17 Economic Development Specialist Interview Questions and Answers

Economic development specialists work to improve the economic conditions of their community by attracting new businesses and retaining existing ones. They also work to create new jobs and improve the quality of life in their community.

To be successful in this field, you need to have strong research, writing, and communication skills. You also need to be knowledgeable about economic development trends and issues.

If you’re interested in becoming an economic development specialist, you’ll need to ace your job interview. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common economic development specialist interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the types of economic development strategies used in your community?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with economic development strategies. Use examples from your previous job to highlight your knowledge and expertise in this area.

Example: “In my last position, I worked closely with local businesses to help them grow their operations. We used a few different types of economic development strategies, including tax incentives, grants and loans. These strategies helped us attract new businesses to our community while also helping existing businesses expand.”

What are some of the most important qualities for an economic development specialist to have?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the skills and abilities needed for the role. They want someone who is organized, detail-oriented, creative and passionate about their work. When answering this question, think of some specific qualities that are important to you in your career. You can also mention any skills or traits that you’ve developed over time.

Example: “I believe that an economic development specialist needs to be highly organized and detail-oriented. It’s important to keep track of all the information you gather during research and outreach projects. I am always prepared with a notepad and pen when meeting with clients and other professionals. Another quality I find important is creativity. I enjoy coming up with new ideas and solutions to problems.

In my last position, I helped create a marketing campaign for a local business. We used social media influencers to promote the company’s products. The campaign was very successful, and it led to more sales.”

How do you determine which industries or businesses are best suited for your community?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your skills and expertise to make decisions that benefit a community. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you assess industries or businesses for economic development projects.

Example: “I first look at what types of jobs are available in the area, as well as the education level of the population. I also consider whether there is enough housing to support new residents who will work in these industries. In my last role, we were looking for an industry that would bring high-paying jobs to our city while also supporting local businesses. We decided on a tech company because it was hiring software developers with advanced degrees, which meant they could spend money locally. It also helped that the company had plans to hire 100 employees within two years.”

What is your process for convincing a company to invest in your community?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and what strategies you use to achieve success. Your answer should include a specific example of how you convinced a company to invest in your community, including the steps you took to make it happen.

Example: “I start by researching the company’s current operations and goals to learn more about their needs. Then I meet with the company representatives to discuss our community’s advantages and resources that could support their business. Finally, I create a plan for implementing incentives or tax breaks to encourage the company to move here.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully convinced a business to relocate to your community.

This question can help interviewers understand your negotiation skills and ability to persuade others. Use examples from your experience that highlight your communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

Example: “In my previous role as an economic development specialist, I worked with a company that was looking for a new location for their headquarters. The company wanted to be in a state with lower taxes but also close enough to the other locations where they had offices so employees could commute easily. After researching several states, we found one that met all of the company’s requirements. I presented this information to the company along with our incentives and tax breaks. They decided to relocate to our city.”

If you had to choose one economic development strategy to focus on, what would it be and why?

This question is a great way to see how you prioritize your work and what strategies you find most effective. Your answer should include the strategy, why it’s important and an example of when you used it successfully in the past.

Example: “I would focus on creating new job opportunities for residents because I believe that having more jobs available leads to higher incomes and better quality of life for everyone. In my last role, we were tasked with finding ways to increase employment within our city limits. We decided to create a program where local businesses could hire interns from the university and pay them minimum wage. This led to many students getting their first job experience and companies hiring full-time employees after graduation.”

What would you do if you learned that a local business was planning to close its doors and move its operations to another state?

This question can help interviewers assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work with businesses. In your answer, try to highlight how you would use your interpersonal skills to convince the business owner to stay in your community.

Example: “If I learned that a local business was planning to move its operations out of state, I would first meet with the company’s management team to discuss their reasons for leaving. From there, I would develop a plan to address the issues they raised and find ways to improve our city’s economic development efforts so we could provide more incentives for companies to relocate here.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

This question can help an interviewer determine how well you perform in a fast-paced environment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a time when you had to meet a deadline or complete a task under pressure and the positive outcome of your actions.

Example: “I thrive in high-pressure situations because I know that my ability to think quickly and work efficiently can help me achieve great results. In my last role as an economic development specialist, I was tasked with creating a marketing campaign for a new business opening in our city. The company wanted to attract young professionals, so I created a social media campaign using influencers who were popular among millennials. This helped us reach more people than we would have if we just used traditional advertising.”

Do you have experience working with local government officials?

This question can help the interviewer understand your ability to work with others and collaborate on projects. Showcase your interpersonal skills, communication abilities and conflict resolution skills in your answer.

Example: “I have experience working with local government officials because I’ve worked as an economic development specialist for my current employer for five years. In this role, I regularly meet with city council members and other elected officials to discuss our progress on projects and how we can improve our relationships with them. These meetings are important because they allow us to share information about our company’s goals and objectives while also learning more about what the city needs.”

When was the last time you updated your knowledge of economic development strategies and tactics?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re committed to your career and are always learning new ways to improve your skills. They want to know that you’re dedicated to keeping up with the latest trends in economic development. When answering, think of a time when you took an online course or attended a conference related to economic development.

Example: “I recently completed a certification program through the International Economic Development Council. This program helped me learn more about how I can help businesses succeed by providing them with resources like grants and loans. It also taught me how to attract tourists to our city so we can increase revenue from hotel stays.”

We want to improve our community’s reputation as a place to do business. What strategy would you recommend we implement?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the local economy and how you can help improve it. When answering this question, consider what challenges the community faces and how you would address them.

Example: “I think one way we could improve our city’s reputation as a place to do business is by improving our transportation infrastructure. I have seen in my research that many companies are looking for cities with good public transit systems because they want their employees to be able to get to work without having to drive. If we invested in more buses or light rail, we might be able to attract more businesses to the area.”

Describe your experience with public speaking.

Public speaking is a common skill for economic development specialists to use. Employers ask this question to see if you have experience with public speaking and how comfortable you are in front of an audience. In your answer, share what types of presentations you’ve given before and the skills you used to prepare.

Example: “I’ve presented at several conferences over the past few years. I find that my confidence helps me feel more prepared when I’m presenting. To help myself feel confident, I practice my presentation multiple times until I know it by heart. I also try to make sure I understand all of the information I am presenting so I don’t get nervous or forget something.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their organization. Before your interview, make a list of the skills and experiences that make you an ideal candidate for this role. Try to focus on soft skills like communication and teamwork rather than specific job duties or technical skills.

Example: “I have several years of experience working in economic development, which makes me a great fit for this position. I also have excellent public speaking skills, which is important for community outreach events. My background in marketing and advertising gives me valuable insight into branding strategies for attracting new businesses to town. Finally, my ability to work independently means I am ready to take on this role as soon as possible.”

Which industries do you want to see more of in your community?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your interests and goals for economic development. Use examples from your experience to explain how you would promote industries that are beneficial to your community’s economy.

Example: “I want to see more technology companies in my city because I think they’re an untapped resource for job creation. In my last role, I worked with local businesses to create a plan for attracting tech startups to our area. We created a website that showcased our available office spaces and hosted networking events where we could connect entrepreneurs with resources like investors and mentors. After six months, we saw three new tech startups move into our city.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of economic development?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of economic development and how you prioritize different aspects. Your answer should show that you understand what’s important in this role, but it can also be a chance to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you qualified for the job.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of economic development is creating an environment where businesses want to grow and thrive. This means making sure there are resources available to support new companies as they start up and helping existing businesses expand their operations. It also involves working with local government officials to create policies that encourage growth while protecting residents from negative impacts.”

How often do you recommend that a community updates its strategic plan for economic development?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with strategic planning and how often you recommend that a community updates its plan. Your answer should include the frequency of updating plans, as well as the importance of doing so.

Example: “I believe it’s important for communities to update their economic development strategies every few years. This allows leaders to evaluate progress made toward goals and make any necessary adjustments. I’ve worked in several communities where we updated our plans annually, which helped us stay on track with our objectives. However, I’ve also worked in other communities where we only updated our plans once every three or four years. In these cases, I recommended that they update their plans more frequently.”

There is a proposal to build a new manufacturing plant in your community. What are some of the pros and cons you would consider before giving your final recommendation?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to make decisions that are in the best interest of a community. You can use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking skills and how you would apply them to a real-life situation.

Example: “I would consider many factors when making my recommendation, including the economic impact on the community, job creation opportunities for local residents and whether or not there’s enough infrastructure to support the new plant. I would also look at the company itself and its reputation within the industry. If it seems like the company has good intentions, then I would be more likely to recommend building the plant.”