CFY Interview Questions & Reviews

Interviewed Nov 2011 (took 4+ weeks)

For an organization which maintains that one of the main components of their workplace mantra is to "have fun", the interview experience and my interactions with executive level staff were the extreme opposite...not that an interview experience needs to be "fun" but it is a two-way street upon which inquiry, respectful attention and some degree of genuine hospitality could perhaps be utilized - just in case a potential employee wants to feel some modicum of encouragement about becoming a part of your organization. During my interview, I could not believe how austere, formal and high-handed these people seemed and this became my undoing as a typically stressful interview experience became an exercise in trying not to completely drown.

In all fairness, I did not have this overwhelming feeling of dread until my 3rd interview (prior to that, I participated in a phone interview, and a 1:1 interview) and then finally this 3-person panel interview. It was more like a 1 1/2 hour stress test from executives who seemed overworked, stringent and more interested in their smartphones than in my presence. Suffice it to say, I have never experienced anything of this sort (for a management position within the nonprofit arena) and I was a little thrown off and I'm sure it showed in my performance. While, I can honestly admit that my own shortcomings perhaps contributed slightly to the type of final interview experience I had; it should be noted that the prior employee who held the position I was applying for, only held it for 1 year.

When all was said & done, my time was up and I was perfunctorily escorted out of the office trying to hold my head up. No surprise when I received an email stating they were no longer interested a week later. I often try to look at both sides of an equation here and I know I made my share of slight mistakes due to nervousness and a lack of adequate preparation. However, most people operate from some degree of understanding, support and kindness when they see someone in a challenging situation. This obviously was not the time nor the place for any of that and it made an already somewhat nerve wracking situation all the more tense. Really, no one needed to rescue me, however; something other than levity and hostility would have been appreciated. It’s an interview for heaven’s sake, not an interrogation!

To sum up how inappropriate I felt this final interview was; I really considered just getting up and walking out at one point - but I simply had too much to pack up. I did come to the realization during the role playing that this environment much less working under their leadership team would not have been a good fit for me. But who knows, maybe all this information will help another person nail what I was unable to. Good Luck to you and beyond that; if you do get hired; I sure hope you get to have some fun!