Charity role - 4 stage interview process

[Cherryblossom200]

Hello!

I’ve just been through a very, very intense interview process for a charity. It’s a role I would be paid for, and doing something I enjoy.

In my second interview I had to do a presentation and the last stage was again a gruelling round. Lots and lots of competency based questions. I’m over qualified for the role by miles, but want to do something impact led which feels like the next stage of my career. I almost gave blood, sweat and tears in my last interview (obviously I didn’t cry 🤣) to show my dedication to want to work for a charity because I believe in their cause. They said they would tell me the outcome, I believe it’s between two of us.

I’m not working at the moment. My concern is that the interview process felt very informal, no humour or warmth and I want that in my role. The majorly of my job will be remote which will help. I may or may not get the job, but not sure how I feel at the moment - help!!!

I need an income, but don’t want to end up in the wrong job x

Yay, well done!! 👏🏻

Congratulations OP!

Thanks 🙏

oh no @Cherryblossom200 , I was an earlier poster and just read that they have restricted the job offer after getting reference!! I’m so sorry.

Trouble is, that's quite hard to predict. Of course they will try and be nice during the interview stage.

Where did you read that?

On a newer thread I believe

Oh. Why come back and update this one then rather than just comment on the new one, strange

It’s in actives. Happened today. Job withdrawn because of reference and OP furious

Thought she wasn't sure about this employer anyway....its a sign from the universe...

Ignore all the weird post history forensic experts on this thread, OP. For me the four stage process for anything below senior leadership team would be a red flag. Suggests they’re not confident in their hiring.

Irrelevant now

@WhatNextImScaredI’m glad you said that. It was more of an interrogation, I was recorded in one of the interviews. Had to do a presentation and also a personality test 😩 Half way through I wanted to duck out of the process because it felt so heavy for a co-ordinator role. But I persevered because I have always wanted to work for a charity 😥

But now they’ve pulled the plug. I’m sorry to hear that

Working for a charity is just like every other job. There are some people committed to the cause but a lot are just there because it’s a job.

Sorry it don’t work out. I’m surprised at the reference though. We only give confirmation of employment type references.

@HollyhockDaysno the charity requested a phone call, they sent a copy of my job spec to the referees and cross matched if I did any of the work! I checked with someone they talked to.

you checked with the same person who character assassinated you in the telephone reference call?

No this a different referee! Someone I have a good working relationship with and was a previous line manager Definitely not my ex employer!

So they ignored the two positive and focussed squarely on the awful one? I guess misleading them re not actually giving them your line manager was probably the main reason why they retracted. I would have done the same even if all the references had been positive

Yes I know and I’m kicking myself about it, never been in this situation before and I panicked.

OP I already commented on your thread early on mentioning that 4 interviews for a coordinator role was a red flag. I worked in the sector for over 20 years and many charities make awful employers. I know what you are going through is hard but I think ultimately this might be a lucky escape from a rubbish employer and an opportunity to sort out your reference which longer term will be a blessing.

Thank you 🙏

The two previous employers who gave you a positive reference… any chance of a job with them again? Depending on how much you need to get back in to asap

You aren’t over qualified if you think that working for a big company in a global role gives you any advantage. Actually it’s the opposite. It’s often much easier to do a role in a global company than one in an SME/charity. The smaller the organisation, developing trusting relationships are also very key.

Charities, education and public sector tend to have long processes like these because they think it’s best practice.

Agree with this. I currently work for one. It is toxic and I suspect a lot of dodgy stuff going on, people leaving suddenly because they've unearthed some discrepancy. The charity seems to hire friends and relatives of the CEO. I'll be glad to be leaving shortly.