Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

When we review volunteer role postings on our website, we sometimes notice volunteer managers asking for “fluency in English” among the requirements. You may not realize it, but asking for “fluency” could shut the door on a huge pool of potential applicants with a lot to offer.

That’s because being “fluent” in a language is not an easy thing to quantify. Many people may feel they don’t have perfect mastery of the language, even if it’s their first or only language. There are also potential volunteers who may be looking to improve their English, and they might already have the level of English proficiency you’re looking for. Although some roles may need “complete” fluency, most can be accomplished with varying levels of language skills. Changing your approach to asking for language skill can help make your volunteer community more accessible.

Start by asking yourself:
- What will the volunteer in this role be doing? What are their specific tasks?
- How much communication is needed as part of the role? How will this communication happen? (In-person, online, over the phone, in writing, etc.)
- How much communication will be spontaneous (such as clients with possible questions) or prepared in advance (such as leading a practiced presentation)?

What jargon or technical language will this volunteer need to know? How much should they already know and how much will you train them?

Once you’ve considered these questions, update your position descriptions based on the specific skills you need. For example:

If a front desk will be greeting clients and helping them feel welcome, say that the volunteer “must have good conversation skills and a friendly approach”.

If a communications assistant volunteer will be writing blog posts or articles, say that the volunteer “must be able to write and proofread clear, concise and engaging content”.

If an outreach volunteer will be doing group presentations, say that the volunteer “must be comfortable with public speaking and be able to clearly explain our services to a group”.

You may even discover that some of your positions don’t have specific language requirements after all! Don’t forget to also write your position description in the clearest possible language to ensure volunteers will understand. A tool like Hemingway Editor can help, letting you know how easy or difficult your position description is to read.

Not only is being specific and direct about the real requirements of the position a fairer and more inclusive way to recruit, but it will also broaden your applicant pool and help you find the best volunteer for the role.