Nonprofit – Operations Manager

Position Name: Operations Manager

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.

What are your short and long-term professional goals?

Transitional & Verification Questions

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

[Education Verification – example: Are you currently enrolled in a Master’s program?]

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

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?

Describe a time when you anticipated potential problems and developed preventive measures.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a time when you overcame a major obstacle.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a situation in which you had to get started on something but didn’t know what to do.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Describe a situation in which you had to get started on something but didn’t know what to do.

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Adaptability

Tell me about a time when you faced a significant challenge working with people from a different department? What actions did you take?

Situation:

Action:

Response:

Tell me about a situation where you were under a great deal of pressure because of numerous demands competing for your time and attention. How did you resolve the situation?

Situation:

Action:

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Coaching

Tell me about a recent time you had to coach an employee to perform a task.

Situation:

Action:

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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:

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Developing Others

Tell us about a time when you customized development for a specific person’s personal and professional aspirations.

Situation:

Action:

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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 one thing I should know about you that I haven’t asked?

Interviewer Assesment

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?