Talent Market

Talent Market is a nonprofit whose mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector

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      • JOB SEEKING TIPS
      • INTERVIEWING TIPS
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      • PREPARING YOUR RESUME & COVER LETTER
      • CONSIDERING THE NONPROFIT SECTOR?
      • CONSIDERING A CAREER IN FUNDRAISING?
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Interviewing Tips

Ten Interviewing Tips for Job Seekers

1. Be Yourself

Not only is this good dating advice, it’s also great interview advice. No matter how badly you think you want the job, remember to just be you. If you try to force it, you may end up with a job you aren’t a fit for, or worse, you may miss out on a great job for which you would have been perfect.

2. It’s Not All About You

Too many candidates make the mistake of talking too much about themselves during the interview and failing to listen or ask questions. The more information you can glean from the interviewer(s), the better informed you will be about whether this is a job you truly want.

3. Don’t Pretend to Walk on Water

During the interview, you are bound to be asked about your weaknesses. Please, for the love of Pete, do not give a hollow answer such as “I work too hard.” Not only with the interviewer see right through you, she might also be concerned you are hiding a big, ugly weakness. Be ready to talk openly about a legitimate flaw you have and how you are working to improve in that area.

4. Do Your Homework

Before you interview, thoroughly research the organization and the staff with whom you will be meeting. Know about the role you are interviewing for, and have questions prepared. And it never hurts to throw in some questions for the hiring manager that might just strike a good nerve: “Claire, I understand you went to Notre Dame. I love the Fightin’ Irish! Do you ever make it back for football games?”

5. Better to Overdress Than Underdress

If you’re unsure about the office attire, ask before you interview how you should dress. But when in doubt, overdress. Wearing a suit in a business casual environment never hurt anybody’s chances, but wearing jeans in a formal business attire setting has left a lot of folks spending more quality time with the Classifieds.

6. Be Nice To Anyone You Meet in the Powder Room

Inevitably, you’ll visit the powder room beforehand and run into someone. That someone may be the person you are about to interview with, so be on your best behavior. I once complimented a woman on her shoes, and she turned out to be the hiring manager’s right-hand-gal. I got the job.

7. No Soliloquies, Please

As a general rule, keep your responses to the interviewer’s question brief – one to two minutes max. If they want more detail, they can always ask. If you ramble on to the point you have to stop and ask, “I’m sorry, what was the question again?” you have probably said too much.

8. Do You Want to Work at Innotech?

Sure you want a job, but are you sure you want this job? Pay attention to the office environment and the types of people who work there, and ask plenty of questions about what it’s like. Soon after the joy of receiving a paycheck fades, you’ll be stuck writing TPS reports, so make sure it’s a good fit for you.

9. Demonstrate Your Passion

You’re not interviewing for a job in a widget factory – you’re interviewing for a job in the free-market nonprofit sector. The interviewer wants to know why affecting social change is important to you, so be ready to tell him a little bit about your passion.

10. Trust Your Gut

All of my divorced friends wished they had followed this advice. If the job seems amazing but something doesn’t feel right, don’t accept the offer without learning more. Ask to speak with other staff members or even former employees. Ask around about the organization – you’ll be surprised what people tell you when you ask them for the truth.

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    Partnership Advisor – Leadership Institute – Arlington, VA or Virtual near CA

    Senior Director of Operations – State Policy Network – Virtual Office or Arlington, VA

    Vice President of Communications - Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) - Virtual Office

    Development Administrator – National Center for Public Policy Research – Washington, DC

    Senior State Tax Policy Analyst – Tax Foundation – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Separation of Powers Attorney – Pacific Legal Foundation – Virtual Office

    Policy Analyst – American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research – Arlington, VA

    Director of Leadership Development Programs – America’s Future – Washington, DC or Virtual

    Senior Attorney – National Federation of Independent Business, Small Business Legal Center – Hybrid in Washington, DC

    Major Gifts Officer – Texas Public Policy Foundation – Austin, TX

    Broadcast Production Coordinator – Ocean State Current, Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity – Virtual Office

    State Legal Policy Deputy Director – Pacific Legal Foundation – Arlington, VA or Virtual Office

    Chief Executive Officer – Thomas Jefferson Institute – Virtual Office in Virginia

    Housing and Homelessness Research Fellow – Independent Institute – Oakland or Sacramento, CA

    Development Manager – R Street Institute – Washington, DC or Virtual

    Events Manager - Manhattan Institute - New York, NY

    Grants Manager – Reason Foundation – Virtual Office

    Senior Analyst for Budget and Tax Research – Illinois Policy Institute – Hybrid in Chicago, IL

    Head of Policy – Illinois Policy Institute – Hybrid in Chicago, IL

    Development Grants Manager – Foundation for Government Accountability – Virtual

    Regional Development Officer – National Review Institute – Virtual Office in Southeast, Northeast, or Midwest (3 Openings)

    Director of Development – The Frontier Institute – Virtual Office

    Research Assistant – Paragon Health Institute – Arlington, VA

    Event Coordinator – Center of the American Experiment – Golden Valley, MN

    State Outreach Associate – Mercatus Center at George Mason University – Arlington, VA

    Policy Brief Editor – The Policy Circle – Virtual Office

    Development Coordinator – The Policy Circle – Virtual Office

    Director of Foundation Relations – State Policy Network – Virtual Office or Arlington, VA

    Chief Operating Officer – Young Voices – Washington, DC or New York, NY

    Major Gifts Officer – American Council of Trustees and Alumni – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Academic Programs Manager- American Enterprise Institute – Washington, DC

    Project Manager for Health Policy – Cato Institute – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Communications and Social Media Associate – Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy – Charleston, WV or Virtual Office

    Director of Development Operations – Students For Liberty – Virtual Office

    Development Coordinator – The Heartland Institute – Arlington Heights, IL or Virtual Office

    Marketing Manager – State Policy Network – Arlington, VA or Virtual Office

    Deputy Director of the Center for Energy and Environment – Competitive Enterprise Institute – Washington, D.C.

    Events Manager – Foundation for Government Accountability – Virtual Office

    Operations Assistant – Tax Foundation – Washington, DC

    Vice President of Development – Tax Foundation - Virtual Office or Washington, DC

    Communications Director – Institute for Free Speech – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Editor, Free Society – Cato Institute – Washington, DC or Virtual

    Communications Associate – National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation – Springfield, VA

  • Archives

SEND US YOUR RESUME

If you want us to keep you in mind for opportunities, send us your resume so we have all the details that will help us help you.

About Us

Claire Kittle Dixon

Claire Kittle Dixon
Executive Director
Claire has more than a decade of experience in the talent development field. She…
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Katelynn Barbosa
Director of Talent Engagement
Katelynn started her career in the Koch Associate Program and then litigated at the Institute for Justice…
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Katy Gambella
Director of Outreach
Katy began her career at the Institute for Humane Studies and later joined the Cato Institute…
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Stephanie Keaveney
Outreach Manager
Stephanie’s career started at the James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal…
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Lydia Ocampo
Outreach Specialist
Lydia started her career with Young Americans for Liberty. During her time with YAL…
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Wait, You’re a Nonprofit?

Talent Market is a nonprofit. We’ll wait here while that sinks in. We know it’s a crazy concept, but it’s been working like a charm since 2009.

Talent Market’s mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector.

We provide free consulting and recruiting services to free-market think tanks, policy organizations, research centers, and capacity building institutions dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government and free enterprise. (We do not work in politics, nor do we work with organizations that address social issues.) Talent Market believes that the road to prosperity is paved with freedom and that the success of our movement hinges on the talent that will take us there.

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