Council on Foundations Interview Questions
& Process

It was a straightforward Zoom interview that lasted about 45 minutes. The interviewer, who sounded like 'Chen' and was a white female, seemed to spend more time explaining the role than asking me questions. The employer part of the interview finished around the 20-minute mark, after which I was given the chance to ask my own questions about the job and the company. I felt like I was treated unfairly from the start due to being a minority and over 50, despite dressing professionally in a suit jacket and collared shirt.

It started with a recruiter reaching out. Then there was an initial screening call, followed by a recorded 30-minute call with the recruiter and writing a cover letter. My application went to the VP, and before my 45-minute Zoom interview with them, I had a 10-minute prep call with the recruiter. If I had moved forward, there would have been two panel interviews, a CEO interview, and an assignment. I didn't get further because they were looking for someone from philanthropy, and I'm in fundraising, which was pretty typical.

I had a 30 min zoom screening with the recruiter and then a 60 min zoom interview with the hiring manager. After that, there was a 4 hour writing exercise, followed by a 60 min panel interview with 3 staff members. Finally, I had a 60 min interview with the VP. The recruiter was a great communicator and easy to talk to. The whole process from application to offer took about 8 weeks. Overall, it was a really positive experience with good communication about what was happening next.

This was the most amazing interview experience I've ever had. The transparency, honesty, sincerity, and genuine nature of the staff were a breath of fresh air. Not to mention the mission and purpose of the organization and the culture they are building. I was most impressed at each level. The first interview was with the direct supervisor and the team. The second interview was with the VP of the department and the VP of operations.