17 Community Development Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

Community development specialists work to improve the quality of life in their community. They may work for a city, county, or state government, or for a non-profit organization. Their work may include developing and implementing programs to address poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. They may also work to improve the quality of life for seniors, children, and people with disabilities.

The work of a community development specialist is important, and the interview process for this job is just as important. You will likely be asked a range of questions about your experience, your education, and your skills. You will also be asked questions about your ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and your understanding of community development principles.

To help you prepare for your interview, we have gathered some common questions and provided sample answers.

Are you familiar with the Community Development Block Grant program?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the field. The Community Development Block Grant program, or CDBG, is a federal program that provides funding for community development projects in low-income areas. It’s important to show you have experience with this program and can explain how it works.

Example: “Yes, I am familiar with the CDBG program. In my last position, I worked on several projects funded by the CDBG. One project was an urban renewal plan where we used CDBG funds to demolish abandoned buildings and create new housing developments. Another project was a public transportation initiative where we used CDBG funds to build bus stops and train stations.”

What are some of the most important skills for a community development specialist to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills and how they relate to community development.

Example: “Communication, problem-solving and conflict resolution are some of the most important skills for a community development specialist. These skills allow me to work with residents and other professionals to find solutions to problems that arise within communities. I also think creativity is an important skill because it allows me to come up with new ideas and strategies for improving a community.”

How would you go about planning an event to attract new businesses to a particular area?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your organizational skills and how you plan events. In your answer, describe the steps you would take to organize an event that attracts businesses to a particular area.

Example: “I would first research what types of businesses are looking for locations in the area. I would then reach out to these businesses and offer them free advertising if they agree to open up shop in our target location. For example, when I was working with my previous employer, we were trying to attract new restaurants to a specific neighborhood. We reached out to local food bloggers and offered them free meals at any restaurant within the community if they agreed to write about their experience on their blog.”

What is your experience with working with local government agencies?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with working in a team environment and collaborating with other professionals. Use examples from your past to highlight your teamwork skills, communication abilities and ability to work under pressure.

Example: “In my last role as a community development specialist, I worked closely with local government agencies to develop affordable housing projects for low-income families. In this role, I had to collaborate with city planners, architects and engineers to ensure that all of our construction plans met building codes and regulations. This helped me learn how to navigate through different processes and procedures to get things done efficiently.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to help someone who was facing financial difficulties.

This question can help employers learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you might interact with the community members you serve. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation or person that you helped and what actions you took to support them.

Example: “When I was working as a community development specialist for my previous employer, I met a single mother who had recently lost her job. She told me she was struggling to pay rent and buy groceries for herself and her children. I asked her if there were any family members or friends she could stay with temporarily while looking for another job. She said no, so I offered to give her some money to cover her expenses until she found a new job.”

If you had to choose one of your projects and describe how you made it successful, what would you say?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you can take initiative and make decisions. When answering this question, it’s important to choose a project that was successful and highlight the steps you took to achieve success.

Example: “I would say my most successful project was when I worked with a community development organization in Florida. We were working on creating affordable housing for low-income families. The company had already purchased land for the new homes but needed help designing them so they could be built as efficiently as possible. I met with the construction team and helped design the houses based on their needs. This allowed us to build more than 100 homes within budget.”

What would you do if you noticed that a particular area of your community was experiencing a lot of tension between residents?

Community development specialists often work with residents of their communities to resolve issues and improve the quality of life for everyone. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working in a community that is experiencing conflict and how you would handle it. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to help ease tensions between residents.

Example: “I’ve worked in several areas where there was tension between residents. I always try to meet with both sides of the issue to understand each person’s perspective. Then, I find out if there are any underlying causes of the tension. For example, maybe one resident has been parking in another resident’s spot every day after work. If so, I can talk to the second resident about finding a different place to park until the first resident finds a new parking space.”

How well do you think you can work with people from all different backgrounds?

Community development specialists often work with people from all different backgrounds, so employers ask this question to make sure you can collaborate well. Show them that you have experience working with a variety of people and that you enjoy doing it.

Example: “I think I can work with anyone because I am very empathetic. In my last role, I worked on a project where we had to find affordable housing for low-income families. We were able to find some units in an apartment complex that was willing to lower their rent prices. However, the complex only allowed tenants who were white. The property manager said they would consider allowing other races if we could find enough qualified applicants.

We ended up finding several black families who wanted to move into the complex. They just needed to pass a credit check and background check. It took us a few weeks, but we found enough families to fill the complex. I really enjoyed working with those families and helping them find safe housing.”

Do you have any experience working with community organizations or nonprofits?

Employers ask this question to see if you have any experience working with community organizations or nonprofits. They want to know that you are familiar with the types of projects these groups typically work on and how they operate. In your answer, share what type of experience you have working with community organizations or nonprofits and explain why it was valuable for you.

Example: “I worked as a community development specialist at my previous job, but I also had some experience working with local nonprofits in my free time. I volunteered regularly at a food bank where I helped sort donations and prepared them for distribution. This experience taught me how important it is to be organized when working with large amounts of data. It also showed me how rewarding it can be to help others.”

When planning initiatives to improve a community, how do you determine what areas need the most attention?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and assess the needs of a community. Your answer should show that you have experience with this process, but it can also be helpful to mention what steps you would take if you were just starting out in this role.

Example: “When I first started working as a community development specialist, my supervisor helped me create a list of factors that indicate which areas of a community need improvement. These include things like poverty rates, crime statistics and education levels. We then used these factors to determine where we could best use our resources to improve the quality of life for residents. Now, I use these same factors when assessing new communities to see where improvements are needed.”

We want to make it easier for people to find information about local businesses and community resources. What would you do to improve the accessibility of our community directory?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your knowledge of web accessibility and how you would apply it to a specific project. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure the directory is accessible for all users, including those with disabilities.

Example: “I would start by making sure that all links are coded correctly so they’re easy to navigate. I’d also make sure that all content is written in plain language so people can understand it without having to use special software or tools. Finally, I would include alternative text on images so screen readers can describe them.”

Describe your process for conducting research on a particular topic.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your research skills and how you apply them in the workplace. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific project or situation where you used your research skills to help solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Example: “When conducting research on a particular topic, I first look for reliable sources of information that provide statistics and other data related to my subject. After finding these resources, I read through each one carefully to understand what they’re saying and if there are any important details I might have missed. From here, I try to find additional sources that support or refute the information from the original sources. This helps me get a better understanding of the topic and provides me with multiple perspectives.”

What makes you the best candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you feel you are a good fit for the role. Before your interview, make sure to review the job description thoroughly so that you can refer to specific requirements when answering this question. In your answer, try to highlight skills or experiences that match what they’re looking for in an ideal candidate.

Example: “I am passionate about community development because I believe everyone deserves access to resources that help them thrive. Throughout my career, I have worked with many different populations of people who all need support in their own unique ways. For this reason, I am committed to learning as much as possible about each individual’s needs and providing personalized care.

In addition to being empathetic, I also bring creativity and innovation to every project I work on. When I first started working in this field, I noticed there were no online resources available for low-income families to find affordable housing options. So, I created a database where families could search by location and budget to find homes that would meet their needs. This resource has been used by thousands of families since its creation.”

Which industries do you think our community could benefit from attracting more of?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your knowledge of the local economy and how you might use that information to benefit the community. Use examples from your research or personal experience to show how you would apply this information to your work as a CD specialist.

Example: “I think our community could benefit from attracting more businesses in the tech sector, especially since we have several colleges with computer science programs. I also think we need to attract more small businesses because they are an important part of any thriving economy. In my last position, I worked with a nonprofit organization that helped small business owners learn about marketing and other skills needed to be successful.”

What do you think are the most important qualities that a community development specialist should have?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you possess the skills and abilities necessary for this role. You can answer this question by listing the most important qualities of a community development specialist, such as communication skills, problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities a community development specialist should have is empathy. This allows them to understand the needs of their clients and find solutions that help them overcome challenges. Another quality I believe is essential is creativity. Community development specialists need to be able to come up with new ideas and approaches to problems. Finally, I think it’s important for a community development specialist to have strong leadership skills. They need to be able to motivate others and inspire confidence in themselves.”

How often would you update our community directory if you were selected for this position?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would use your skills to benefit their organization. Use examples from your experience to show that you are organized and detail-oriented.

Example: “I am a very organized person, so I would update our community directory at least once per month. This way, I could ensure that all of the information is up-to-date and accurate. In my last position, I updated our online directory every week. I also made sure to add new members to our email newsletter list each time I added someone to the directory.”

There is a disagreement between two business owners about how to address a problem in the community. How would you handle this situation?

An interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your conflict resolution skills. This is an important skill for community development specialists because they often work with multiple stakeholders who have different opinions about how to address issues in the community. In your answer, try to show that you can be empathetic and use problem-solving techniques to help both parties come to a mutually beneficial solution.

Example: “I would first make sure I understood each party’s perspective on the issue. Then, I would explain my understanding of their concerns and offer to mediate a discussion between them. If one or both parties are open to it, I would facilitate a conversation where they could discuss their ideas and find common ground. If neither party wants to talk, I would encourage them to at least communicate through me so I can relay messages back and forth.”