Sample Phone Screen Questions

Once you post your nonprofit job online, it won't be long until you are flooded with potential candidates.  The next step you have to take is to narrow your candidate pool.  One of the most effective ways to do this is to conduct a phone screen.

The phone screen provides a great way for employers to get specific answers from candidates.  This is because you will be able to get specific information from the applicant on why they applied for the job, and other related information.  According to James Weinberg and Cassie Scarno of Commongood Careers, the questions you ask should hit on the whole range of required skills and experience so that you can determine whether this is an individual you would want to bring in for an interview.

Weinberg and Scarno came up with some sample questions you could ask.  These were developed for a director of development position, but you can easily re-work them to fit your job.

• "Please tell me about why you are interested in the director of development position with our organization?"
• "In what type of organizational culture do you thrive?  In what kind do you feel less successful?"
• "What skills and experience do you have that make you particularly qualified for the position?"
• "What is your salary history?  What are your current salary requirements?"
• "How soon would you be able to start a new position?"
• "Please describe your experience working in partnership with a board of directors.  What strategies did you implement to ensure an effective and productive partnership?"
• "Tell me about the successes you have had raising money for nonprofit organizations.  Specifically, how much money did you raise on an annual basis?"
• "Can you give me some examples of partnerships you created that led to increased revenue or opportunity for your organization?  How did you create them?  What were the results?"