How to Prepare for a Nonprofit Job Interview
By Sam on January 11, 2016
You’ve worked tirelessly on the perfect cover letter that describes your passion for your nonprofit dream job. Your resume highlights your experience and education, which perfectly aligns with the opening’s requirements. You also may have screamed with excitement when you got the call for an interview with the Executive Director. Now it’s time to prep for your interview!
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
- What are the objectives that I will be evaluated on and how will those be measured?
- What is the sustainability of the position and program? Is it grant funded?
- Can you describe your organizational culture?
- May I have a program/facility tour and meet potential peers?
- Would you be interested in receiving additional samples of my work?
QUESTIONS NOT TO ASK:
- What is the salary? Now, this is a common question but don’t ask it in a first interview, but it’s better to broadly ask about an overall compensation package that includes non-monetary benefits too.
- What does the organization do? This research should be done prior to the interview.
- Closed-ended questions. Keep the conversation by engaging your interviewer with questions that allow you to get to know each other.
The question portion of the interview can secure your fate with the nonprofit. Be sure to keep your questions and overall conversation extremely positive. Practice builds confidence so seek a friend to help you do a mock interview.
Interested in searching nonprofit jobs in Knoxville and the surrounding areas? Check out the online ABN Career Center!