need to keep calling him and leave lots of messages to get to him just b/c he's so busy.

If not, I've had a similar experience and just kept calling and emailing (mostly calling) every 4-5 days until I finally made an appointment with him. I was able to get rolling before many other ppl who started applying before me.

Just gotta be persistent.

 

[confident]

I'm attempting to set myself up to volunteer in a local hospital for the coming year. I called the coordinator and left a voicemail with my reason for calling and callback info approximately a week and a half ago. No callback. I went into the hospital in person, the coordinator wasn't in the office, so I was given an application and told to try to meet with the coordinator at another time because the coordinator likes to get to know the applicants. The person in the coordinator's office did however say that the coordinator has been busy with a new project. I sent an email three days ago in attempts to set up a meeting, but have yet to hear back.

Any advice on how to approach this tactfully? I understand being busy with other things, but to not get a callback or email after this time? Am I being unreasonably impatient?

Thanks.

Are there other hospitals? If there are, try the other hospitals and see if you have better luck.