Before you interview candidates for a position with your organization, you'll want to prepare by considering the following questions. The interview evaluation chart below will help you and your colleagues structure the interview and the evaluation afterwards. Be sure to keep the questions you ask focused on the job.

1. Consider what characteristics you are looking for in a candidate. Sample answers:
   • Genuine passion and calling to work with children
   • Flexible: able to respond to rapid change
   • Hard worker: willing to go above and beyond minimum effort
   • Hands-on attitude: willing to do whatever needs to be done
   • Team player: willingness to share information, communicate, give and receive feedback
   • Learner: desire to advance personal development and improve performance through taking responsibility and exercising initiative to learn new things, as well as active participation in training and other developmental experiences
   • Confident: willingness to take risks, willingness to lead and model for others
     
     

2. What skills and experience are you looking for? Sample answers:
   • Strong oral and written communication skills
   • Has worked with children in a program with defined goals and expectations
   • High comfort level and competency with standard software and Internet applications
   • Understands how the Internet and related technologies can be used to support learning
   • Understands the goals of the learning center—teaching more than technical skills
     
     

3. What other questions (in addition to ones related to the chart below) is it important for you to ask the candidates? Sample answers:
   • Can you give me an example of a time when you felt really great about achieving an important goal as you worked with children? Tell me an instance when you had to adapt to something that suddenly changed in your work environment.

key: 1 = weak, 3 = strong