Nonprofit – Database Administrator

Position Name: Database Administrator

Interviewer

Candidate Name

Interview Date

Introductory Questions

– Interviewer(s) share name, role, tenure, and hand business cards for thank you messages
– Share a brief overview of the company
– Give Candidate the Job Description, highlight Job Purpose, Schedule/Travel, Major Challenges & Key Decisions, and Physical Requirements

Tell us about yourself.

Walk us through your resume.

Transitional & Verification Questions

– Clarify any unclear information from resume or application
– Verify availability for work hours and schedule, start date, and other important details

Will you now or at any point in the future require visa sponsorship to work for us?

Technical Questions

– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups

How would you describe your proficiency level in [Excel as an example]?

What specific areas (related to the position) do you consider yourself the most knowledgeable? What areas have you had less experience or do not feel as comfortable with?

Behavioral / Situational Questions

– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups. Follow up questions may include:
- Tell us more about the action you took and the outcome.
- What did you say at that point?
- How did you react to that situation?
- Explain your role in more detail.
- Tell me in detail what steps you took.
- And what was the result?
- Describe the obstacles you faced in getting it done.
- What other options did you consider?
- Why do you think you reacted as you did?
- How do you think others felt about your actions at the time?
- Were you satisfied with the outcome of your actions?
- If the same or a similar situation presented itself, what would you do differently?

Analytical/Detail Orientation

There are times when we inadvertently let details “slip through the cracks.” Tell me about a time when this happened to you. What was the cause? What were the results?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Please describe a project you worked on that required you to synthesize complex information. How did you do it?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Describe a task/project you completed which required a substantial attention to detail. How did you decide what to do first? What obstacles did you face? What was the final result?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Adaptability

Tell me about a time when you had to deal with changes in organizational direction that impacted your work. How did you respond?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Decision Making

Describe a decision you had to make when you were really torn between the alternatives. How did you finally decide? What was the outcome?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Tell me about a time when you had to make a decision that impacted multiple people. How did you communicate that decision and how was it received?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Critical Thinking

Tell me about a recent situation when you were given job instructions and you were unable to comprehend the instructions. How did you go about completing the task?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Initiative

Tell me about a time when you asked for increased responsibility. What was your reasoning?

Situation:

Action:

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Share two past projects you completed without being asked.

Situation:

Action:

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Tell us about a time that you went above and beyond the call of duty.

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Problem Solving

Have you ever had to fix a problem twice? Describe the situation.

Situation:

Action:

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Tell me about a problem that needed fixing where you weren’t sure how to approach it.

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Relationship Building

Describe a time when you removed a business obstacle for yourself or your team through deliberate relationship building efforts.

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Action:

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Tell us about a time when you built rapport quickly with someone under difficult conditions.

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Action:

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Systems Thinking

How do you measure and keep abreast of the work of your team on the big picture of the organization?

Situation:

Action:

Result:

Candidate’s Questions

– Be sure to leave time for their questions, generally 1-3
– Paint a positive but honest view of the pros and cons of the work and culture

Notes

Closing Questions

– Describe where you are in the process, next steps, and when they can expect to hear back
– Ask if they have any final remarks

What is the best thing a previous employer did that you wish everyone did?

Interviewer Assessment

Enter your overall assessment about the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and fit for this position.

Would you recommend this candidate advance in the process?