Being offered an interview is your greenlight to start heavily researching the organization, if you haven’t already.
Don’t skimp on this critical aspect of the job hunt. Check out our tips so you can go into the interview with your eyes wide open.
Tip 1: Google everyone you may be closely working with before your first interview
I once worked for a nonprofit where the director of development had previously done a stint in federal prison.
You read that right.
I was in my sixth week on the job when an intern handed me his phone. “Did you know about this?” My eyes widened as I scrolled the page. There it was in pixelated black and white.
The director of development, who I reported to, had been sent to federal prison some 25 years earlier for trying to defraud the U.S. government.
I can still taste how bitter that pill was to swallow.
The prospect of having to work with this person made my stomach turn. If I had a time machine, I would’ve never accepted that job.
It taught me a valuable lesson: Research staff.
This may seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think. Use LinkedIn to sleuth out who works in the fundraising department. Closely study how long each individual has worked there.
Someone I know was once offered an interview at an organization. She poked around LinkedIn and found that six people had left that nonprofit’s small team in the prior two months. Talk about a red flag waving in the wind!
Google every person you believe you would be working with and for. If their name is “Mike,” search for their name as “Michael.” Leave no stone unturned.
You never know what you might uncover.
Even if you don’t find any skeletons in the online closets, it will at the very least give you a sense of your possible future teammates’ backgrounds.
There is no substitute for being able to trust your co-workers, especially in a sector as scrutinized as ours.
Tip 2: Study the last three years of annual reports
This is invaluable for understanding the organization’s financial health. The best way to survive a sinking ship is to never step aboard.
Every organization has financial ups and downs. It’s your job to understand the financial trend over the last three years. If programs are steadily trimmed, donations are swirling around the drain, and major funders have pulled their support, sit up and take notice.
If you decide to move forward with an interview, don’t be afraid to bring up your research.
Save yourself future heartburn by gently broaching the subject, “I noticed from your annual reports donation revenue was getting smaller year-over-year. Is that due to a strategy pivot? Are you putting a stronger emphasis on grants or events?”
Tip 3 : Mystery shop
Consider making a donation online to see the process . If you don’t want to use your own name, sit with your partner, roommate, or someone else and watch as they go through the steps.
Is it smooth? Did the nonprofit send a confirmation email with a tax receipt straightaway? Is the donation page easy to find and use? Do they accept donations via PayPal, Venmo, and Bitcoin?
All of these are important data points.
If the donor experience is subpar for something as standard as an online gift, you may have your work cut out for you if you accept the position.
Tip 4: Prepare a list of questions you want to ask in advance
As you conduct your research, you’ll naturally have questions. Put these in a notebook that you’ll bring with you to the interview.
A former boss had a saying, “The problem with hiring people is that it’s two dates and you’re married.” She was referring to the standard two interviews with candidates.
That cuts both ways. You are likely to only have two in-person chances to ask your questions face-to-face. A great deal of what is communicated happens via body language, making those in-person or Zoom interviews a wealth of information.
Be judicious in preparing your list.
You can’t afford to miss a nugget of information that will help you decide whether or not to accept the job.
Tip 5: Spend a LOT of time on the organization’s website
Swimming in a sea of broken links?
Does it still say “Copyright 2016” in the footer?
Is that “Donate” button front and center or down a labyrinth of seven clicks?
The website is a dead giveaway about an organization’s professionalism as well as its attention to detail.
If the last news item is from a year ago, beware. They either aren’t up to much or aren’t keeping their site up to date.
Neither scenario instills confidence.
You'll never regret being prepared
Researching an organization shouldn’t be doom and gloom.
No one wants to think the worst about an organization before an interview. Much like a first date, during the first interview, people on both sides are talking about their accomplishments and doing their best to make themselves look stellar.
Scratching below the surface is your ticket to having a clear sightline into the organization’s health. It’s your career and future job satisfaction on the line, so take the process seriously.
When going into an interview, you can never have too much knowledge.
Enjoy the research. You’ll be all the wiser for it!