Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
HIGH SCHOOL BIG VOLUNTEER IN-PERSON INTERVIEW
Volunteer’s Name:
Interviewer’s Name:
Date of Interview:
Date of Write-Up:
_______
Instructions: The instructional and rationale portion of the interview form should NOT be
eliminated as they contain important information for conducting the interview and possible
follow-up.
Prior to asking the interview questions, do the following:
 Begin by sharing program information as part of the individualized orientation.
 Explain the purpose of the interview, namely, that you’re trying to learn information
about the person so the most appropriate matching decision can be made.
 Further explain that anytime during the interview, the volunteer can ask questions.
 Briefly outline the process used with enrolling children in the school-based
program.
 Take a few moments to review the responses to the pre-interview questions.
Questions 3-10 of that form are Yes/No questions that may require follow-up.
Follow-up questions, where indicated on the form, should be asked first before
going into the questions on this form.
 Also tell the volunteer that what we collect is confidential and will not be released
without his or her written permission or as possibly required by local, state, or
federal laws.
 Group Question #7 asks the volunteer to describe and name any involvement as
either volunteer or paid staff with youth (e.g., Little League, Boys & Girls Club,
other BBBS agency). Volunteer must be asked to provide contact information, and
an attempt to contact an appropriate selection of organizations should be made
and documented in the case notes.
Each question group consists of a leadoff question or statement and then one or more
additional questions. Each set of questions provides assessment rationale and Key
Indicators (KI) or red flags so that the interviewer will better understand the types of
assessment information the questions are intended to elicit. Note that the Key Indicators
listed in each section are those that could POSSIBLY show up in the volunteer’s answers
to the questions in that group, and the questions were designed to elicit the indicator if it is
present.
Question Group 1 – School Information:
Rationale:
 Provides a safe and neutral start to the interview.
 Gives a sense of the volunteer’s school history, interests and stability.
 KI: Thinking Errors; Extreme self-centeredness/self-absorption; Lack of empathy
for others; Ability to handle stress/conflict; Extensive history working with youth
(references?); Major life changes: Boundaries
I see that you attend ________________High School
a. You are a junior/senior?
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
b. What subjects do you currently find most interesting?
c. Do you have any specific career goals? (Follow up, as appropriate, college or
summer or work plans.)
Question Group 2 – Family Relationships:
Rationale:
 Provides a better general understanding of the volunteer’s family relationships.
 Identifies any substantial emotional issues from the volunteer’s past and can help
determine resolution of those issues.
 Provides insight into current relationships e.g., stability.
 KI: Thinking errors; Lack of empathy for others; Extreme self-centeredness/selfabsorption; Ability to handle stress/conflict; Attitudes indicate extreme
homophobia/sexism; Limited or no contact with family members; Boundaries
What can you tell me about your memories and experiences as a young person growing
up in your family?
a. Tell me about your current relationship with family members?
Question Group 3 – Current Relationships:
Rationale:
 Provides information on the volunteer’s current relationships.
 Provides information on how supportive the volunteer’s significant relationships will
be.
 KI: Thinking errors; Lack of empathy for others; Extreme self-centeredness/selfabsorption; Handling of stress, conflict, sadness; Attitudes/values indicating
extreme sexism or homophobia; Support network; Peer (age-appropriate)
friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Ability to form close, ageappropriate relationships; Support from significant people; Boundaries
Who are the most significant people in your life right now?
a. How long have these individuals been part of your life?
b. In what ways to you feel they have played a significant role in your life?
c. How have they responded, if at all, to you wanting to be a Big Brother or Big
Sister?
(Optional: Tell me about these individuals; what activities and interests you share, how
you resolve conflict?)
Question Group 4 - Friends:
Rationale:
 Determines whether the volunteer has stable and age-appropriate relationships.
 Provides an understanding of the volunteer’s social skills.
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
 Helps explore the volunteer’s problem-solving skills when relationship tensions
and problems arise.
 KI: Thinking errors; Lack of empathy for others; Extreme self-centeredness/selfabsorption; Handling of stress, conflict, sadness; Attitudes/values indicating
extreme sexism or homophobia; Support network; Peer (age-appropriate)
friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Ability to form close, ageappropriate relationships; Support from significant people; Boundaries; Overinvolvement with children; Childlike behavior/interests; Childhood physical abuse
(males)
Outside of the people you just mentioned, who make up your current circle of friends?
a. How long have you had these friendships?
b. How did you build these friendships? What do you do to maintain them
currently?
c. When there are tensions and/or problems between you and your friends, how
do you typically resolve them?
d. Did you or anyone you know (family or friends) experience physical, emotional,
or sexual abuse?
(Optional: What type of activities do you share with friends?)
Question Group 5 – Leisure Time:
Rationale:
 Provides insight into interests and other activity pursuits volunteer has.
 Assesses age-appropriate issues in the volunteer’s lifestyle.
 KI: Thinking errors; Lack of empathy for others; Extreme self-centeredness/selfabsorption; Handling of stress, conflict, sadness; Support network; Peer (ageappropriate) friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Boundaries
How do you currently spend your leisure time?
a. Over the past few years, have there been any changes in how you spend your
leisure time? Why do you think that is?
b. What interests do you have that you would like to share with a child in a
school-based environment?
Question Group 6 – Experience with Children:
Rationale:
 The general experience the volunteer has had with younger youth. Helps inform
and define individualized training and future match support.
 Helps staff make matching recommendations.
 Allows staff to assess whether volunteer has real versus unrealistic expectations
about youth and their attributes.
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
 KI: Thinking errors; Extreme self-centeredness/self-absorption; Lack of empathy
for others; Extensive volunteer and/or work history with younger youth; Over
eagerness to be matched or re-matched; Childlike behavior/interests; Peer (ageappropriate) friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Stated preferences
for Little are narrow and specific; A lot of physical contact is desired; Tendency to
overly indulge or be overly disciplining of children; Unexplained changes in or
termination of activities with children; Over-involvement with children
Would you describe and name any involvement you’ve had with children and youth as
either a volunteer or paid staff person with, for example, a youth organization?
a. What were the ages of the younger youth you worked with?
b. How long, and in what capacity was that work?
c. Tell me about that/those experience(s).
d. What qualities do you admire most in younger youth?
e. Are there any particular qualities you do not desire in younger person?
f.
Overall, what do you feel is important for us to consider in matching you. For
example, any age, interests, or personality trait factors?
g. What attracted you to BBBS as a way of becoming involved in working with
younger people?
Question Group 7 – Match Relationship:
Rationale:
 Begins to explore the volunteer’s own experiences he or she brings.
 Assesses the volunteer’s expectations and potential level of involvement beyond
simple fun and friendship.
 Assesses the volunteer’s motivation, e.g., does the volunteer want to save a child?
 Provides an opportunity to share with the volunteer what being a mentor is really
about.
 KI: Thinking errors; Extreme self-centeredness/self-absorption; Lack of empathy
for others; Extensive volunteer and/or work history with youth; Over eagerness to
be matched or re-matched; Childlike behavior/interests; Peer (age-appropriate)
friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Stated preferences for Little are
narrow and specific; A lot of physical contact is desired; Tendency to overly
indulge or be overly disciplining of children; Over-involvement with children
Think about a person other than your parents that, when either now or when you were
younger, provided you with friendship, guidance and support. What was that person like?
a. When you become matched, what are some of the things you might do to
create that same type of friendship and support?
b. In identifying a younger person for you to work with, what special
considerations would you like us to keep in mind?
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
c. In a few years from now, if you were to reflect back on the time you were
matched, what would have had to occur for you to consider the experience fun
and worthwhile?
Question Group 8 – Potential Challenges in a Match:
Rationale:
 Helps established individualized support needs for recurring contacts with the
volunteer.
 Assesses whether the volunteer may feel he or she is too self-reliant.
 Assesses volunteer’s expectations about what may happen or not.
 KI: Thinking errors; Extreme self-centeredness/self-absorption; Lack of empathy
for others; Extensive volunteer and/or work history with youth; Over eagerness to
be matched or re-matched; Childlike behavior/interests; Peer (age-appropriate)
friendships; Social interactions and/or social skills; Stated preferences for Little are
narrow and specific; Little must comply with certain level of expectations; A lot of
physical contact is desired; Tendency to overly indulge or be overly disciplining of
children; Abrupt changes in or termination of activities if expectations not met;
Over-involvement with children
To help you have a meaningful and worthwhile experience as a Big, what do you feel will
be some of the initial challenges you might face in trying to form a friendship with a child?
a. What might be your reaction if, after meeting with a Little a few times, either the
overall experience or the child did not meet your expectations?
b. What are some of the ways that we might be able to support you in a match?
Match Preferences
To help us make the best possible match, we would like to take a little more time and ask
some more detailed questions around the traits of a child with whom you would feel most
comfortable. We would like to have you imagine with us some things about your Little and
your time together.
a. What is the youngest and oldest age you see yourself working best with?
b. Do you imagine your Little to be very active? What are some of the activities
you see yourself doing together?
c. Do you imagine yourself with a talkative child, or someone more on the quiet
side?
d. Do you imagine yourself with a child who asks for your advice, or who prefers
to work things out on their own?
e. Which of the following words describe the Little you see yourself most
comfortable working with (circle):
introspective
reflective
contemplative
loud
social
acts before
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
thinking
f.
How do you envision meeting your Little for the first time?
g. What kind of personality traits might be challenging for you?
Explain to the volunteer that parents of Littles often state their preferences around
who they want their child to be matched with. Also explain that our policies focus
on parental choice and that some parents express specific preferences around a
volunteer’s characteristics. As such, we need the following information to assure
we respect the rights of parents and the preferences they may have. NONE of
the answers will disqualify the volunteer.
NOTE
For those agencies whose contractual relationships with collaborative partners prohibit
asking all or some of the questions below, please ask only those questions that would
be acceptable to your partners.
1. What is your religious preference?
2. What is your sexual orientation?
Now explain that, to the extent we have to honor preferences stated by parents,
the volunteer may have some preferences also. Since we want to provide the
volunteer with a fun and rewarding experience, his or her preferences are equally
important.
1. Other than the information that you have already shared, are there any other
preferences that you would like us to take into consideration in matching you with a child?
Training Needs:
1. Are there any topics around youth development and/or being a Big that you could
use more information about? For example, communicating with youth or other
such topics?
2. We can provide both training and further information before a match or after you’ve
had some experience. We can also offer training in a group or provide information
in a one-on-one setting. Do you have any preferences?
With all of these questions completed, make certain to ask the volunteer if he or
she has any questions. Also explain that the results of this interview, along with
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Big Brothers Big Sisters in Schools
references and background check results are all used in making the most
appropriate matching recommendation.
SUMMARY OBSERVATIONS
Based on the overall interview and the responses to all questions, the interviewer
now completes interview summary observations noting additional comments as
necessary.
This volunteer demonstrated good communication skills.
Yes
No
Responses to questions were thoughtful and provided useful
information about this volunteer.
Yes
No
The volunteer has a good understanding of what it means
to be a Big.
Yes
No
Yes
No
This volunteer appears able and willing to form
a safe and meaningful relationship with a young person
and for the program time period expected.
What specific training, information, or support needs might this volunteer initially have?
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS IF APPLICABLE
Enrollment Staff
Date
Copyright 2004 Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
April 2004
_______________________________________________________________________________________