To actively mention my DD in an interview?

[totellthetruth]

I am going for an interview with a humanitarian/development charity next week. They are almost definitely going to ask why I want to work for this charity. The honest answer is that when you become a parent, the humanitarian disasters in the world take on a new meaning, as you are hyper-aware that there are children as young as your own in truly awful situations. I think everyone feels this way? I know that many of my friends with kids say they can't bear to watch the news some nights. I could give them the usual spiel about how impressive their track record is and how well known their activities etc, but the truthful answer is the one I've set out above. Would it be weird/unprofessional/excessively emotional to say that? Would they think I was a bit bonkers or that it was an inappropriate response?

I don't think that it would be a good idea to admit that you only discovered compassion for the human race after you became a mother. Makes you sound incredibly smug and a bit weird to be honest. Bloody hell - what's up with all you people who had to wait until you reproduced before getting emotional about all the bad things that go on in the world

Please dont op as mentioned your dd in that context could upset anyone interviewing without children. Good luck in the interview by the way x

As I mentioned, I won't say it in that case - I'll find a better response. But thanks very much for the clarity - it's much appreciated.

could upset anyone interviewing without children

I upsets me and I have a child!

As someone who has worked in recruitment a better answer would be to demonstrate you have the skills for the job. I used to work for charities and grew tired of people saying they wanted the job to give them a warm feeling instead of explaining why they were a good fit for the role.

Agree with everyone else - plus I have to be honest I would just think you were trying to crowbar your dc into the conversation and I get so frustrated with colleagues who are looking for any opportunity to talk about their children at work! I have three gorgeous kids that I love and adore btw!

I think some of the responses are ott here.

I am currently doing some work for a developing charity offering intervention to struggling parents at a low cost (not in UK/no NHS) because I feel strongly parents shouldn't have to be impoverished to provide therapy for their children with special needs since becoming a parent myself. I'm fairly sure I mentioned this at interview, where incidentally I took my baby and had to feed him in the interview, but then I am offering something they really need to provide and can't

I think if you're looking for paid work, your goal in an interview is to demonstrate your skills more than your values.

I'm offering very low cost therapy as a values-based sort of activity for a new charity I believe in based on the same sort of reasoning right now but that's very different, because I'm very highly skilled and experienced in providing this service and I'm charging about a quarter of the industry rate because I very strongly believe in and want to support their work which supports families with children with disability. Also, it offers me an opportunity to work flexibly and I'm maintaining my practice and CPD while my children are young. In return the organisation get my expertise and a service they can't currently afford as a start up, on the understanding that if in the future it takes off, I will be remunerated somewhat more for the work.

In my situation, I could bleat on about my values and breastfeed at interview, but I'm offering something additional to what they can afford and it had to suit us both, so there was no point in being anything but brutally honest because I needed to be clear about my motivations and expectations and that would either fit their agenda or not. It is very different in a competitive interview. You need to focus solely on what you can offer them, not what the work offers you.

Oops. Thought I'd lost that first one, obviously!!

Agree with JennySense - you need to focus on what you will bring to the role, not why you admire the charity or what the role will do for you in terms of fulfilment.