There are some basic criteria that all volunteers must meet. You need to be:

	aged 24-60
	an experienced professional with a recognised qualification. (Check what skills are currently in demand
	able to demonstrate the personal qualities essential in a volunteer
	able to spend up to two years overseas
	willing to work for a modest local salary sufficient to cover living expenses
	prepared to invest in the required self-briefing and training before going overseas.

When you’re ready to go overseas with VSO within the next twelve months, fill in a Volunteer Placement Application Form. When we receive your application form we’ll assess:

	whether a local partner is likely to ask for your skills
	your readiness to go to live and work in a developing country

If we think there may be suitable jobs for you with VSO, we’ll take up personal and professional references and invite you to an assessment day. We’ll get back to you about your application within 2 weeks of receipt.

The assessment day includes a variety of group activities and an individual interview. These elements enable us to look for the qualities you’ll need to meet the challenge of living and working overseas:

	self-assurance
	flexibility and adaptability
	a flair for solving problems
	ability to work in a team
	sensitivity to the needs of others
	a desire to learn and help others learn
	a positive and realistic commitment to volunteering.

We’ll ask you to give examples of times and situations where you’ve used these qualities. Over 70% of candidates are successful. So we’re not looking for super-humans!

If your assessment is successful you’ll be allocated a VSO placement advisor. They’ll be your main point of contact with VSO until you go overseas. Their job is to help you find the right opportunity and work with you through the administrative process.

If a suitable job is available, things may move quite quickly at this stage. But, you may have to wait until the anticipated request for your skills arrives, in which case it will take longer. Your departure and job will be conditional on medical clearance from VSO and criminal records checks.

In matching you with a job, we’ll try to accommodate any personal preferences you may have. A successful match often depends on flexibility from all sides. The number of jobs for which you might be considered will depend on:

	your qualifications and experience
	the number of requests for your skills that VSO receives
	the number of volunteers with skills similar to yours.

If your placement advisor is able to match you with a job they will show you a job description. Before accepting a job you’ll be able to:

	ask your placement advisor about anything that is unclear or concerns you
	think about your personal and professional learning needs in relation to the job
	use a VSO information or learning centre to look at briefing material
	talk to former volunteers.

We won’t expect you to accept a job unless you’re happy with it.

We’re committed to helping you prepare as fully as possible for your role. Training takes place both before your departure and after your arrival in country. Pre-departure training takes 6 days. The elements of pre-departure training are:

	Preparing for Change (2-3 days over a weekend). You need to attend this course unless you have recently worked in a developing country in a role similar to a VSO volunteer.
	Health and Security workshop (2 hours). This compulsory workshop covers personal health, well-being and safety while you’re on your placement.
	Wider Role of volutneers (3 days). This compulsory course aims to equip you with skills you’ll need to work in a development context.
	Professional skills courses. VSO training staff and your placement advisor help you assess if you need any additional work-focused training. This may require attendance as further training courses.
	Self-briefing. You’ll need to prepare yourself personally for your placement, and find out about the country you’re going to. VSO provides assistance through our information and learning centres, and each of our in-country offices produces a country briefing pack.
	In addition to this training, there will be plenty to sort out, such as packing, arranging you finances, and perhaps renting out property. We can put you in touch with returned volunteers who can advise you on how they managed this. At this stage you may also wish to do some fundraising. This is not obligatory, but as a charity we value any help you can give to encourage support of our work. We’ll give you lots of help, ideas and resources if you want to take up the fundraising challenge.

You’ll fly out in a group, with other volunteers who are starting jobs in the same country. When you arrive, you’ll have some language and cultural awareness training before you start your job. This can last from a few days to three months, depending on the importance of the local language in your role.