20 Catholic Relief Services Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviewing for a job with Catholic Relief Services, you can expect questions that are specific to the company and its mission. While you may be asked some general interview questions, you’ll also be asked questions about your experience with and knowledge of the Catholic Church, as well as your commitment to social justice.

Preparing for your interview by familiarizing yourself with the company and its values will help you answer these questions confidently. In this article, we’ll provide some sample questions and answers to help you get started.

Catholic Relief Services Interview Process

The interview process at Catholic Relief Services can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, often including a written test. The first round of interviews is usually with HR representatives and/or the hiring manager. These interviews are generally more focused on your experience and skills. The second round of interviews is usually with a panel of employees from the department you would be working in. These interviews are generally more focused on your ability to do the job and how well you fit into the company culture.

1. Tell us how you think your experience and skills will help with this position.

Catholic Relief Services is looking for candidates who have the skills and experience to succeed in this role. When you answer this question, make sure that you highlight your relevant work history and how it will help you succeed at Catholic Relief Services.

Example: “I think my previous experience working with a nonprofit organization would be helpful when I start here. In my last position, I worked as an administrative assistant for a local charity. My job was to manage the office, schedule appointments and keep track of all incoming and outgoing correspondence. This experience has given me valuable organizational skills that I can use to help support the team.”

2. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing CRS right now?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the organization and how you can help it grow. When answering, make sure to highlight what you think are the biggest challenges facing CRS and how you would overcome them.

Example: “I believe that one of the biggest challenges facing CRS right now is its ability to attract new talent. I have heard from several colleagues that they had trouble finding qualified candidates for open positions. To solve this problem, I would implement an employee referral program where employees could earn points toward rewards when they refer someone who gets hired.”

3. How would you evaluate a project’s success or failure?

Catholic Relief Services is a nonprofit organization that works to alleviate poverty and injustice in developing countries. Your answer should show the interviewer how you evaluate success or failure of projects, which can help them understand your thought process when working on similar projects for Catholic Relief Services.

Example: “I believe that evaluating a project’s success or failure depends on what goals were set at the beginning of the project. For example, if the goal was to provide food to an impoverished village but there was no way to measure whether or not the villagers ate the food, then I would consider the project unsuccessful. However, if the goal was to provide food to the village and it was measured that the villagers did eat the food, then I would consider the project successful.”

4. Tell me about a time that you had to motivate someone, how did you go about it?

Catholic Relief Services is a humanitarian organization that works to help people in need. As such, it’s important for employees to be able to motivate their colleagues and coworkers when necessary. This question helps the interviewer determine how you might go about motivating your team members if you’re hired at Catholic Relief Services.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different types of personalities over my career, so I know that sometimes all someone needs is a little bit of motivation. For example, I had a coworker who was having trouble getting her work done on time. She was always late submitting reports or missing deadlines. So, I sat down with her one-on-one and explained why it was important to submit our work on time. After that, she started turning things in on time.”

5. Do you consider yourself a good communicator?

Catholic Relief Services is a global organization that requires employees to be able to communicate effectively with others. Your answer should show the interviewer you are confident in your communication skills and can work well with people from different backgrounds.

Example: “I have always been passionate about learning new languages, so I am quite comfortable communicating with people who speak other languages. In my last position as an international development specialist, I worked with colleagues from all over the world. My language skills helped me build strong relationships with them and learn more about their cultures. This knowledge has also helped me better understand how to help those in need.”

6. Describe a situation where there was conflict in an organization you worked for, what did you do about it?

Catholic Relief Services is a humanitarian organization that works to help people in need around the world. As such, it’s important for employees to be able to work well with others and resolve conflicts when they arise.

Example: “In my last position as an administrative assistant at a small law firm, I noticed that one of the attorneys was frequently late to meetings and sometimes missed them entirely. This made it difficult for us to get our work done on time, which caused stress among the rest of the team. I approached the attorney privately about the issue and asked if there was anything I could do to help. She told me she had been having trouble getting her daughter to school on time in the mornings. We worked out a solution where I would drive her daughter to school every day so she wouldn’t have to worry about it.”

7. Why are you interested in working for Catholic Relief Services?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have a genuine interest in working for Catholic Relief Services. It is important to show that you are passionate about helping others and that you understand what Catholic Relief Services does.

Example: “I am interested in working for Catholic Relief Services because I want to make a difference in the world. I know that your organization helps people who are suffering, so I would love to be part of this mission. I also think it’s important to work for an organization that has strong values, and I believe that Catholic Relief Services is one of these organizations.”

8. Can you tell me about a time when you were able to successfully persuade another person of something?

Catholic Relief Services employees must be able to communicate effectively with others. This question helps the interviewer determine how persuasive you are and whether you can use your communication skills for good.

Example: “I once had a coworker who was very opposed to our company’s recycling program. He would often throw away recyclable items in the trash, which made me upset because I knew it was against policy. One day, he threw out an empty water bottle that I recognized as being recyclable. I approached him about it and asked why he did it. He told me that he didn’t think we should have a recycling program at all.

I explained to him that even though some people don’t recycle, most of us do. I also told him that if everyone recycled, we could save money on buying new products and reduce our carbon footprint. After talking to him, he agreed to start recycling again.”

9. Have you ever been involved in international work before?

Catholic Relief Services is an international organization, so it’s important that you have experience working internationally. If you haven’t worked abroad before, consider volunteering with a local charity or nonprofit to gain some international work experience.

Example: “I’ve never been involved in international work before, but I am very interested in learning more about the world and how we can help those who are less fortunate than us. I would love to be able to use my skills to make a difference in someone else’s life.”

10. Who do you look up to as a leader and why?

Catholic Relief Services is looking for a leader who can inspire others to do their best work. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have someone in your life that inspires you and how they’ve helped you grow as a person or professional.

Example: “I look up to my grandmother as a leader because she’s always been there for me, no matter what I needed. She taught me how to be kind to everyone, even when it was hard. When I was younger, I remember her telling me that we should treat others like we want to be treated. That advice has stuck with me throughout my life.”

11. What do you know about our company?

This question is a great way to show your research skills and knowledge of the company. Before you interview, make sure you read through the job description and familiarize yourself with Catholic Relief Services’ mission statement, values and goals. You can also look at their website for more information about the organization’s history and current projects.

Example: “I know that Catholic Relief Services has been in operation since 1943 and that it provides humanitarian aid to people around the world who are suffering from poverty, disease or disaster. I am passionate about this cause because I believe everyone deserves access to clean water, food and medical care regardless of their religion, race or gender.”

12. How did you keep track of results, problems and solutions during your last job?

Catholic Relief Services is looking for a candidate who can keep track of important information during their workday. This question helps them understand how you plan your day and manage your time. Use examples from your previous job to explain how you tracked results, problems and solutions.

Example: “I used a spreadsheet to keep track of the projects I was working on at my last job. Each week, I would enter in all of the tasks that I needed to complete into the spreadsheet. Then, each day, I would check off which ones were completed. If there were any issues or questions, I would note those as well. At the end of each week, I would review the spreadsheet to see if there were any patterns or trends.”

13. Describe a time when you saw an injustice and decided to take action, how did you handle it?

Catholic Relief Services is a humanitarian organization that works to help those in need, regardless of their religion or background. As such, they want employees who are willing to take action when they see injustice and work to make the world a better place. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example from your personal life where you saw someone being treated unfairly and took action to correct the situation.

Example: “When I was working as a teacher’s aide at my old school, I noticed one of the teachers would often yell at students for minor mistakes. This made me uncomfortable because I knew he wasn’t doing it on purpose, but rather because he didn’t know how else to handle the classroom. So, I talked with him about his behavior and offered to help him learn some new techniques. He agreed, and we spent several weeks practicing different ways to handle the class. Eventually, he became much more comfortable with the kids and stopped yelling.”

14. What kind of experience do you have working with international teams?

Catholic Relief Services works with a global network of partners to provide aid and assistance in more than 100 countries. The organization is looking for candidates who have experience working on international teams, as this can be an important part of the job. If you don’t have direct experience, consider talking about how you would adapt to working internationally.

Example: “I’ve worked in my current position for five years now, but I also spent two summers abroad during college volunteering at orphanages in South America. This was my first time working with a team outside of the United States, so it took some getting used to. However, I learned that many of the skills I use in my current role are transferable to working internationally.”

15. What are some things that you want to be sure to accomplish while working here?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have goals and are motivated. It’s also an opportunity for you to talk about how you would like to contribute to the organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of what you want to get out of working at Catholic Relief Services and what you hope to achieve while there.

Example: “I’m excited to work here because I’ve always admired the work that Catholic Relief Services does. I’d love to help make sure that people in developing countries have access to clean water and food. I know that Catholic Relief Services has programs that do just that, so I’d love to learn more about them and see if there are ways I could help improve those programs.”

16. What part of working at CRS appeals most to you?

This question helps the interviewer get a sense of your interest in working for Catholic Relief Services. Your answer should show that you are passionate about helping others and have experience doing so.

Example: “I am most excited to work with people who need help. I’ve always been interested in international development, and my previous job was as an assistant at a nonprofit organization where I helped refugees find housing and employment. Working at CRS would allow me to continue this type of work while also learning from more experienced professionals.”

17. How would you describe your management style?

Catholic Relief Services is a large organization with many employees. Your interviewer wants to know how you would manage your team and the responsibilities of your role as director of operations. Describe your management style in detail, including what motivates you to be an effective leader.

Example: “I believe that my management style is collaborative. I like to involve my team members in decision-making processes so they feel invested in the outcomes. I also think it’s important for managers to provide regular feedback to their teams so everyone knows where they stand. In my last position, I held weekly meetings with my team to discuss our progress on projects and any concerns or questions they had.”

18. What do you feel makes a staff member successful?

Catholic Relief Services wants to know what you think makes a staff member successful. They want to make sure that their employees are working hard and achieving goals. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific qualities or skills that you feel are important for success.

Example: “I believe that the most important quality of a successful employee is dedication. I am someone who always puts in 110% effort into my work. I also think that being organized and having good time management skills are essential for success at Catholic Relief Services. These skills help me stay on top of all my projects and ensure that I meet deadlines.”

19. Why should we hire you over everyone else?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are confident in your abilities and have the skills necessary for the position. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight specific experiences or skills that make you an ideal candidate for the role.

Example: “I am passionate about helping others and believe I would be an excellent fit for this position because of my experience working with international aid organizations. In my last job, I worked as a translator for refugees who spoke different languages. This helped me learn more about other cultures and how to communicate effectively with people from all over the world.”

20. What is your opinion on the current state of humanitarian aid?

Catholic Relief Services is a humanitarian aid organization, and the interviewer wants to know your opinion on the current state of this industry. Use examples from your experience to show that you understand the challenges facing the industry and how you can help Catholic Relief Services overcome them.

Example: “I believe that there are many issues in the humanitarian aid industry right now. One issue I see is that organizations often have trouble collaborating with each other because they’re worried about losing their competitive edge. Another issue is that it’s hard for smaller organizations to get funding because larger organizations take up most of the budget. However, I think these issues can be solved by having more collaboration between organizations and by creating a system where smaller organizations can apply for grants.”