Nonprofit Performance 360 Magazine Vol 4 No 4

clog dangling from one toe. As she swung her leg nervously, the shoe flew off her foot, hit him in the head, ricocheted to the desk lamp, and broke it. She looked at him in terror, but when their glances met, they both dissolved in laughter. The moral of the story: the person on the other side of the desk is also human and wants to put you at ease. So admit to your anxiety, and don’t swing your foot unless your shoes are tied on securely! Be yourself. Nobody’s perfect and everyone knows nobody’s perfect. The truly impressive candidate will convey a thorough knowledge of self. By the way, she was so genuine, she was offered the position. Departing impressions: Do not let the quality of the interview, or the interviewer’s personality or lack thereof, influence an otherwise rational decision. After the last goodbye and thank you has been said, and you exhale deeply on your way out the door, congratulate yourself. If you used the interview properly, you will know whether or not you want the position and why. Afterwards, send a thank you note to your interviewer. A short and simple note or email will do. Be sure to incorporate something meaningful and of importance to you which was discussed in the interview. Do NOT write a long letter or an essay! Here are a few possible interview questions to ponder, along with how the interviewer is expecting you to answer. “What values of our company foster suc- cess?” Your answer should include a balance of research and personal thoughts. Spend time on the organization’s website to learn what philosophical values the corporation holds. Focus on what values, mission, and culture you find important and how those are reflected in the organization. Include core values the interviewer left out of his/her discussion of the corporation. “How do you hold yourself accountable?” Your answer should include specific strategies. Mention any apps or technology you use to stay on track or ways you work with others to keep focused on a goal.This is a good time to admit to mistakes or misjudgments; name one or two.

“What role do you play in a team setting?” Use this as an opportunity to talk about the importance of teamwork and collaboration. Share what kind of role you can play on a team and how you can be flexible, depending on the needs of the team. Consider talking about experiences where you’ve led and others where you’ve taken direction well. “What’s been the biggest accomplishment in your business career or, if you’ve just finished your education, in your summer internships?” Talk about a successful project at which you have worked, an award you won, or a time when you were recognized for going above and beyond in your role. Go into detail about what brought on the accomplishment, crediting your own hard work and dedication to help others. Don’t be arrogant; arrogance can be a turnoff in an interview. “How do you prepare for your day?” If your morning routine at home is essential to your day (reading the news, meditating, working out), talk about that. If you’re not a morning person, don’t spend time talking about a hectic start to the day. Focus on how you prepare for a workday by creating a priority list, avoiding email until lunch, or other tactics you use to structure and make the most of your day. “How do you hold yourself accountable?” Your answer should include specific strategies. Mention any apps or technology you use to stay on track or ways you work with others to keep focused on a goal. This is another good time to admit to mistakes or misjudgments. However, be sure to include how you turned a negative into a positive. Talk about how you prioritize tasks every day to show that you can handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously. Mention time management on a weekly or monthly level, and how you manage your schedule to accomplish goals. Mention any tools you use to manage your time, such as lists, calendars, or apps.

“About what are you passionate?” While the focus of this answer should be about passions outside of work, it’s okay to start with what you’re passionate about in your career. Touch on personal issues you’re passionate about, such as family. Use this as an opportunity to bring up any volunteer or nonprofit work you do. “How do you continue to educate your- self?” In your response, show that you’re committed to continuing professional development. Mention networking events or conferences you’ve attended and how they’ve helped you learn new skills. Talk about day-to-day educational resources you leverage, such as blogs, podcasts, or online classes. “Verbally walk me through your résumé.” Touch on each of your previous positions, highlighting your responsibilities and major accomplishments. Focus most of your answer on the most relevant positions. Focus also on skills you learned that will help you be a successful employee, such as time management and collaboration. “Who are the mentors in your life?” Mention people who you look up to and with whom you have personal relationships.These can be peers, supervisors, former supervisors, and contacts you’ve met at networking events. Talk about the qualities you admire about them. If you don’t have any personal relationships with mentors, you can reference public figures who have made impressions on your decision to be a ___ (fill in the position for which you are applying). Good luck and have fun!!!! Anthony F. Capraro III, Ph.D., is Headmaster of The McBurney School in New York City, President of TEACH USA, Inc., and Founder and Chair of the Board of the nonprofit www.collegeoutreachusa.org .

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