A guide to attract and recruit the right people
Volunteering is key to any successful political campaign. In this guide, focused on the profile of the ideal volunteer and recruitment tactics, you will find the essential elements to attract and recruit the right people to ensure the success of your campaign.
Volunteer Profile
In the context of a political campaign, volunteers are those who support the candidacy through different tasks and activities, such as spreading campaign messages, organising events, calling voters, fundraising, distributing leaflets, and putting up signs.
Volunteers are the engine of every campaign and, therefore, we must dedicate time and effort to identifying and recruiting them. Some key characteristics to look for in volunteers include:
Who should you look for first?
Volunteers who have previously worked on political campaigns or in volunteer initiatives may already have experience in teamwork and task organisation.
Experience in Political or Volunteer Activities.
Your campaign manager! She’s the most important person (after you) and the first one you should choose. The candidate and coordinator are a true duo during the campaign months, she is basically your right hand.
Communication Skills
Volunteers who join the campaign must be able to clearly communicate the candidate’s messages and vision. Therefore, we are looking for people with effective communication skills, both in person and online.
Leadership and Organisational Skills
Volunteers who have experience leading or coordinating teams can be extremely valuable to the campaign. In addition, we are looking for organised individuals who are able to keep track of the tasks assigned to them.
Commitment and Enthusiasm for the Campaign
Volunteers who demonstrate strong commitment to the campaign and to the candidate can be of great help in voter mobilisation and in generating enthusiasm within the community.
Knowledge of Technology
Today, technology is a fundamental part of any political campaign strategy. For this reason, we seek volunteers who are familiar with the use of applications, social media, and online tools to promote the campaign.
Knowledge of the Community
Volunteers who have a strong understanding of the local community and the issues that affect it can be extremely helpful in identifying voters and in developing relevant campaign messages.
Volunteer Recruitment
Tactics for recruiting volunteers vary greatly depending on the campaign. If your candidate is a well-known figure, or if your platform is built around a widely recognised collective issue, it is more likely that more people will be actively willing to volunteer. But usually, the candidate must seek volunteers through recruitment methods, including:
Social media posts
Social media is an effective tool for reaching a broad and diverse audience. Messages can be posted on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms to inform the community about the campaign and encourage people to join as volunteers.
Leaflet distribution
Distributing leaflets is a traditional form of outreach that remains effective. Leaflets can be handed out at local events, in the street, or door to door to inform people about the campaign and how they can get involved as volunteers.
Phone calls
Phone calls can be an effective way to reach voters and encourage them to volunteer. Campaign members can identify people who have shown interest or willingness at a campaign event, ask for their phone number, and later invite them to take part as volunteers in another simple activity.
Campaign launch events or informational meetings
Campaign launch events or informational meetings provide an opportunity to attract potential volunteers and explain in detail how they can participate in the campaign. These events may be held in person or online, depending on the context and circumstances.
There are individuals who, due to their skills or their position within the campaign, are more likely to recruit volunteers. Most often, the candidate is the person with the greatest ability to do so. Given the importance of volunteering in any campaign, it is strongly recommended that the candidate dedicate time to recruitment, especially during the early stages of the campaign.
