8 Tips To Ace Your Non-Profit Sector Job Interview

1. Make sure you put a spin on your STEM degree so it doesn’t hold you back.

That course you took on artificial intelligence is now ‘a pedagogical understanding of the intersection of technology and humanity’.

2. Don’t mention how you could earn more working for a corporate — everyone knows that.

In all probability, at least one of the people interviewing you switched over from the corporate sector after realising that they’ve made all the money they’ll ever need and ran out of ways to spend it.

3. Don’t bring up your on-ground experience unless you’re sure it was in fact legitimate fieldwork.

No, the food drive you helped organise in college doesn’t count.

4. Keep in mind that if you have never physically been in the field, you are more likely to say something inappropriate.

Remember, grassroots is not the same as wheatgrass, or any other vegan superfood for that matter.

5. Keep up the facade of being a saint who wants to help people.

Never mind the fact that you know this job will give you brownie points while applying for a masters abroad.

6. Make the panel believe that you were put on this earth to solve the social problems that the organisation is working on.

You’ve been passionate about *insert appropriate social issue here* since way before it was trendy to care about said issue.

7. If you are wealthy, tread carefully.

You must be wealthy enough for your parents to be able to make donations to the organisation, but not so wealthy that you alienate people when you talk about your 7BHK and personal chauffeur. Stay humble—or pretend to, at least.

8. Make sure you ditch the expensive formal wear you wore to your other interviews.

You need an outfit that shows you’re a professional, but doesn’t scream ‘I-would-sell-my-soul-for-this-job’.

This article was originally published on India Development Review. You can read it here.