The Salvation Army is a fast-paced environment where employees often juggle multiple projects and responsibilities. How do you handle stress on the job?

"No one is free from stress in today's world, but we choose how we react when those situations arise. This is particularly true in the nonprofit field. During the holiday season at my current job, we manage simultaneous fundraising events, process and acknowledge greater numbers of donations, and respond to an increase in requests for volunteer opportunities. This can be a challenging time for a small staff. Practicing excellent time management strategies keeps my mind focused amidst the chaos. This focus gives me something tangible to hold onto as I complete tasks with deadlines and address any issues to spring up that must be immediately attended to."

"During stressful times at work, it is easy to become irritated and impatient with others. Honestly, this used to be a weakness of mine. However, I always want to improve on my weaknesses, so for the past seven years, I have participated in daily breathing and meditation practice before leaving for work. This has helped me enormously in terms of learning patience and understanding of my co-workers. I have felt more empowered to express my ideas for managing high-volume requests for public assistance during economic recessions and have learned better ways for communicating with people when I disagree with them on something. I plan to begin incorporating yoga into my morning routine as well."

Acknowledge the role of your co-workers and supervisor within the context of how you conduct yourself during times of stress. Highlight how you interact with others and maintain a standard of professionalism at all times despite whatever challenges you face.