IndexIntroductionSelf-reflectionRecruitmentOrientation and trainingRolesIncentives for volunteeringReferencesIntroductionA volunteer can be defined as an individual who works out of free will or relatively without compulsion and receives no remuneration or receives only a relatively small reimbursement or pay (Cnaan, Handy, & Wadsworth, 1996). This means that the job standard that states that pay plays a role in job selection can hardly be used to explain volunteer behavior (Freeman, 1997). Volunteering for me personally is an opportunity to give back to the community, personal development and to learn and acquire skills related to my field of work in sports management which would in turn help me obtain a permanent full time job. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Self-Reflection I will write about my experience volunteering for the Griffith Sport Event Leaders (GSEL) program. My main motivations in enrolling in this program were that it would give me the opportunity to develop practical skills to complement my current university studies and would also help increase my graduate employment prospects. Participation in the GSEL program has given me the opportunity to volunteer for a number of Griffith Sport's sporting and community initiatives. These included events such as the Nathan Dash, Logan Fun Run and the upcoming Toohey Trail Run in October. Volunteer management refers to institutions that (must) manage their own volunteer workforce. GSEL's management of volunteers was carried out in line with volunteer management theory which is defined as "recruitment, selection, orientation, training, support, performance management and recognition of organizational volunteers" (Cuskelly et al., 2006). The GSEL program is managed by Griffith Sport, responsible for organizing and managing various on-campus sporting and student engagement events across Griffith University's Nathan, Mt Gravatt, Logan and South Bank campuses. Griffith Sport uses a large number of student volunteers in support roles and positions to help run these various events. Students are encouraged to become part of this program via posters on university campuses and via a series of social media posts publicized through a number of Griffith University clubs and other services' Facebook and Instagram accounts. According to Taylor et al., (2006 ), volunteers' personal expectations may differ from organizations' expectations of volunteers. This means that while volunteers seek rewarding work in an enjoyable social environment that fits into their limited time available, organizations expect volunteers to adhere to professional, legal and regulatory requirements. Recruitment The recruitment process begins with students completing an online form. to register your interest. The form requires students to enter their personal details and reasons for joining the volunteer program. Students are contacted for a meet and greet session after their application has been reviewed. Students are then added to the exclusive GSEL program Facebook group. Volunteer requirements, dates and times are periodically advertised on the GSEL Facebook group prior to a month and a half prior to events. Emails and text messages are also sent to students to inform them about the same.Students are then asked to submit their responses indicating the dates and times they would be available. Orientation and Training An orientation and training session is held for new volunteers a couple of weeks before the event. This session lasts approximately 3-4 hours where volunteers are introduced to the event management team and supervisors. Volunteers are explained and given information about the scope and scope of the event, the various types of volunteer roles and tasks associated with them, and the number of expected participants. Volunteers are then explained the rules, regulations and emergency protocols they should follow while working on events. Volunteers are also taught to use radios and other communication portals used on event days. Volunteers are explained that the implementation of each event will depend on their ability to be present and execute the event with the team. The induction training helped me understand the event and expectations of my role in detail. Refresher training provided to returning volunteers updates them on any changes to policies, protocols or supervisors and is much shorter in duration than induction orientation. Roles Overall, the GSEL program had an effective job analysis program for volunteers. The results, responsibilities, tasks and functions related to each role were clearly explained to the volunteers. All roles were tied to achieving a strategic objective to ensure smooth operations during the event. Volunteers are placed in a variety of roles across different departments. New volunteers are usually assigned relatively easy-to-perform roles that don't require much interaction with participants or prior knowledge of the event. Returning volunteers are placed in supervisory roles which require some prior skill, experience and knowledge of the event as they must interact with participants. All roles filled by volunteers range from route marshals and supervisors, finish marshals, timekeepers, registration desk and bag drop, water station staff and event set-up and clear-out staff. I have had the opportunity to be involved as both a first timer and a returning volunteer in these events. It was a different learning experience both times. The first time taught me about the administrative set-up of the organization and how things are organized and managed. I was placed in the supervisor role for the second time because of my familiarity with the event and because I had prior knowledge and experience of the event. For the second time I was also tasked with managing new volunteers, which helped me develop leadership skills. Incentives for Volunteering One of the reasons I really enjoyed volunteering for the GSEL program was the number of incentives offered. I have listed them as follows: Event crew hat and water bottle Event manual Skills development and training sessions Free tickets for the top 20 volunteers to the Griffith Sports Awards evening Recognition for years of service Certificate describing your achievements and written references on LinkedIn Have fun and socialize with like-minded people Learn invaluable practical skills that help increase graduates' job prospects. All these incentives were my motivation to become part of the program. These incentives provided validation of the number of hours I had put in, my hard work, and my dedication to the cause. These were in line with the theory.123-147.