19 City Year Interview Questions and Answers

City Year is a nonprofit organization that provides educational and support services to students in grades 3-12. As part of its mission, City Year also offers interview coaching and practice to help students prepare for job interviews.

If you’re a City Year student who is preparing for a job interview, you may be wondering what kind of questions you can expect from a potential employer. While every company is different, there are some common interview questions that are often asked of City Year students. In this article, we’ll provide some examples of these questions and offer tips on how to answer them.

City Year Interview Process

The interview process at City Year can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, the overall process is generally quite lengthy, and can be quite difficult.

For most positions, you will first have a phone interview with a member of the HR team. This initial phone screen will last about 30 minutes, and will mostly consist of behavioral questions. If you make it past this stage, you will then be invited to an in-person interview.

The in-person interview will usually last about an hour, and will consist of both behavioral and technical questions. You may also be asked to complete a writing exercise or case study during this interview.

After the in-person interview, you will likely be invited to participate in a panel interview. This panel interview will usually last about 45 minutes, and will consist of multiple members of the City Year staff asking you questions.

If you make it through all of these interviews, you will then be invited to participate in a final round interview. This interview will usually be with the CEO or another high-level executive. The interview will last about an hour, and will be very similar to the other interviews you have already participated in.

Overall, the interview process at City Year can be

1. What is your favorite book?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleagues. City Year wants to know what kind of books you read, and they want to see that you are an avid reader. When answering this question, choose a book that relates to the work you will be doing with City Year.

Example: “My favorite book is ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho. I chose this book because it’s all about following your dreams and finding success in life. It’s also about helping others find their own happiness. This book has inspired me throughout my life, and I think it would inspire many of the students we work with.”

2. Why do you want to work for City Year?

This question is an opportunity to show your passion for the organization and its mission. It’s also a chance to demonstrate that you’ve done some research about City Year, including what it does and who it serves.

Example: “I want to work for City Year because I believe in the power of education to change lives. In my last position as a high school teacher, I saw firsthand how much students benefit from having caring teachers who are invested in their success. I think City Year provides this same level of support to underserved youth by pairing them with mentors who can help them succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.”

3. Tell me about a time when you had to make an important decision without having all of the information, how did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you make decisions and whether or not you are able to think critically. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you had to make an important decision without all of the information and how you used critical thinking skills to come to your conclusion.

Example: “In my previous role as a teacher’s aide, I was responsible for helping students with their homework assignments. One day, one of my teachers asked me to grade some papers that she hadn’t yet graded. She told me that she would give me the answers so I could grade them quickly. However, when I started grading the papers, I noticed that many of them were missing key components. I decided to call her over to look at the papers. Together, we realized that there was a problem with the assignment and worked together to fix it.”

4. How will this job help you achieve your career goals?

This question helps the interviewer determine if you have a plan for your career and how this job fits into that plan. It also shows them that you are motivated to succeed in your career, which is an important quality for any employer. When answering this question, make sure to mention what your career goals are and how working as a City Year tutor will help you achieve those goals.

Example: “I am passionate about education and want to become a teacher when I graduate college. Working with City Year has helped me develop my teaching skills by giving me experience interacting with students of all ages and helping me understand different learning styles. This has made me more confident in pursuing a career in education.”

5. Do you have any experience working with children?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience working with children and can relate to them. If you don’t have any direct experience, you can talk about your experiences working with younger family members or other young people.

Example: “I worked as a camp counselor for two summers in high school. I was responsible for leading groups of kids on field trips and organizing activities during the day. It was a lot of fun, but it also taught me how important it is to be organized and prepared when working with kids. I learned how to communicate effectively with kids and help them learn new things.”

6. Describe a time where you discovered something that was not part of what you were expected to do but helped another person get their job done more effectively.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can adapt to new situations. It also shows that you are willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you.

Example: “When I was working as an intern at a marketing firm, my boss asked me to create a spreadsheet with all the company’s social media accounts. However, when I started looking through the company website, I noticed there were no links to any social media platforms. I brought this up to my boss, who told me it was not part of my job description to add these links but thanked me for bringing it to his attention. He then assigned someone else in the department to do it.”

7. Are you willing to move anywhere in the country for this position?

City Year is a national organization that operates in many different cities. The interviewer wants to know if you are willing to move anywhere the organization needs you to go. Your answer should show your willingness to relocate and adapt to new environments.

Example: “I am open to moving anywhere in the country for this position. I understand City Year’s mission, so wherever I end up would be an excellent place to work. I have no family ties or other obligations that would prevent me from relocating. My only concern would be finding housing, but I’m sure there are resources available to help with that.”

8. Give us an example of a time when you used new technology or tools for problem solving.

Technology is an important part of the education system, and City Year wants to know that you’re comfortable using it. Use your answer to highlight your comfort level with technology and how it can help you succeed in this role.

Example: “I was working with a student who had trouble focusing on his work because he would get distracted by his phone. I decided to use my own phone as a distraction so that he could focus on his work without being distracted. He was able to complete his assignment while I completed mine, and we both got our work done.”

9. Does your schedule allow you to work weekends and holidays if needed?

City Year is a year-round program, so the interviewer wants to know if you’re available for weekend and holiday shifts. If your schedule doesn’t allow it, explain what you would do in that situation.

Example: “I’m currently working as an assistant manager at my local coffee shop, which means I work weekends and holidays. However, I have no problem doing this because I enjoy interacting with customers and making sure they leave happy. In fact, I’ve been told by many of our regulars that they prefer seeing me on the weekends rather than one of the other baristas.”

10. Are you comfortable working with people from different backgrounds?

City Year is a unique opportunity that allows you to work with people from different backgrounds. The organization’s goal is to help students succeed, and they do this by bringing together diverse groups of people who are committed to helping others. Your answer should show the interviewer that you’re comfortable working with people from different backgrounds.

Example: “I have worked in my current school district for five years now, and I’ve seen how important it is to be open-minded when working with people from different backgrounds. In my previous role as an assistant teacher, I had a student who was new to the country. He didn’t speak English very well, but he wanted to learn. I made sure to communicate with him using simple words and gestures so that he could understand me. We were able to form a great relationship, and he started learning English faster than expected.”

11. We expect our corps members to be able to use their own initiative. Please describe a time when you worked independently on a project.

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work independently and use your own initiative. It’s also a chance to demonstrate how you can apply the skills learned in previous positions to new ones.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for managing our social media accounts. We had a lot of content that needed to be posted on multiple platforms at different times throughout the day. To make sure we were posting consistently, I created a spreadsheet where I could track all of our scheduled posts. This allowed me to check off each post as it went live so I knew when I needed to create more content.”

12. Have you been involved in any volunteer activities before? If so, tell us about them.

City Year is a volunteer organization, so the interviewer wants to know if you have any experience with volunteering. If you do, share what your previous experiences were and how they relate to City Year’s mission.

Example: “I’ve been involved in several volunteer activities throughout my life. I volunteered at an animal shelter when I was younger, where I learned about proper care for animals. In high school, I volunteered at a food bank, which taught me about the importance of feeding others. My most recent volunteer activity was last year, where I helped build homes for families who needed them.”

13. Would you feel comfortable being assigned as a team leader amongst your peers?

City Year is a unique organization that requires its employees to be able to work well in teams. The interviewer wants to know if you have the ability to lead your peers and manage projects effectively. Show them that you are willing to take on this responsibility by giving an honest answer.

Example: “I am comfortable being a team leader, but I would prefer to be a part of a leadership team where we all share responsibilities equally. In my previous role as a teacher, I was often assigned as a team leader for my class. I enjoyed working with my students to plan lessons and activities. However, I also like to delegate tasks so everyone can learn how to become leaders themselves.”

14. What qualities do you think are most important to have as a team leader?

City Year is a team-based organization, so the interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working in teams. Use your answer to highlight your leadership skills and how they can benefit City Year.

Example: “I think it’s important for a leader to be empathetic and compassionate. I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact these qualities can make on others. For example, when I was a camp counselor, one of my students had been struggling with math all summer. When he came back from break, he told me that his confidence was low because he didn’t understand any of the concepts we were learning. I spent some extra time after class going over the basics with him until he felt more confident. He ended up getting an A on his next test.”

15. We need someone who can build relationships quickly. Can you give an example of when you successfully built a relationship with a difficult colleague?

City Year is a highly collaborative organization, so it’s important that you can work well with others. This question helps the interviewer assess your interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with others. In your answer, describe how you worked through conflict or disagreement to build a positive relationship with a colleague.

Example: “In my last role as an elementary school teacher, I had a colleague who was very critical of my teaching methods. He would often make comments about what he thought I could improve on in front of other teachers and students. At first, I took his criticism personally, but then I realized that he just wanted to help me become a better teacher. So, I asked him for feedback on my lessons and implemented some of his suggestions.”

16. As an AmeriCorps member, we would like you to bring your ideas and energy to this team. What skills and experiences do you have that you think might benefit City Year?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have researched City Year and understand what they are looking for in a candidate. Use your answer to highlight how your skills, personality traits or experiences can benefit this organization.

Example: “I think my communication skills would be beneficial to City Year because I am used to speaking with large groups of people and motivating them to work hard. In my last position, I was responsible for leading meetings where we discussed our goals and strategies for achieving them. I also think my ability to stay organized will help me succeed as a member of City Year. I always make sure to keep track of important documents and deadlines.”

17. Name a trait that you consider to be essential for success in this role.

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a strong understanding of what it takes to succeed in this role. You can answer this question by describing a trait that you feel is important for success and how you use that trait in your daily life.

Example: “I believe that empathy is essential for success in this role because I would be working with students who are facing challenges both at home and in school. Having empathy allows me to understand where they’re coming from, which helps me connect with them more effectively. In my previous position as a teacher’s aide, I noticed that some teachers didn’t always treat their students with respect or kindness. I made sure to always treat my students with empathy, even when they were acting out.”

18. What does diversity mean to you?

City Year is a diverse organization that values the unique perspectives of its staff. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience working with people from different backgrounds and cultures. In your answer, describe how you’ve used diversity as an asset in your previous roles.

Example: “Diversity means accepting everyone for who they are and celebrating their differences. I think it’s important to understand where other people are coming from because we all have our own experiences and opinions. When I worked at my last job, I had the opportunity to work with students from many different backgrounds. I learned so much from them and tried to be open-minded when they shared their thoughts and ideas.”

19. Many of our staff come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. How would you approach working with other people from different cultural backgrounds?

City Year is a diverse organization, and the interviewer may ask this question to see if you can work with people from different backgrounds. Show that you are open-minded and willing to learn about other cultures.

Example: “I have worked in an international school before, so I am used to working with students of many different cultural backgrounds. In my experience, it’s important to be respectful of others’ cultures and customs. For example, when speaking with someone who has a different accent or background than me, I try to listen carefully and avoid making assumptions. I also make sure to use language that everyone understands.”