SUGGESTIONS FOR MEETING WITH INTERNSHIP CANDIDATES
The following questions are used by the national CCHD staff in their selection process. Feel free to use them as you wish, to put them in your own words, or add to them. Keep in mind that you are interviewing young people who may not be able to articulate their answers as well as a professional in the field.
1. Welcome, thank you for your interest in this internship... we’ve read your application, we’re interested in you and what you had to say in your application, and we’d like to hear more about that...
Outline process for conversation - set the person at ease
2. One goal of this internship program is to raise awareness of CCHD. (CCHD employee first needs to tell a little about CCHD) We know that young people do not know much about the Campaign. What have you heard about CCHD?
3. Another goal is to support young people in their professional interests and ambitions, especially as they relate to the church’s social justice mission. Tell us about how this internship could help you do that.
4. What motivated you to apply for this position?
What do you think uniquely qualifies you for it?
5. This position will entail several different tasks: research, collaboration with staff, phone calls, and letter-writing. Explain a situation when you had to juggle multiple tasks.
6. What is your experience working in teams? Working on your own?
7. How would you describe your strengths? Areas where you need to grow?
8. What experiences have you had working, living or interacting with low-income persons in the United States? Describe your experiences and what you have learned.
9. The CCHD employee may want to ask questions specific to the CCHD tasks needed in the diocesan office and/or clarify information in the application.
10. Invite questions from the candidate.
11. Give the candidate a date when you will contact him/her with a decision, and mention the dates of the national internship orientation. (June 2-4, 2010, in Washington, DC, expenses paid by CCHD national office) Interns were asked to indicate availability on these dates in their applications. Attendance at the national orientation is required in order to intern through the CCHD Internship Program.