International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Interview Questions
& Process

I got a call from HR late at night, which I wasn't a fan of. Then I had an hour-long interview with two people from the team. They asked standard questions and a few in French. They seemed really into their work, which was cool. They said I'd hear back, but I never did. Super unprofessional, especially since they reached out first.

The first interview was great, a 1-hour group interview with the team and my potential direct supervisor. The vibe was good and it seemed like a great team. The second interview was not so good. It was supposed to be a 1-hour interview with the regional director. They admitted they hadn't read my resume or application and asked me what job I was applying for. They spent the first 5 minutes of the interview trying to find and read my resume. Then, they complained about their team members during the interview. They unofficially offered me the job and the call ended in 20 minutes. It didn't do much to convince me about the company or the management environment. Considering the benefits, low salary for D.C., and management style, it really didn't feel like employees are valued. I turned down the offer.

The HR rep was polite and friendly and scheduled an interview within a week of my online application. It helped that I had met him previously at a professional event. I then met with two program staff members, one senior and one mid-level. The hour-long interview felt positive, though the mid-level woman was mostly silent and unexpressive. The senior person and I connected well, and she asked for a writing sample, which I took as a good sign. I submitted the samples but never heard back, even after multiple follow-up emails to HR over several weeks. I found this lack of follow-up unprofessional, as IFES should at least send a notification once a decision is made.

Take charge of your interview process. Start doing things the right way. First, do the practice and research necessary to wow the hiring manager. Then, take the time to really review how the interview went. Using these two steps you will start to see progress. With progress comes success. You will not regret perfecting your interviewing skills when you get a job in the career field of your dreams. Remember, your interviewing process should not end at the interview. Keep reviewing job interviews to continue improving and work towards success.