How to Apply Job Interview Skills to Fundraising
When my daughter-in-law was interviewing for a job, she asked me for some advice. Here is what I found myself telling her:
Don’t focus on your needs. Focus on the employer’s needs.
Why are they hiring?
What problems do they need you to solve?
Which of your skills are they particularly looking for?
Can you describe to them how you might use these skills to help them?
Can you give a specific example, perhaps by telling a story, showing exactly how you’ll help them?
Are you clear what their values are?
CAN YOU DESCRIBE HOW YOU AND YOUR WOULD-BE EMPLOYER (DONOR) SHARE THESE VALUES?
I realized this is the exact same advice I give to fundraisers!
“Ask not what your donor can do for you, but what you can do for your donor.”
Meet your donors’ needs.
This is the heart of all effective fundraising, and the following should be your daily mantra.
“Today I will meet my donor’s need by…”
In fact, if you really want to become effective at your job, you will adopt this mantra for your interactions with co-workers as well.
“Today I will meet my colleague’s need by…”
This shift in your stance and approach may not seem like a lot, but it’s actually a game changer. By beginning with putting yourself in the shoes of another, you automatically open yourself to giving and receiving gifts. And I often say if you want gifts you must give them.