What are the main challenges you face in recruiting peer advocates and how do you overcome these?

The standard Human Resources (HR) hiring process may itself pose a number of challenges for peer applicants. Some applicants may not be accustomed to a formal interview process, may have a limited work history and thus be unable to supply references, or may not have access to or familiarity with a computer, if online applications are required. Organizational policies such as not hiring anyone with a criminal record might exclude otherwise qualified candidates. In such cases, the directors or managers of the peer program may want educate HR staff about how peer positions require a different skill set and work together to adapt the recruitment process to include different approaches from those traditionally used for program staff.

More information:

• Recruiting, Hiring and Orienting Peers (PDF), part of the Building Blocks to Peer Program Success toolkit for developing HIV peer programs
• HRSA Webcast: Recruiting, Hiring, and Supporting Peers

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