At World Food Program USA, we want to work with individuals who value volunteerism. If you have had the chance to volunteer, what experiences have impacted you the most?

"When I moved away for college, I began looking for ways to immerse myself in my new community. Eventually, I connected with the Meals on Wheels program, which provides hot and frozen meals to homebound seniors living in isolation. This experience revealed the major problem of food insecurity seniors face in this country and lit the fire in me to commit my life to address this issue. I continue to volunteer with Meals on Wheels to this day, running a weekly delivery route."

World Food Program USA, in tandem with the United Nation's World Food Programme, operates a highly-specialized volunteer program. When applying for a position, you should be prepared to talk about how you give back to others and how you contribute to your community. Highlight one or two significant experiences.

Discuss how your experience changed you or what you learned from volunteering. This will be an especially strong answer if your volunteer experiences involved food insecurity in some way.

"I began volunteering at a local soup kitchen four years ago where I would help purchase, clean, prepare, and serve meals to attendees experiencing homelessness. Besides the housing issue, I noticed how much it meant to the attendees to share a simple meal. Not only were they receiving much-needed sustenance and nutrition, but they were also treated with dignity and provided the opportunity to commune together. I learned that when we serve people, we are not simply providing food. We are empowering their potential and reinforcing their humanity. This observation has been key to my developing worldview."

Advancing gender equity is very important to the culture of World Food Program USA. How do you view the role of gender equity in the workplace and around the world?

"Although men and women are equal in the eyes of the law, studies show that men in the workplace are compensated much better for the same work as women. I believe it is essential to provide opportunities for women in terms of career mobility, leadership, and professional development to ensure they can realize their goals."

On its website, World Food Program USA states that gender equity is integral to its company culture. As such, you should explain why gender equity is important and embrace its implementation sincerely.

Remember that gender equity differs from gender equality. "Equity" means that everyone has different experiences and opportunities in life and attempts to provide the resources necessary to reach an equal outcome. "Equality" refers to a situation in which everyone is provided the same set of resources.

"In my opinion, equity means more than better compensation for women. I believe stronger workplace protections for women who experience harassment and greater accountability for their harassers are essential steps to foster an environment in which women can thrive. If we provide a space in which women feel comfortable and provide better financial compensation and opportunities for advancement, we will start to see positive changes in the area of gender equity."

Are you applying for any other jobs?

"I am actively seeking full-time employment; as such, I submitted applications to a few other organizations that also address the issue of food insecurity. However, these organizations are more localized, and I am interested in working with hunger on a national or global scale. That is why I am most excited about the opportunity to work with World Food Program USA."

It can create a sense of urgency if the interviewer understands that you are actively seeking work. However, be sure to emphasize that you want to work at World Food Program USA more than any other organization to which you have applied.

If you have cast a wide net in your job search, share only one or two jobs that you have applied to in tandem with this position at World Food Program USA. It would help to highlight organizations with similar missions to WFP USA.

"I am currently interviewing with No Child Hungry to direct their Florida office. I greatly admire their efforts to address childhood hunger in the United States. However, because of my studies in international relations, I have a strong passion for addressing global issues, and this position with World Food Program USA will give me that opportunity."

Which of the organizational values of World Food Program USA do you connect with the most?

"Reading through the values of the World Food Program USA is what made me so excited about applying to work with this organization in the first place! In college, I was the director of a volunteer group that traveled to New Orleans twice a year to assist with home rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina. During that time, I saw firsthand the need for food among displaced and homeless families. Therefore, I truly connected with WFP USA's value that all families have access to food even when natural disaster strikes."

This is your opportunity to show that you have done your research. World Food Program USA's website states their values and explains why they consider them important. Connect your values with theirs and explain why it is important to you as well.

There is no need to recite all of the values listed on the website. Instead, choose one on which to focus. This will give you the time and space to connect your experience to that specific value.

"As a former teacher, I have seen how access to quality food can change a child's life and future prospects. Your website mentions that 'food enables every human to reach their potential,' and I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. When my students came to class well-fed with a good lunch provided for them, they performed much better academically and were able to achieve their higher education goals. I want to join an organization that shares this value."

Although our office is focused on food insecurity in the United States, our parent organization is global, as are many of our stakeholders. What experience do you have working with international clients?

"I was the International Program Director for my previous employer, where I helped build field offices in South America. During my tenure, I oversaw the construction of offices in Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Not only did I have to have strong working relationships with construction managers in each of these countries, but I also had to improve my Spanish skills from remedial to intermediate to communicate professionally in the field."

You may interact with co-workers or stakeholders from different countries around the world. In your answer, demonstrate your cultural sensitivity and your ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.

This is a good opportunity to highlight any second language skills or ability to communicate with non-native English speakers.

"Currently, I am an English as a Second Language Instructor working with Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean students online. In my position, I am not only required to help improve my students' English speaking skills, but I also have to be aware of culturally sensitive issues specific to each country to maintain a congenial and comfortable classroom environment. In addition to this experience, I am fluent in Korean and studying Chinese."

Share your knowledge and/or experience with the subject of food insecurity in the United States.

"Food is a basic need, and in America, we have too many people going hungry, lacking proper nutrition, or living in food deserts without access to fresh, healthy food. We need legislation that specifies food as a right and protects people's access to it. That is why I want to join WFP USA--to use my understanding of government structure and functions to advocate for enshrining access to quality food for all."

Food insecurity is the primary focus of World Food Program USA's mission. As such, they would like to hire individuals who are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject. Tell the interviewer what you know about the causes and effects of food insecurity and share examples of your exposure to the issue.

Job seekers often cast a wide net when looking for work, and the nonprofit field is quite competitive. Demonstrating in-depth knowledge of the subject of food insecurity and hunger within the United States specifically will set you apart from other candidates.

"Studies show that access to healthy food and better nutrition results in stronger mental and physical health and greater community wealth. In a country that has more than enough food to feed everyone, I believe we need to be better stewards of the resources we have to ensure everyone has a chance to live out their full potential."

Our parent organization, World Food Programme, operates a vast network of volunteers in dozens of countries around the world. Do you have experience recruiting volunteers?

"In my current position, I have recruited hundreds of volunteers to assist with handing out food and clothing items at a local community center. This is an essential task that requires as many hands as often as possible. As a result, I have secured a contract with AutoZone; they agreed to staff four Fridays every month with employees participating in their community outreach program."

World Food Programme places specialized volunteers in field positions around the world and has about 12,000 volunteers. World Food Program USA also uses specialized volunteers and interns. If you are applying for a position managing volunteers, talk to the interviewer about any experience you have in recruiting, retaining, and recognizing potential volunteers.

If you have experience recruiting volunteers, focus on the volunteers you have recruited with specialized skill sets that made a measurable impact on your organization. Recruiting large numbers of volunteers to sustain a program requiring many hands is important; finding volunteers with unique skills they can use to contribute to special projects is equally important.

"My organization does not utilize a high number of general volunteers. However, we do have special events, grants, and enhanced programs that occasionally require the services of individuals with specific skills. For example, our grant manager had to update the annual grant cycle during our busiest time of year and had multiple proposal deadlines approaching. I reached out to a local university and found a student studying nonprofit administration. She came in and assisted our grant manager to develop the calendar so that he could focus on the proposals."

Do you know anyone who has worked for World Food Program USA before? What kind of feedback have you received on our organization?

"Although I have never met or spoken to anyone who has worked for World Food Programs USA before, I did have the opportunity to read through various comments from current and former staff about their experiences. Employees seem to love working with other mission-driven individuals and praise the organization's transparency and stewardship of funding received. They also talk about feeling fulfilled by the work they can accomplish with your organization."

Share what have you heard or read about the positives and negatives of working for World Food Program USA. Remember to be as positive as possible. If you don't know anyone who has worked there, use this opportunity to show you have done your research and read what former or current employees have said.

Avoid negativity. However, if you feel you have constructive criticism to share, use the sandwich method to help you - say something positive first, then share the criticism, and finally share another bit of positive information.

"One of my friends, who I met volunteering at my local food bank, is a former employee of World Food Programs USA. She worked there for ten years before moving on to work with the United Nations. She loved World Food Programs USA and especially commended its commitment to the mission and values it espouses. She left because she wanted to advance her career and felt connected to the UN through World Food Programme. Her description of her experiences with WFP USA made me excited and eager to apply for a position here."

Which of World Food Program USA's programs interests you the most and why?

"After learning about all of WFP USA's programs, I feel the most excited about the food voucher and e-card program that allows families to select fresh food they wish to purchase. My first job as a social worker required me to assess families for eligibility to receive food vouchers. I was proud to contribute to work that resulted in dignity and choice for these families."

World Food Program USA operates nine national programs providing hunger relief in different ways. Read through these programs carefully and take notes on the ones you find most intriguing. Then, choose one you would like to talk about when you answer this question.

Avoid simply listing all of the programs WFP USA operates, as there are many. Instead, choose the one about which you feel most excited. Demonstrate your knowledge of the program; then, based on your experiences, share why you feel connected to it.

"As a mother and advocate for public health, World Food Program USA's Nutrition: First 1,000 Days program is extremely important to me. Too often, the nutritional well-being of new mothers and their babies is ignored in the immediate months following birth. This is especially true for low-income mothers. I am thrilled about the opportunity to join an organization that is not only passionate about this issue but is also doing something to directly address it."

What motivates you to want to work at World Food Program USA in this specific role?

"Since my grandfather passed away a few years ago, my grandmother has been living alone with no family nearby. She has mobility issues and can no longer drive a vehicle or work, so she relies on social security and food programs supporting seniors living in isolation. When I think about all the people in the world struggling to survive because they do not have access to healthy food, I become motivated to commit my life to this work. I have spent my career working in marketing for corporations, but I want to take my professional skills and apply them to a career helping people improve their lives."

Discuss how the issue of food insecurity is important to you. Share examples from your past volunteer or work experience that reveal your passion for addressing this issue in your career.

Contextualize the mission portion of your answer from the lens of whatever position for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for an IT position, explain how you view that work in the context of advancing World Food Program USA's mission to end hunger.

"As an accounting professional with twenty years of experience, I have seen first-hand how appropriate and sound financial management can ensure the success of nonprofit programs. I served on the board of my local food bank as an advisor for endowment management and investment decisions. I was excited to see how this resulted in increased resources that allowed the food bank to provide more food to more people. This ignited a passion to continue this work in my actual career. For this reason, I strongly connect to the mission of World Food Program USA and believe I can contribute positively to its advancement."

Why do you want to work in the nonprofit sector when for-profit companies generally offer more competitive compensation?

"Although appropriate financial compensation is important in sustaining myself, I am driven by the mission of World Food Program USA to alleviate hunger and fight for policies that ensure nobody struggles to find food. Knowing that my talents and hard work can contribute to this work is a powerful motivation for me."

World Food Program USA is an affiliate of the United Nation's World Food Programme. As an international nonprofit, compensation packages are generally more competitive than smaller nonprofits. Still, your experience and skill set would likely result in a higher salary with a corporation. The interviewer wants to know that you are going to be okay with potentially earning less than the average person in your field. Talk to the interviewer about the other ways you will find satisfaction in this role.

This is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and embrace of the mission and values of World Food Program USA. Describe the specific ways you connect with ending hunger and addressing food insecurity in the United States and around the world.

"Like World Food Program USA, I strongly believe that giving a person access to food leads to the realization of their potential. As someone who grew up in a food-insecure household in the Deep South, I understand first-hand the fear associated with not knowing from where your next meal will come. Financial stability is certainly part of the equation, but the mission is the motivation for me."

"Working for a non-profit organization provides me with motivation even if they pay less than the private sector and for-profit corporations. I believe that it will be the best opportunity for me to do what I like while fulfilling my passion to serve others, including the most vulnerable people in need. Serving humanity is the most meaningful and rewarding job."

Talk about a manager or supervisor you have had who you admire. What did you learn from them, and how did you apply those lessons to your own work performance or management style?

"I had a very close working relationship with my previous supervisor. She oversaw my work as a volunteer intern when I spent evenings assisting with administrative tasks for the Community Outreach team. When I was hired upon graduation, we worked closely together recruiting large groups of volunteers and spreading the word around town about our organization. From observing her, I learned how to warmly receive others and make them feel comfortable and receptive to my message. She always encouraged me and provided honest feedback, whether positive or negative. I learned how to construct feedback in a way that empowers people rather than shaming them."

Think of one manager or supervisor from your past who you admired and/or with whom you had a great working relationship. Describe their management style and what you took away from interacting with them.

Highlighting one abstract and one practical takeaway from this manager will show your attentiveness to leadership qualities and useful skills. This will also show how observant you are and reveal your ability to learn, grow, and lead.

"My former manager expected high-quality work and effective time management skills to meet the plethora of deadlines we faced, acknowledging donors in a timely fashion. However, she was never rude or antagonistic. Instead, she offered her support in high-volume times, asking what we needed to ensure our success as a team. If we ever struggled, she modeled better time management practices and provided helpful resources to assist us. This demonstrated the importance of communication and how to extract the best work from your team."

Do you have any recommendations for improving our programs?

"I was impressed to read about your reducing food loss program. Food waste is one of the biggest factors related to global hunger, and I was excited to see how WFP USA works to be better stewards of our resources on Earth. In college, I began a partnership with the company that contracted with our dining halls to provide food for students. Through a research project, I determined that they were throwing away perfectly good food at the end of the day. So, we partnered with a local soup kitchen to donate that food that would typically be discarded. If WFP could model this on a larger scale, I think it would greatly enhance their efforts!"

This is another opportunity to share what you learned from your research about World Food Program USA. Pick one of their nine programs and share your ideas for improvement.

Avoid offering suggestions for brand new programs or giving recommendations for major, unrealistic overhauls. Instead, share small, operational changes you have made to programs in the past that may improve the efficiency of WFP USA's programs.

"Two years ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer at an orphanage in the Philippines. The youth were taught farming techniques and managed a garden where they grew crops and raised chickens. They also learned how to cook the vegetables and fruits they grew in the garden and break down and prepare the chickens for consumption. Essentially, they provided their breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. I loved reading about WFP USA's female farmers and school meal programs. I think teaching youth to farm in the same way WFP USA teaches adult women would greatly benefit the communities you serve with these programs."

How would you recommend improving World Food Program USA's internal and external communications?

"As a communications professional with two decades of experience, I have seen how technology has changed our ability to communicate. Technology has made communication easier, practically speaking, but more difficult in terms of maintaining a level of professionalism. As such, I strongly believe in brand consistency, not only in our external communications but also in how we communicate with each other as co-workers. In this position, I would train current employees on proper internal communications procedures."

If you seek a communications position with World Food Program USA, this question will likely be asked. Support any recommendations you make with your expertise or examples from times you helped support internal and/or external communications updates.

Remember that World Food Program USA is an affiliate of the World Food Programme, headquartered in Rome, Italy, and the World Food Programme itself is part of the United Nations. As such, professional, seamless communication is critical and may involve individuals living in countries outside of the United States.

"Since World Food Programs USA is part of a larger network addressing food insecurity around the globe, I understand that employees may frequently interact with individuals from cultures that differ from our own. I believe it is important to ensure the staff has an understanding of appropriate ways to communicate with people from specific regions. This will enhance our external communications and relationships with global partners."

Imagine that World Food Program USA is expecting a visit from a major donor to oversee the implementation of a new project she has funded. As project manager, describe what should be done before, during, and after her visit to ensure her approval.

"Before her arrival, I would prepare supplementary materials and secure a meeting space. When the donor arrived, I would first be sure to welcome her in person. Then, I would offer to give her a tour of the building, introducing her to key members of the team managing her project. Next, I would bring her to the private meeting space and provide her with documentation plotting out the project implementation plan and projected results. Finally, I would answer any questions she had and make sure she felt welcome to reach out to me any time she had additional questions or concerns."

Come to the interview prepared to answer scenario questions about interacting with donors, especially if you are applying for a donor relations role. This question is designed to test your ability to cultivate existing donors.

World Food Program USA is used to having guests visit their offices, many of whom are donors. Focus on displaying proper etiquette as you explain how you would behave in this scenario, paying special attention to the cultivation process. Remember, maintaining strong relationships with existing donors is just as important as soliciting new ones.

"Before the donor's arrival, I would brief each member of the team on appropriate ways to interact with her. I would train them on how to explain their roles within the project and how to show her a demonstration of each individual's work. When she arrived, each element of the project would be operating for her observation. When she left, I would be sure to thank her for her time in a follow-up email that provided information about where we would take the project next."

Donors are some of World Food Program USA's most critical stakeholders. Can you share a time you had a difficult situation with a donor, and explain how you handled that situation?

"During my tenure as Donor Relations Associate, I have had a handful of experiences in which donors expressed dissatisfaction with the timeliness of acknowledging gifts of any size. During especially busy times of the year, acknowledgments slow down a bit, particularly at smaller nonprofits like the one I worked for. However, I always explained the specific reasons why acknowledgments were slow and provided an estimate of when to expect them. Later, I developed a new procedure to provide a quick courtesy call acknowledging the gift and letting the donor know the letter will arrive soon."

If your position deals with donor relations, there will likely be donors who are not satisfied for several reasons. It could be a bad experience with a staff member. It could be that their donation was incorrectly processed or acknowledged. The interviewer wants to know that you can professionally handle these types of situations.

Share what you did to resolve the situation and ultimately ensure the donor's satisfaction. If you have never had this experience, imagine what it would be like and explain what you would do to make the donor happy.

"On Thanksgiving Day, my organization operates a special soup kitchen, and we open the opportunity to volunteers. Since this is a popular event, spaces fill up quickly, and we offer priority to our top donors who have expressed interest in attending. Two years ago, the event coordinator failed to reserve a spot for one of our most generous donors. When she arrived, she was told by a volunteer at the check-in station that there was no more space for her. I was working at the next station and overheard the conversation. I knew the donor, and I hurried over to apologize. I offered her the chance to greet guests at the door and direct them to the dining room area. She was pleased with this and said she liked being able to do something different than she normally did at that event."

Have you ever been advised by a fellow employee or supervisor to lie about a situation? How did you handle this ethical dilemma?

"I take the contracts I sign seriously, and there are many policies in employee handbooks that outline proper procedures for reporting inappropriate behavior. In my previous position as Special Events Coordinator, I noticed the Accounting Director taking money from the cash box and slipping it into his pocket. I waited until the event was over, asked to speak to him privately, and told him what I'd seen. He responded that the money was meant to be kept separate from the funds raised at the event. Since the event was in the evening, I had to wait until the next morning to speak with Human Resources and report the behavior as outlined in the employee handbook."

This is a good opportunity to re-emphasize your commitment to the mission and values of World Food Program USA. Be specific about the process you would take to report this situation if necessary.

If you have never encountered this experience at a previous workplace, imagine what such a scenario might entail. Think about this from the perspective of your unique role in a nonprofit setting.

"Although I have never been asked to lie on behalf of an employee or supervisor, I do know what I would do if I encountered this situation. When I work for a nonprofit, I am driven by the mission and values of the organization; therefore, I strive to be a good steward of that mission. If anyone ever asked me to lie to help them cover something up, I would have to respectfully explain that I could not do that for them. Then, I would report the situation to my immediate supervisor or Human Resources."

"Yes, in my current position one of my colleagues reported a false number of served beneficiaries in a certain situation and to support her in this. I asked her to amend the report in order to report the accurate stats and not to do that again. As she refused, I reviewed the Code of Conduct and Employee Handbook and file a complaint against this behavior and of course, advise the related department to review the report again before publishing it."

Tell me about a time you took the initiative to improve work related procedures.

"In my previous position as Donor Operations Specialist, we frequently processed hundreds of donations on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. The method introduced to me during training required handwritten envelopes thanking all of our donors. After witnessing this time-consuming task, I presented a plan during a standard team meeting when everyone was asked to present new ideas. I suggested that we only hand-write letters for first-time donors and those who gave over a certain level. This would help with donor retention and save staff time. After implementing this change, staff redirected roughly three hours a week to more impactful tasks."

Tell your interviewer about a time when you took the initiative in the workplace. Provide specific examples of the original procedure, your suggested change, and the results of that change.

Avoid being too negative about old procedures. Instead, demonstrate how you respectfully broached the subject of change and constructively provided your suggestions.

"As Volunteer Manager at my previous organization, I noticed that the previous manager had not updated the safety procedures manual in several years. I researched current safety standards for volunteers in warehouses and made the appropriate updates. I also worked closely with Human Resources to alter the job description to include yearly updates to all volunteer-related manuals. This was a small procedure change, but it helped ensure rigorous safety standards."

How do you handle stress on the job?

"I think stress management begins with the individual, so I take steps in my personal life to improve how I handle stress, and these steps apply to the workplace, too. Every morning, I wake up a few hours before work and meditate for twenty minutes. This clears and centers my mind. Next, I do a thirty-minute workout. This wakes up my body. With my body and mind alert, I can quickly assess a new situation, determine why it is stressful, and then intentionally plot steps to address that situation to make it manageable and less overwhelming."

The interviewer wants to learn how well you handle pressure on the job. It is important to show you can maintain professionalism and poise during times of high stress.

Remember that nonprofits are frequently fast-paced environments in which employees are expected to multitask and juggle various functions. Provide specific examples of periods of high stress in your previous positions during which you performed well.

"For me, time management is the best tool to deal with stress. As a nonprofit employee over the past decade, I have learned how fast-paced the work can be, and everyone is expected to perform work functions outside of their typical duties. As such, it is critical to maintain calm during busier times. My team had an influx of service requests for families whose utilities had been turned off by the power company during the coldest month of the year. It was stressful because we were dealing with quadruple the usual number of requests, and we wanted to help everyone we could. At the beginning of the season, I called a team meeting where we planned how many requests we would fulfill per day and assigned staff to cover any planned absences from work. This enabled the team to avoid any surprises, and we were better prepared to handle the influx when it happened."

"I always make sure to plan my day time ahead in order to get my day organized as much as possible. When facing stress that is caused by a strict deadline, I take a nice deep breath and try to write down what is my emotional status and try to release the negative emotions.I focus on what works by writing it down and move on."

Describe a time you have contributed to the development and/or implementation of a strategic plan.

"I have worked as a contract project manager, consulting for many companies over the past decade. In that time, I have worked with leadership teams to develop several dozen strategic plans intended to help organizations reach financial and programmatic goals. As a result of our joint efforts, I have contributed to the growth of programs serving victims of domestic violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, and students seeking afterschool STEM-based activities. My work on strategic planning has also helped organizations meet financial milestones including shoring up endowments, fully funding programs, and being able to increase benefits for hard-working staff."

Strategic planning is extremely important to nonprofit organizations. It helps plot out manageable growth and sustainability; it also charts a future for the organization and explores specific ways to advance the mission. The interviewer wants to see that you have the ability to think about how smaller steps can be taken to reach a larger goal.

If you have worked on developing the overall strategic plan, describe the big picture goals and the small steps outlined to achieve those goals. If you were part of a team that implemented the plan, explain your specific function and describe how you worked to achieve your part.

"Although I have never been involved in the development of a strategic plan, I have been part of implementing a plan because of my role as a case manager for hospice clients. The strategic plan called for updating the technology used in assessing new clients' needs for the service. Previously, case managers filled out dozens of pages of paperwork, which caused assessments to take longer than an hour. Because of our strategic plan, we received iPads to conduct the assessments. My responsibility was to test the iPad assessment process on twenty new clients and compare it to the previous process. I was trained on how to use the new technology and discovered it saved roughly ten hours. I reported my findings to the strategic planning committee, which was very pleased with the results."

Why is integrity important, and how do you show integrity at work?

"I believe it is important for employees to conduct themselves honestly, guided by the values of the organization. If each employee demonstrates integrity in their work, the mission to end hunger will be more attainable. I was impressed to read World Food Program USA's values and truly connected with the belief that children deserve good nutrition for a healthy start to life. In my previous position, I worked as a teacher at a local elementary school. The food provided at the school was sub-par and unhealthy. Many of the students came to class tired and irritable because their parents could not afford healthy food either. Therefore, I am deeply connected to this value, and it will motivate me to work harder and better for the cause."

Share with the interviewer your views on what "integrity" is. Then, provide examples of how you demonstrate integrity in the workplace.

This question provides another opportunity to connect your values with those of the organization. Remember, the values of the World Food Program USA are listed in full on their website, but the value they highlight is, "We believe in a world without hunger." Acting with integrity at WFP USA will include a commitment to this value.

"I strongly believe that a commitment to one's values in the workplace will yield excellent results, not only in terms of performance but also in terms of interpersonal and professional relationships. I can show my dedication to World Food Program USA's mission by faithfully executing my assigned duties and going above and beyond to ensure the organization meets its goals. I am interested in this work because it is about something greater than myself, and anyone involved in that kind of work needs to hold integrity in the highest esteem."

When have you used an inventive method to stretch company resources beyond the normal level?

"My Community Outreach team was tasked with organizing a special event to encourage greater involvement from the neighborhood surrounding our headquarters. Although we serve several clients in the area, we did not have many opportunities for our neighbors to volunteer. So, we worked together to organize a simple neighborhood cleanup event. The $2,000 I received was intended to pay for tools, gloves, and eye protection, but I was able to procure those items for free from our local City Beautiful group. As a result, I was able to use that $2,000 to purchase commemorative t-shirts for our volunteers and offer catered lunch."

Although World Food Program USA's budget is larger than most nonprofits, they operate on a grander scale, running more programs and serving more people. 82% of funding goes directly into services provided. That leaves 18% for administrative and fundraising costs. Therefore, the organization is interested in budget-minded individuals who can get creative with limited resources.

Show how creative you can be with scant resources. Share the budget and/or resources you had available to you and how you were able to turn that into organizing an incredible event, developing an effective fundraiser, making a necessary purchase to support your team's work, etc.

"When I was Chief Operating Officer of my previous organization, we had a transitional housing program, where we would house families in homes we owned while we sought permanent housing solutions with them. We owned seven homes and could house seven families at a time who stayed for an average of two months before finding permanent housing. I realized that, between mortgages, utilities, and taxes on the home, we were spending more money than if we simply helped these families pay for a down payment on their own home from the start. So, we sold the homes, used that funding to boost our programs, and were able to serve double the amount of families than we were able to previously."

Have you ever had to manage a global campaign? If so, what was the subject of the campaign and how did you implement it?

"During my time working with ALSAC, the fundraising branch of St. Jude Children's Hospital, I was responsible for overseeing the expansion of field offices into the East Asian region. My countries included Japan, India, Thailand, and South Korea. The first step in this process was traveling to each region and meeting with healthcare leaders to determine the need and viability of the expansion effort. Next, I had to establish government contacts to get buy-in and delineate to my organization's leadership the details of the process to open offices in each location. This process took several years, but we were able to open these offices in a timely manner and take our work global."

Although World Food Program USA is focused on hunger issues in the United States, it is part of the World Food Programme, headquartered in Rome, Italy. As such, your work might require you to be a part of international campaign work, particularly if you work in fundraising, business development, strategic partnerships, etc.

Think about a time you managed a global campaign, and share the purpose of the campaign and the results. Highlight your interactions with people of diverse backgrounds and describe how you were able to communicate while working in different time zones.

"I have been fundraising for a large, international nonprofit organization for the past five years. In that time, I have seen the ways that new technologies have allowed us to increase revenue at home and abroad. In this role, I have managed over a dozen international fundraising campaigns to support refugees seeking asylum in the United States. By carefully studying each region the refugees we serve fled, I was able to understand the sociopolitical climate and craft messaging around that. I leveraged a vast network of social media accounts to encourage followers to give double what they normally would during a given month focused on refugee awareness. My team crafted informative videos, email blasts, and YouTube advertisements to further raise awareness in countries where people have access to YouTube. This effort not only increased our social media following on a global scale but helped to raise awareness and funding for our cause."

Special events are essential to World Food Program USA's informative programming opportunities as well as fundraising. Please share your experiences with planning and implementing special events within a particular budget.

"I was very proud to plan and implement my organization's first-ever food truck festival to raise funds to support our pet food program. This program provides pet food for seniors living in isolation with their animal companions. I had a very limited budget for this event - $10,000. I used that money to purchase catering, a live DJ, table decorations, and advertising. The food truck participants donated their services, and we were able to raise over $50,000!"

Working with a budget will be addressed in any interview related to special events. They will likely ask you about budgeting when applying for any kind of management position.

Think of a situation in which you made the most out of an extremely limited budget. This will more accurately mirror a nonprofit situation. If the event was intended to raise funds, be specific about how much money you were able to raise and for what cause.

"My community has several nonprofits, but they never gather in one space. Many people in the community have never heard of the work some of these organizations do, and as a result, many of the programs are underfunded and understaffed. As a city councilor, I decided it would be a worthwhile investment to earmark a small amount of money to organize the first Community Day, where all the nonprofits could gather under one roof, meet members of the community, and raise awareness for their cause and organization. The budget was under $20,000, but it was pretty simple to work within that budget to purchase tables, nameplates for nonprofits, free water, and musical entertainment. We held the event at our convention center downtown and had over twenty thousand attendees. The nonprofits gained donors and volunteers from the event and renewed interest in their causes."

How do you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?

"I keep steps when completing long-term projects on my digital calendar so that I know what part I need to work on any given day. Since the steps are listed on the shared calendar, everyone on my team will be able to see my progress as well. For smaller tasks, I keep a whiteboard in my office that allows me to erase tasks when complete. I am motivated when I see items crossed off a list. I rank projects based on deadlines and how long I think they will take to complete and then break them down into steps for my calendar and whiteboard."

Share your system for prioritizing work with the interviewer. As with any nonprofit, World Food Program USA wants individuals with excellent time management skills. The better you can prioritize, the more productive you will be, making you an asset to WFP USA!

Avoid setting unrealistic expectations for yourself. Don't say, "I can handle multiple projects at once with no problem whatsoever." Show that you can self-assess, understand the work in front of you, and analyze which task you will need to address first.

"Any time I deal with multiple projects simultaneously, I reserve a meeting room for a few hours and use color-coded notecards to visualize each step of each project. The colors correspond to the projects. I write the steps out on the notecards and place them on the meeting table. Then, I organize them based on difficulty and due date. This allows me to visualize the scope of the work I have to do and provides a plan and structure for completing all the projects as efficiently as possible."

Describe a time you had to negotiate with a client, co-worker, manager, etc., and the outcome of that negotiation.

"When I worked as a major gifts officer, I had the opportunity to meet with a potential donor who I learned during qualification was worth several million dollars. The potential donor reached out to me first and set up the meeting. He made no indication before the meeting what he would be willing to give, so I came up with a number based on his financial resources and past giving history. After meeting with him a few more times, I realized he had a personal connection to our mission to develop afterschool arts programs for at-risk youth. When I finally made my ask of $50,000, he was initially hesitant and countered with $40,000. I asked if he would be willing to donate $45,000 if we named the dance studio in our new building after him. He agreed."

Since nonprofit organizations work with limited budgets, it is important to demonstrate your ability to negotiate for goods, services, and/or funding. You can also talk about negotiation in terms of salary requirements, benefits packages, job duties, and more.

The goal in answering this question is to show your ability to compromise with rather than strong-arm someone. Your answer should reveal how you work with someone to come to an agreement instead of simply forcing them to accept what you want.

"When I was preparing our largest fundraiser ever a few years ago, I was having a difficult time securing a caterer for the event. We wanted to feed 200 guests and needed a restaurant that could deliver local flavor for a discounted cost. All of the popular restaurants were booked. I did my research and discovered a brand new restaurant that had recently started a catering program and specialized in local cuisine. Since they were new, they were also trying to build their customer base and make a name for themselves. Their price point was way over budget, so I made a counter-offer and agreed to give their name and logo prime placement on the event programs and have the DJ make a special call-out during the event itself."

Think of a time a manager offered you criticism, constructive or not. What was the criticism, and how did you react to your manager?

"A few years ago, I compiled a report as part of my first audit of client records for our rehousing program for displaced families. The process had not been outlined previously in the manual for my position, so I utilized our CRM system to run a report of active clients. The day before the audit, my supervisor asked to see the report, and I shared it with her. She complimented the information on active clients but informed me that the auditor would also like to see information about recently-inactive clients. She encouraged me to contact the auditor if I had any questions about reporting in the future and provided me with his contact information. This was simple constructive criticism that encouraged me to no longer be shy of asking for help. Now, I am more vocal when I have questions about a task."

This is an important opportunity to show that you are open to change and can accept criticism with professionalism. Talk about how you incorporated this criticism into your performance moving forward.

Avoid sounding defensive or overly negative in your answer. It is critical to demonstrate to the interviewer that you welcome constructive criticism and embrace it as a way to continue your professional development.

"When I first began my role as Volunteer Coordinator, I would turn away potential volunteers if we had no space for them; I would put them on a waiting list and assure them I would contact them as soon as I had opportunities available. My manager complimented my customer service manner, but she also recommended that I never turn anyone away. She demonstrated how I could think outside the box for ways to engage that potential supporter. If there were no available opportunities, I could use that as a chance to engage them as potential donors, for example. This helped me view volunteers more generally as 'supporters' and begin thinking of ways to get them involved outside of their usual volunteer activities."

Describe a time you had to communicate something complex to an audience uneducated in that particular topic. How did you explain the issue?

"I once had to present to our Board of Directors on the topic of social worker safety in the field. There had been a few incidents involving our social workers having things stolen from them on their way to client visits. I accompanied the social workers on their shift so I could understand what a typical shift looks like. Then, I reviewed our organization's current safety procedures and compared them with the training they received upon initial hiring. I discovered inconsistencies and worked to correct those. When I presented to the board, I carefully and clearly explained each step in this process so they could understand everything from start to finish and decide whether or not to approve of my recommended changes."

This question is meant to test your communication skills and your ability to present to an audience of any size. If you are used to presenting information in a public setting, highlight that experience. If your experience is relegated to presenting at staff meetings, embrace that and share it.

Don't forget to provide specific details about the way you broke down and explained something complex. Imagine that you are explaining to the interviewer the same way you would explain it to a trainee, audience member, or team member.

"As Chairman of the Technology Committee at my current organization, I was tasked with managing the rollout of new iPads and laptops to the managers of our congregate sites where we provide companionship to those living in nursing homes. Many of these managers are used to completing paperwork to log the day's events and have never utilized such technology. Many of them view such instruments as unnecessary interference in their work. I held a meeting with all the site managers and concisely explained how this technology would make their jobs easier, and I shared the ways they could seek additional technical support throughout the transition. Then, I made sure to pair each manager with one of our IT professionals for a few hours of training."

Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.

"I thrive in a team environment, and my greatest work-related accomplishment was the result of a team I led that was tasked with implementing a new fundraising event. We needed to raise an additional $100,000 to meet our fundraising goal for the year, and we had a limited budget with which to do it. I recommended a social media campaign driven by each of my team members. I assigned them the task of recruiting five of our current donors or volunteers to challenge their followers to donate to help us reach our goal. It was a simple strategy that was effective because my team developed a winning tagline and attractive messaging to support our volunteers' and donors' efforts. We reached our financial goal!"

Talking about your most significant accomplishment will give the interviewer a firm idea of where you place your values. It will also show the interviewer more about your personality, how you like to be motivated, and how to coach you in the future.

Highlight an achievement related to the position to which you are applying. It is okay to brag a little bit when answering this question. Show that you are proud of yourself and your career accomplishments! However, also demonstrate humility and show appreciation to anyone who assisted you along the way to achieving this.

"At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, it became obvious that delivering hot meals daily to our Meals on Wheels clients was no longer feasible due to many of their immunocompromised situations. Therefore, I secured a partnership with our local food bank to develop a program that provided shelf-stable meals that could be delivered once a week instead of daily. I worked with our Corporate Relations Officer to procure sponsorship from FedEx, so we were able to continue to provide food to our clients during an uncertain time."

How would you go about helping spread awareness of World Food Program USA in the United States?

"As a public relations professional working for a not-for-profit healthcare clinic, it is my passion to spread the word of the good work an organization is doing, particularly if it is working towards the benefit of the most vulnerable in our communities. I have talked with our local morning television news show to share information about upcoming special events benefitting my organization; I am equally comfortable talking on TV and the radio, and I have been featured on several podcasts. All of these appearances resulted in increased attendance at our events which, in turn, yielded greater funds raised for our clinic."

Many people in the United States are not aware of World Food Program USA (likewise, many in the United Kingdom are not familiar with the World Food Programme). The interviewer is looking for creative ideas to bring awareness to the important cause of ending food insecurity and hunger.

Think of the skills you possess that are individual to you and unique. Then, explain how you can utilize those skills to heighten the American public's awareness of the work of World Food Program USA. You don't need to reinvent the wheel, but you ought to show your ability to think creatively and perhaps innovatively.

"Because of my experience as a federal employee, I am well-versed in government processes and have a vast network of contacts to utilize nationwide that would love to advertise the mission of the World Food Program USA. Awareness can be bolstered by robust financial resources, and these contacts manage specific grants available to nonprofits dealing with hunger and homelessness. Increased funding to finance new advertising spaces online and in various video streaming locations can lead to increased awareness of the work of WFP USA."

What skills do you believe are essential in ensuring successful strategic partnerships?

"I believe strategic partnerships are essential in a nonprofit environment to support funding, volunteer recruitment, and developing sound business practices. In my experience solidifying strategic partnerships during my work at a private foundation, I found it was best to develop a personal connection first with key leadership or community outreach staff. Be relatable. Be detailed and passionate in presenting the organization's mission and results. And, perhaps most importantly, be knowledgeable about the work your potential partner does as well."

It is useful to offer a brief explanation about what you view as a "strategic partnership." Then, explain the general abilities and strategies it takes to solidify these kinds of partnerships.

Don't simply share the theoretical skills you believe are necessary to obtain strategic partnerships. Describe the ways you have successfully leveraged these skills to secure lasting relationships that benefitted your organization.

"Patience and persistence are qualities I consider essential in developing and maintaining strategic partnerships. I have been working as the Strategic Partnerships Director at my organization for five years, and in that time, I have secured relationships with hundreds of corporations, universities, civic groups, and other entities. Their pledges add up to 3.5 million dollars over the course of two years. Their in-kind volunteer hours value equals more than $200,000 a year."

At World Food Program USA, we seek individuals who can adapt to new and/or additional job functions. Describe your experience wearing other "hats" in a work environment.

"Every year, our Meals on Wheels team organizes a special Christmas Day Meals on Wheels delivery to over two hundred clients. This is a major event that has several moving parts. I am employed as a Client Advocate, meaning that I visit the homes of potential new clients and assess their qualifications for the program. For the Christmas Day delivery, I assist the Special Events team by selecting the most high-need clients from each route and optimizing the route sequence for ease of use by our volunteer delivery drivers."

Although World Food Program USA is a large nonprofit, they still seek ways to improve staff efficiency and operate with lower overhead than a similarly-sized private corporation. As such, they want employees who can multitask and maintain responsibility for diverse job functions as well.

Provide specific examples from previous jobs where you have had to take on job functions other than your typically-assigned duties. Think of times you substituted for an absent co-worker, took on additional responsibilities due to special projects, or helped shoulder projects for your team during busy times of the year.

"As a Human Resources professional, I am gifted at understanding procedures, implementing staff training, and utilizing technology to enhance the efficiency of administrative tasks. However, during our annual telethon fundraising event, I usually volunteer to answer pledge calls. This gives me the chance to use my procedural skills to quickly input information into the computer and allows the fundraising team to raise more funds."

World Food Program USA employs a number of remote workers, interns, and volunteers. Therefore, communications often rely on updated technology. What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?

"Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, I have been working remotely on a team of a dozen people in time zones all over the country. As a result, it is essential to maintain consistent, clear contact with each member of the team to feel better connected and up-to-date on what everyone is doing. I have become proficient at using Zoom, Skype, and Slack to communicate with my fellow team members."

Name the specific messaging applications you have used in the workplace. Talk about ways in which you find them useful.

Remember that World Food Program USA is an affiliate of the World Food Programme, an international entity. This is a good chance to demonstrate your comfort using messaging applications to communicate with people overseas.

"The organization I currently work for is a digital skills-matching nonprofit that places volunteers in roles most suited to their skill sets and interests and finds volunteers for nonprofits that can help them the most. This work requires me to be familiar with a variety of digital communication tools to reach out not only to my supervisor and co-workers, but also to maintain regular contact with potential and current volunteers in our system. I frequently use video and text chat features on Zoom, Facebook, Instagram, and Skype."

What technology do you use to manage a budget?

"Since our office is very small, and we only operate one program, we maintain our budget using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. As Office Administrator, it is my job to ensure all items necessary to the smooth operation of our program are purchased and tracked clearly. I am gifted at using Excel for this express purpose."

This is a straightforward technical question. Talk about your comfort in using technology to manage a budget at the workplace.

If you do not have any experience managing a budget at work, talk about how you manage your personal budget. Either way, it is important to emphasize your comfort with technology and ability to learn new technologies.

"As Chief Financial Officer of a nonprofit operating ten programs, we have a larger budget than most. As such, it is my responsibility to ensure proper record-keeping of our finances. Over the years, I have found QuickBooks to be a useful tool in managing a budget, and it has always helped us provide accurate reports during audit time."

World Food Program USA maintains a large social media presence. How many social media accounts can you manage simultaneously?

"I worked as Communications Associate in my previous position at a small nonprofit dedicated to helping elementary students pay for school lunches. Since many of the parents of our target demographic were millennials raised using social media, we decided to increase our social media presence, and I presided over that effort. I taught myself how to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok and regularly posted to engage our audience."

This is a technical question as much as it is a time management question. First, acknowledge that you have examined World Food Program USA's social media presence and compliment their strategy. Then, share in detail the social media sites you have managed and how you used your time to operate them simultaneously.

If you have never managed social media accounts professionally, share your experience managing your personal accounts. Then, talk about how this skill can transfer into a professional setting.

"Although I have never managed social media on a professional level, I have maintained personal accounts with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and TikTok for over a decade and amassed over four hundred thousand followers. I strongly believe these skills will transfer over to a professional environment, and I have taught myself how to use HootSuite to schedule social media posts. I am excited to use my skills at gaining and retaining followers to help boost the social reach of World Food Program USA and bring awareness to its cause."

World Food Program Interview Questions

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1. At World Food Program USA, we want to work with individuals who value volunteerism. If you have had the chance to volunteer, what experiences have impacted you the most?
2. Advancing gender equity is very important to the culture of World Food Program USA. How do you view the role of gender equity in the workplace and around the world?
3. Are you applying for any other jobs?
4. Which of the organizational values of World Food Program USA do you connect with the most?
5. Although our office is focused on food insecurity in the United States, our parent organization is global, as are many of our stakeholders. What experience do you have working with international clients?
6. Share your knowledge and/or experience with the subject of food insecurity in the United States.
7. Our parent organization, World Food Programme, operates a vast network of volunteers in dozens of countries around the world. Do you have experience recruiting volunteers?
8. Do you know anyone who has worked for World Food Program USA before? What kind of feedback have you received on our organization?
9. Which of World Food Program USA's programs interests you the most and why?
10. What motivates you to want to work at World Food Program USA in this specific role?
11. Why do you want to work in the nonprofit sector when for-profit companies generally offer more competitive compensation?
12. Talk about a manager or supervisor you have had who you admire. What did you learn from them, and how did you apply those lessons to your own work performance or management style?
13. Do you have any recommendations for improving our programs?
14. How would you recommend improving World Food Program USA's internal and external communications?
15. Imagine that World Food Program USA is expecting a visit from a major donor to oversee the implementation of a new project she has funded. As project manager, describe what should be done before, during, and after her visit to ensure her approval.
16. Donors are some of World Food Program USA's most critical stakeholders. Can you share a time you had a difficult situation with a donor, and explain how you handled that situation?
17. Have you ever been advised by a fellow employee or supervisor to lie about a situation? How did you handle this ethical dilemma?
18. Tell me about a time you took the initiative to improve work related procedures.
19. How do you handle stress on the job?
20. Describe a time you have contributed to the development and/or implementation of a strategic plan.
21. Why is integrity important, and how do you show integrity at work?
22. When have you used an inventive method to stretch company resources beyond the normal level?
23. Have you ever had to manage a global campaign? If so, what was the subject of the campaign and how did you implement it?
24. Special events are essential to World Food Program USA's informative programming opportunities as well as fundraising. Please share your experiences with planning and implementing special events within a particular budget.
25. How do you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?
26. Describe a time you had to negotiate with a client, co-worker, manager, etc., and the outcome of that negotiation.
27. Think of a time a manager offered you criticism, constructive or not. What was the criticism, and how did you react to your manager?
28. Describe a time you had to communicate something complex to an audience uneducated in that particular topic. How did you explain the issue?
29. Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.
30. How would you go about helping spread awareness of World Food Program USA in the United States?
31. What skills do you believe are essential in ensuring successful strategic partnerships?
32. At World Food Program USA, we seek individuals who can adapt to new and/or additional job functions. Describe your experience wearing other "hats" in a work environment.
33. World Food Program USA employs a number of remote workers, interns, and volunteers. Therefore, communications often rely on updated technology. What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?
34. What technology do you use to manage a budget?
35. World Food Program USA maintains a large social media presence. How many social media accounts can you manage simultaneously?

World Food Program Interview Questions

1. At World Food Program USA, we want to work with individuals who value volunteerism. If you have had the chance to volunteer, what experiences have impacted you the most?

2. Advancing gender equity is very important to the culture of World Food Program USA. How do you view the role of gender equity in the workplace and around the world?

3. Are you applying for any other jobs?

4. Which of the organizational values of World Food Program USA do you connect with the most?

5. Although our office is focused on food insecurity in the United States, our parent organization is global, as are many of our stakeholders. What experience do you have working with international clients?

6. Share your knowledge and/or experience with the subject of food insecurity in the United States.

7. Our parent organization, World Food Programme, operates a vast network of volunteers in dozens of countries around the world. Do you have experience recruiting volunteers?

8. Do you know anyone who has worked for World Food Program USA before? What kind of feedback have you received on our organization?

9. Which of World Food Program USA's programs interests you the most and why?

10. What motivates you to want to work at World Food Program USA in this specific role?

11. Why do you want to work in the nonprofit sector when for-profit companies generally offer more competitive compensation?

12. Talk about a manager or supervisor you have had who you admire. What did you learn from them, and how did you apply those lessons to your own work performance or management style?

13. Do you have any recommendations for improving our programs?

14. How would you recommend improving World Food Program USA's internal and external communications?

15. Imagine that World Food Program USA is expecting a visit from a major donor to oversee the implementation of a new project she has funded. As project manager, describe what should be done before, during, and after her visit to ensure her approval.

16. Donors are some of World Food Program USA's most critical stakeholders. Can you share a time you had a difficult situation with a donor, and explain how you handled that situation?

17. Have you ever been advised by a fellow employee or supervisor to lie about a situation? How did you handle this ethical dilemma?

18. Tell me about a time you took the initiative to improve work related procedures.

19. How do you handle stress on the job?

20. Describe a time you have contributed to the development and/or implementation of a strategic plan.

21. Why is integrity important, and how do you show integrity at work?

22. When have you used an inventive method to stretch company resources beyond the normal level?

23. Have you ever had to manage a global campaign? If so, what was the subject of the campaign and how did you implement it?

24. Special events are essential to World Food Program USA's informative programming opportunities as well as fundraising. Please share your experiences with planning and implementing special events within a particular budget.

25. How do you prioritize multiple projects when they all seem equally important?

26. Describe a time you had to negotiate with a client, co-worker, manager, etc., and the outcome of that negotiation.

27. Think of a time a manager offered you criticism, constructive or not. What was the criticism, and how did you react to your manager?

28. Describe a time you had to communicate something complex to an audience uneducated in that particular topic. How did you explain the issue?

29. Tell me about your greatest work-related accomplishment.

30. How would you go about helping spread awareness of World Food Program USA in the United States?

31. What skills do you believe are essential in ensuring successful strategic partnerships?

32. At World Food Program USA, we seek individuals who can adapt to new and/or additional job functions. Describe your experience wearing other "hats" in a work environment.

33. World Food Program USA employs a number of remote workers, interns, and volunteers. Therefore, communications often rely on updated technology. What experience do you have using team-based messaging applications?

34. What technology do you use to manage a budget?

35. World Food Program USA maintains a large social media presence. How many social media accounts can you manage simultaneously?