When creating or editing a listing for a service year opportunity, you have the option to customize your application. This means that in addition to the questions included on all Service Year applications, you can add and create questions that candidates will need to answer when they apply. By adding customized questions, you can get a better idea of whether an applicant is a good fit for your service year opportunity and utilize ServiceYear.org as a complete initial application for candidates.
While adding additional questions is completely optional, keep in mind that any questions you add will become mandatory for a candidate to complete prior to submitting an application.
How to add questions
To include custom questions in your program's application, you can head to the "Application Information" section of your listing. From there, you’ll scroll down to the "Customize Your Service Year Application" section where you can preview an example application to see the questions that are collected on all applications.
There are two ways you can add more questions to your applications:
In the "Choose Additional Application Questions" section, you can select additional questions that candidates would need to complete when submitting an application.
In addition to these pre-defined questions, you can utilize the "Create Your Own Application Questions" section, to write your own questions for candidates to answer.
Types of questions to ask
When considering adding your own questions to the application, keep in mind the additional application questions you can select and the information already included on the Service Year application:
Resume
Current location
Email
Statement by candidate on why they want to serve
What the candidate is currently doing (i.e. working, going to school, serving, etc.)
Availability
Date of birth
Availability
Previous service (if a candidate has previously served)
The highest education level attained
Schools
An optional statement by the candidate on why they want to serve with your organization
It is ultimately your decision on what (if any) questions you choose to ask candidates.
Here are a few example questions:
List experiences that you feel will help us understand your leadership story.
What volunteer or professional experience do you have that would be relevant to this opportunity?
What makes you feel passionate about this particular field?
Do you have any experience living or working in this location?
What are your career goals?