The Salvation Army Application & Careers

img- The Salvation Army

People who fill out The Salvation Army application are looking to join an organization that strives to offer help to people in need in a variety of ways.  Links to apply for jobs at The Salvation Army are at the bottom of the page.  Please note that an extreme majority of positions are volunteer.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by Reform Church Minister William and his wife Catherine Booth in London’s East End. Once they were working, the group decided that they wanted to have a militaristic style, with the head of the organization being called the “General”, fellow ministers with appropriate rankings, and volunteers being called soldiers.  By the 1880s, the organization had spread to the United States, Australia, and Ireland.

Originally, church members were converts from places that would no longer accept them, like alcoholics, addicts, and prostitutes, among others. The church would work with their congregation to turn their lives around.  In the United States, The Salvation Army rose to prominence after a number of large scale disasters where they offered aid and assistance to those affected.

As of 2012, The Salvation Army is in one hundred and twenty-six countries, offering a variety of services.  They have over four million volunteers, several of whom are church members, and a over ten thousand ministers, who are reassigned to new locations every two to five years.

The Salvation Army Careers

The Salvation Army jobs at the corporate level are based out of London, England and are geared towards making sure that the volunteer organizations are working smoothly.  Because this company is also a religious sect, some positions may be geared towards checking up on the various churches around the world.

Locally, The Salvation Army careers work in their various thrift shops, homeless shelters, or various other charity programs that they have and run.  Most of the positions are volunteer, because the company wants to offer as much support and care as they can to the needy population in their towns.

Some local positions work exclusively with The Salvation Army church that is in the community to make sure that it’s running smoothly.  There may be jobs working with children to give them an education after the church service or in the church office to make sure that appointments are being made and met to keep the charity aspect on solid footing.

How old do you have to be to work at The Salvation Army? Age requirements vary by position, but generally you need to be at least sixteen.  As you look at The Salvation Army jobs online, realize that they are all volunteer positions.  Make sure to read all of the job descriptions closely as some positions may need various certifications or training before you take on the position.

The Salvation Army Job Descriptions

Kitchen Assistant – This volunteer position will have you working closely with staff in the homeless shelter to give those who need it a healthy meal.  You may help finish preparing the meal, clean up the dining room, or serving the meal.  There is no compensation as this is a voluntary position.

Program Assistant Volunteer – When new volunteers come to start, you’ll work to train them and teach them about the areas where they may be working.  Before they can even start their training, you’ll screen them in order to find the best area for them to work in.  There is no compensation as this is a voluntary position.

eCommerce Specialist – Various locations have started to sell books online in order to help keep their shops clean and to promote business online, you’ll be working within one of these locations to help ship and shelve the products.  This positions is voluntary, so there is no compensation.

Receptionist – You’ll be the first face that people see when they walk into the building and will answer questions about programs and services, help families apply for food assistance, schedule appointments, and take messages, among others.  This position is voluntary, so there is no compensation.

The Salvation Army Interview Questions

These are some questions you may be asked during your interview:

Why do you want to work with The Salvation Army? This is an extremely common interview question, so you should be prepared for it.  Talk about what drew you to the company, whether it was the culture or the good that they try to do in their community, and why it’s your first choice in places to work at.

What experience do you have? If you have any relevant experience, highlight it.  If you don’t have any, talk about what you can bring to the position and offer The Salvation Army.  Use plenty of examples to back up and enhance any claims that you may make.

Where do you see yourself in the next few years? Your interviewer wants to know if you see yourself with the volunteer organization.  Be honest and realistic, the company wants to have people that are willing to stay and work with them, but they can use all the help that you can get.

Several positions will require you to stand for long periods of time or to carry heavy objects, so you may be asked: Do you have any physical limitations? They want to make sure that you can do the position that you’ve volunteered for, so be honest and talk about anything you can’t do, the company should be willing to work with you.

Because this organization is a charity that works in a lot of fields to help others, you may be asked this question: Is there a certain area of our business that you want to work in? Be honest, they want you to come to your volunteering shift and not feel like it’s a chore.

Advice for Application Process

How to apply for The Salvation Army online: you cannot fill out The Salvation Army application on their website because their positions are all volunteer and they choose to go through Volunteer Match to find their volunteers.  A printable application for The Salvation Army is at the bottom of the page.

Before attending your interview, do research on The Salvation Army and the industry in order to come up with a list of questions that you can ask.  This may seem excessive for a volunteer position, but it will show that you think ahead and are prepared.

Dress nicely for your interview, it may be in a casual or semi-formal setting, depending on the location that you’re applying to.  If you’ve applied for a supervisory position, you should dress anywhere from business casual to formal, again depending on the location.  Have a positive and friendly demeanor when you attend your interview because it will give a good impression.

Show gratitude at the opportunity to interview with The Salvation Army.  Afterwards, inquire about the best way to check on your volunteer status because not all candidates will learn if they got the position during their interview because The Salvation Army will want to screen all applicants before making a final decision.
Also See:
Crazy 8: See our guide for careers at Crazy 8.
A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts: Visit the A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts application.
Sunglass Hut: Use the Sunglass Hut job application to apply here.
Five Below: Visit the Five Below application.
Party City: Party City offers opportunities for both, beginners and experienced roles.

Company Links

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/volunteer

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/orgs.jsp?l=United+States&k=salvation+army