Volunteer work for a 13-year-old girl?

Volunteer is upset over not getting hired. Any advice?

• I run a Program where my staff works under a lot of pressure.. I have a volunteer who has been volunteering for the past 4 months. She's been very helpful with little stuff but is no where near ready to take on work as a regular staff member. She has no paid work experience and is not a public speaker, something necessary for the position. Well I had an opportunity to hire a new staff and she applied. We interviewed her but there was at least 10 people more qualified and better speakers than her. I let her know a week ago that she did not get the job and today our new girl started. Well our volunteer ignored her all day and when our new girl tried to introduce herself, she made a rude comment. Then she came into my office and told me she was leaving for the day because it looked like we had "enough help" and she wasn't needed. I told her that was fine and thanked her, but she didn't leave without telling me she was thinking of volunteering for our competition and wanted their phone number. The comment was unnecessary, if she wanted to volunteer with them she knows their info. I know she's upset, but she's acting immature. I had a talk with her about getting an entry level position before she could apply for our positions, which pay $17/hr. but she seems to have not got the picture. Any advice?

• Answer:

  She's being very disrespectful. I would ask her to seriously consider whether she could put her emotions aside for the sake of the organization. If not, sever ties. I'm not sure why she's surprised she didn't get the job if she has no paid work experience and lacks a necessary skill for the job. Definitely let the new employee know that you are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior on the volunteer's part. You don't want the new girl thinking that all your volunteers are rude or ungrateful ... just this one.