Obtaining a position at a not for profit or charitable organization can be tough. With an abundance of applicants, all applying for the same highly sort after charity jobs, the interview process needs to be tough. As with any position, it’s beneficial to spend some time preparing for the interview. When preparing for the interview, it’s a good idea to check out the organization’s web site to gain knowledge about the organization, and to see what the job requirements are allowing the candidate to prepare for potential questions that may be asked during the process.

Heading into an interview can be stressful, even for the most confident individuals. They can be even more so without preparation. A day or two before the interview, it’s best to look at question that could be asked by the interviewer. This allows the candidate to tailor an answer that highlights their skills and background. But how do you know what questions are going to be asked? There isn’t any sure fire way to know what questions will be presented during an interview, as different companies are looking for specific skills and knowledge that will best fit the position they are hiring for.

Whatever position you are interviewing for, whether it is a sales position, a job in the administrative industry, or charity jobs, the interviewer wants to put you at ease. To do this the interviewer will ask about the candidates work history. This helps put the applicant at ease by having them talk about something they know, while letting the interviewer double check the information contained in the candidates resume. Once the work history has been discussed, the interviewer will turn to more specific questions that will showcase the candidate’s skills and knowledge.
With any non-profit jobs or charity jobs it is important for the right candidate to possess strong interpersonal skills. It is essential that the individual have the ability to work in a collaborative environment. Questions that may be asked to determine if a candidate can work well with others can include but are not limited to:

1. Tell me about a specific time you were faced with a critical incident?
2. Would you consider yourself a team player?
3. How would others describe you?
4. How would you go about motivating others?

Another area that is important for positions within a non-profit or charitable organization is how committed the candidate is. The interviewer isn’t necessarily looking for someone that will work around the clock without complaint; they are looking to see if the candidate is passionate about their role in the organization. To see how committed the candidate is to their career, the interviewer may ask:

• What about our organization seems like it would be a good fit for you?
• Why do you want to work for our organization?
• How can your skills help our organization achieve our goals?
And my personal favorite:
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

There is no guarantee that by taking the time to prepare for an interview the candidate will walk away with a job offer. But by being themselves and being honest with the answers they provide, there is a better chance that they will get a call back.

About the author: Jobsgopublic.com has the largest selection of public sector and charity jobs at top UK public sector and not-for-profit employers.