20 Amnesty International Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an Amnesty International interview, you can expect to be asked questions about your knowledge of human rights and your experience with the organization’s work. The interviewer will also want to know why you’re interested in the job and what you can bring to the role. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Amnesty International interview questions and answers.

Amnesty International Interview Process

The interview process at Amnesty International can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like internships, the process may be relatively short and simple, while for others, like the Senior Partnership Manager, it may be longer and more involved. Overall, the process is generally professional and efficient, though some reviewers noted that there were long waiting periods between steps in the process.

1. Why do you want to work for Amnesty International?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your passion for human rights and how you became involved in this field. When answering, it can be helpful to share a specific story or experience that led you to apply for this position.

Example: “I want to work for Amnesty International because I have always been passionate about human rights. In high school, I volunteered at a local women’s shelter where I met many survivors of domestic violence. One woman shared her story with me about escaping an abusive relationship and finding safety at the shelter. She told me she was able to get back on her feet thanks to the support from the shelter staff and volunteers. Hearing her story inspired me to pursue a career in human rights.”

2. What is your greatest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. Employers want to know that you are self-aware and can recognize your own flaws. When answering this question, try to think of something that isn’t too serious or negative but also shows that you’re aware of the issue.

Example: “My greatest weakness is my perfectionism. I am always striving for excellence, which sometimes means I work long hours and don’t take enough time off. This has led to burnout in the past, so now I’m working on taking more breaks throughout the day and scheduling regular vacations.”

3. What does human rights mean to you?

This question is a great way to show your passion for human rights and how you can apply that passion to the role. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what human rights means to you and why you feel passionate about the cause.

Example: “Human rights are something I’ve always been passionate about. To me, they’re more than just a concept or idea—they’re an intrinsic part of who we are as humans. It’s so important to fight for these rights because without them, people are treated unfairly and unequally. I believe everyone deserves equal treatment regardless of their race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.”

4. How would you change the way Amnesty International works?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of Amnesty International and how you would apply it in your role. Your answer should show that you understand Amnesty’s mission, values and goals. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any specific skills or experiences that will help you make changes within the organization.

Example: “I believe Amnesty International has an excellent reputation for its work around the world. I would like to continue that tradition by making sure all employees are well-trained and have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively. I think we could improve our communication with volunteers and donors as well. We should create more opportunities for them to get involved in the organization.”

5. Tell me about a time that you had to deal with an angry customer and how did you handle it?

An interviewer may ask this question to see how you handle conflict and stress. This is because working for a charity organization can involve dealing with people who are upset or angry about the work that Amnesty International does. Your answer should show that you have experience in handling difficult situations, as well as empathy for others.

Example: “I once had an angry customer who called me at my previous job. I was able to calm them down by listening to what they were saying and asking questions to understand their concerns. They calmed down after I explained our company’s policies and apologized for any inconvenience.”

6. If you were in charge of raising £50,000 by the end of next month, what would be your strategy?

This question is a great way to test your problem-solving skills and ability to think creatively. It also shows the interviewer how you would use your creativity and innovation to achieve goals.

Example: “I would start by reaching out to my network of contacts, as well as local businesses and corporations for donations. I would also consider hosting fundraising events like concerts or dinners where we could charge an entrance fee. Finally, I would look into crowdfunding platforms that allow people to donate small amounts online.”

7. Have you ever worked on a team project where there was conflict between one or more members?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and whether you have any experience working on a team. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where there was conflict and the steps you took to resolve it or learn from it.

Example: “In my last position as an assistant manager at a retail store, I had a coworker who would often come in late without notice. This made it difficult for me to plan staffing because we were never sure if they would show up. After talking with them about their tardiness, they said that they didn’t realize how much of an impact it was having on our ability to do our jobs effectively. They agreed to let us know when they would be arriving so we could better plan our day.”

8. What are some things that keep you motivated at work?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you as a person and how your personality might fit in with the rest of the team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something that is unique about yourself or an accomplishment that shows your dedication to human rights work.

Example: “I am motivated by making a difference in the world. I love being able to use my skills to help others who are less fortunate than me. In my last role, I helped create a new system for tracking cases that made it easier for our organization to respond to emergencies.”

9. Describe a time when you worked independently but still kept in close contact with your supervisor.

This question is a great way to show your ability to work independently while still maintaining regular contact with your supervisor. This can be especially important for employees who work remotely or in different time zones.

Example: “I have worked as an independent contractor for several years, and I find that it’s important to keep my supervisors informed of the projects I’m working on. I typically send weekly updates about what I’ve been doing and how much progress I’ve made. My supervisors appreciate this because they know exactly what I’m working on and when I expect to finish.”

10. Do you think that certain people deserve amnesty?

Amnesty International is a global organization that fights for the rights of people who are persecuted and oppressed. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you understand what they do as an organization. In your answer, explain why you think certain people deserve amnesty.

Example: “I believe everyone deserves amnesty because we’re all human beings. We should treat each other with respect and dignity regardless of our differences. I’ve seen how Amnesty International helps people in countries where their government doesn’t protect them or even persecutes them. It’s inspiring to know there are organizations like Amnesty International fighting for these people.”

11. Talk about a time where you took initiative within your workplace.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and how you can contribute to the success of Amnesty International. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your ability to work independently while also collaborating with others.

Example: “In my previous role as an assistant manager at a local restaurant, I noticed that our servers were having trouble remembering which orders went with which tables. This was causing some confusion for customers and making it difficult for our wait staff to keep up with their tables. So, I created a system where each server would write down the table number on the back of the order slip so they could easily find the right order when delivering food.”

12. Are you comfortable working outside in all weather conditions?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to work in challenging conditions. It’s important that you show how you can adapt to different weather and other environmental factors while still performing your job duties.

Example: “I am comfortable working outside in all kinds of weather, as I have done so many times throughout my career. In fact, I find it motivating when I’m working in inclement weather because it makes me feel like I’m really making a difference. I’ve worked through rainstorms, snowstorms and even hurricanes, and I always make sure to dress appropriately and take care of myself.”

13. What has been your biggest success as a fundraiser/canvasser?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you have experience in fundraising and can apply the skills you learned from previous jobs. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight a specific example of success and explain how you achieved it.

Example: “In my last role as a fundraiser for a local animal shelter, I was tasked with finding new donors to support our organization. After researching different methods of reaching out to potential donors, I decided to create a newsletter that would be sent out every month to people who had previously donated to us. The newsletter included stories about animals we helped, along with information on upcoming events and fundraisers. This strategy resulted in a 30% increase in donations.”

14. What do you know about Amnesty International?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of Amnesty International and how much you know about human rights. It’s important that you show enthusiasm for this organization, as it will help you fit in with their team.

Example: “I have been an Amnesty International supporter since I was a teenager. My parents were both activists when I was growing up, so I grew up hearing stories about what they did. When I got older, I started researching more about Amnesty International and became even more passionate about the work they do. I think it’s important to support organizations like Amnesty International because we need people who are willing to fight injustice.”

15. How well do you take feedback from others?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to accept criticism and use it to improve yourself. To answer, think of a time when you received feedback from someone else and used it to make positive changes in your work or personal life.

Example: “I am open to receiving feedback from others because I know that it can help me grow as a person and professional. In my last role, I was working on a project with a team of other professionals. One day, one of the team members approached me and gave me some constructive criticism about how I was handling the project. At first, I felt defensive but then realized that she had good intentions and wanted to help me improve. After our conversation, I made sure to implement her suggestions into my work.”

16. We have many different campaigns going on at once, how would you manage your workload if hired?

This question is an opportunity to show your organizational skills and ability to multitask. When answering, it can be helpful to list the steps you would take to manage multiple campaigns at once.

Example: “I have a lot of experience managing my workload as I’ve worked on many different projects at once in the past. In my last position, I was working on three separate campaigns at once while also helping with general operations. To keep track of everything, I used a project management software that allowed me to create tasks for each campaign and assign them to team members. This helped us stay organized and ensured we were all working toward the same goal.”

17. Talk about a time where you made a mistake and had to report it to your manager.

This question is a great way to learn more about how you handle mistakes and the steps you take to correct them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about a specific mistake you made in your previous role and what steps you took to fix it or improve upon it.

Example: “In my last position as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I accidentally overcharged one of our customers for their meal. Instead of just giving them back the money, I decided to give them a free dessert on my next shift. The customer was very happy with my solution and even posted a picture of their new dessert on social media. It ended up being a good thing because we got a lot of new customers from that post.”

18. Tell us about a time that you had to motivate someone else.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you inspire others to work hard and achieve goals. Use examples from your past experience that show you know how to motivate people, encourage them and make them feel valued.

Example: “When I was a manager at my previous job, I had an employee who wasn’t performing as well as they could have been. They were always late for meetings and didn’t seem to care about their performance. After talking with them, I learned that they were having some personal issues in their life that were affecting their work. I gave them more time off so they could focus on their personal life and get back to work when they felt ready.”

19. How would you raise awareness for a campaign?

Amnesty International uses campaigns to raise awareness about human rights violations and injustices. The organization may ask this question to learn more about your public relations skills and how you would promote a campaign for Amnesty International. In your answer, explain the steps you would take to create an effective campaign that raises awareness of a cause or issue.

Example: “I would start by researching the current state of affairs in my target audience’s country. I would then develop a plan to reach out to journalists, bloggers and other influencers who could help spread the word about our campaign. I would also use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to share information about the campaign with people who might be interested.”

20. How would you react if you were told not to talk to strangers while canvassing?

This question is a test of your ability to work with others and follow instructions. It also shows the interviewer how you react in stressful situations.

Example: “I would first ask why I couldn’t talk to strangers, as canvassing is an important part of my job. If they told me it was for safety reasons, I would listen to their concerns and then explain that talking to people on the street is one of the safest ways to get information about human rights violations. I would tell them that I have been trained to be safe while canvassing.”