20 Human Rights Campaign Interview Questions and Answers

When you’re interviewing for a job at Human Rights Campaign, you can expect questions that assess your knowledge of LGBT rights issues, your commitment to the organization’s mission, and your ability to be an effective advocate. In addition to questions about your qualifications, you may be asked behavioral interview questions that explore how you’ve handled difficult situations in the past.

Preparing for your interview by familiarizing yourself with the organization’s work and familiarizing yourself with common interview questions will help you put your best foot forward. Read on for a guide to Human Rights Campaign specific interview questions.

Human Rights Campaign Interview Process

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is a large organization with many employees, so the interview process can vary depending on the position you’re applying for. However, most applicants report having at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. Some positions may require additional interviews or assessments. The entire process can take several weeks to several months.

Overall, reviewers say that the HRC interviewers are friendly and professional. However, some applicants report being “ghosted” after their interviews, meaning they never heard back from the HRC about whether or not they got the job. This can be frustrating, especially if you’ve dedicated a lot of time to the interview process.

1. What do you know about the Human Rights Campaign?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the organization and its mission. It also allows you to show that you have done some research on the company before your interview.

Example: “I know that Human Rights Campaign works to achieve equality for LGBT people by lobbying Congress, educating the public about issues affecting the community and advocating for equal rights in the workplace. I am passionate about this cause because I believe everyone should be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.”

2. Do you have any experience working in LGBTQ+ activism or community engagement?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with LGBTQ+ rights and how you might fit into their organization. If you have no direct experience, consider sharing a personal story or discussing an interest in working for this type of cause.

Example: “I’ve always been passionate about equal rights for all people, but I didn’t know much about the LGBTQ+ community until my best friend came out to me as gay when we were teenagers. He was struggling with his identity at the time, so I started doing research on LGBTQ+ issues and found HRC’s website. I joined the local chapter and volunteered at Pride events every year since then.”

3. Why should we hire you over other candidates?

This question is a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and why you are the best candidate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight specific skills or experiences that relate to the job description.

Example: “I am passionate about LGBTQ rights and believe in the work HRC does. I have been an active member of my local chapter for five years and have volunteered at several pride festivals. In these roles, I have developed excellent communication and leadership skills as well as event planning experience. These skills make me the perfect candidate for this position.”

4. Do you think that it is important to educate others on LGBTQ issues?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are passionate about human rights and equality. It also allows you to share your thoughts on how important it is for people to learn more about LGBTQ issues, which can help them become allies of the community.

Example: “I think it’s incredibly important to educate others on LGBTQ issues because many people don’t know much about our community or what we’re fighting for. I believe that once people understand us better, they will be more likely to support us in our fight for equality.”

5. How would you approach a potential donor who has never donated before and ask them to donate?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach new people and encourage them to take action. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, ability to persuade and influence others and your confidence in asking for support.

Example: “I would first thank them for their time and ask if they have ever donated to HRC before. If not, I would explain why I am passionate about this organization and what it does to promote equality for LGBT individuals. I would then give them a brief overview of the work we do and show them some of our recent successes. I find that by showing someone the impact they can make when they donate, they are more likely to want to contribute.”

6. Can you tell us how you were able to increase our number of donors?

This question is a great way to show your ability to increase revenue and help the company grow. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific numbers or percentages of how you helped the organization achieve its goals.

Example: “I was working for an LGBT rights organization in my last position where I had to find new donors every month. I found that by sending out monthly newsletters with information about our current projects and events we were able to attract more donors than ever before. By implementing these strategies, we increased our number of donors by 20% within six months.”

7. Tell me about a time when you had to work with people from different backgrounds, how did you handle this situation?

Working for an organization that advocates for human rights can mean working with people from different backgrounds. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working in diverse environments and how you handled it. In your answer, explain what steps you took to ensure everyone felt included and respected.

Example: “I once worked at a company where I was one of the only LGBT employees. When I started there, I made sure to introduce myself to every employee so they knew who I was. I also volunteered to help organize our annual diversity event. This helped me get to know other employees and learn about their cultures. It also gave me the opportunity to share my own experiences as an LGBT person.”

8. Give an example of a time where you used your leadership skills to help achieve a goal.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you’ve used them in the past. When answering, try to describe a situation where you were able to motivate others to work toward a common goal or objective.

Example: “In my last position as an HR manager for a small business, I was tasked with hiring new employees. The company had recently expanded its operations, so we needed to hire several new people to fill open positions. I knew that finding qualified candidates would be challenging, but I also knew it was important to find the right people for the job.

I met with each department head to discuss their needs and expectations for new hires. Then, I worked with human resources to create a list of potential candidates based on our requirements. After interviewing several applicants, I hired two new employees who have been working well within the company.”

9. What does public speaking mean to you?

This question is a great way to show your passion for human rights and the LGBTQ community. You can talk about how public speaking has helped you develop as a person or how it’s helped you achieve success in previous roles.

Example: “Public speaking means so much to me because I’ve used it to help myself grow as a person. When I was younger, I had a hard time coming out of my shell. However, when I started giving presentations in school, I learned that I could use my voice to share my ideas with others. This led me to pursue a career in marketing where I could use my skills to promote products and services.”

10. Describe a time where you showed tenacity in achieving a difficult goal.

Human Rights Campaign is looking for candidates who are passionate about the organization’s mission and can work hard to achieve goals. This question helps them assess your commitment to their cause and how you might approach a new role with enthusiasm.

Example: “When I was in college, I wanted to start an LGBTQ club on campus but found out that there were already two clubs at my school. I decided to reach out to both existing clubs and ask if they would be interested in collaborating. They agreed, and we formed one large club together. It took some convincing, but it was worth it because now our club has more resources and members.”

11. Do you feel passionate about human rights issues? If so, which ones are most important to you?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are passionate about human rights and also which issues you feel most strongly about. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an issue that relates to your personal experience or background.

Example: “I am very passionate about LGBTQ+ rights because I grew up in a small town where being gay was considered taboo. My parents were always supportive of me, but many of my friends’ parents weren’t as accepting. In high school, I started volunteering at a local LGBT center, and I’ve been involved with the organization ever since.”

12. Why should we invest in youth education for LGBTQ issues?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the LGBTQ community and how you can help others understand the importance of equality. When answering this question, it’s important to explain why youth education is so crucial in achieving equality.

Example: “I believe that educating our youth about LGBTQ issues is one of the most effective ways we can achieve equality. I have worked with many young people who are struggling with their sexuality or gender identity. In these situations, I always try to be as supportive as possible while also providing them with resources to learn more about LGBTQ issues. This helps them feel comfortable enough to ask questions and seek support when they need it.”

13. How would you describe yourself as a leader?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your leadership style and how you would approach working in an organization like Human Rights Campaign. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe some specific qualities that make you a good leader.

Example: “I believe I am a strong leader because I have always been passionate about equality for all people. In my last role as a community organizer, I helped organize rallies and protests where we advocated for more inclusive legislation. I also think I’m a great leader because I am very empathetic and compassionate. I understand what it’s like to feel marginalized or discriminated against, so I try to use those experiences to connect with others.”

14. We value diversity here at the HRC. Why is diversity important to you?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your commitment to diversity and inclusion. Your answer should include a personal story that shows how you value diversity in the workplace.

Example: “Diversity is important to me because I believe it leads to better problem-solving, creativity and innovation. In my last role as an HR manager, we hired a diverse group of employees who brought different perspectives to our team. This led to new ideas for improving company policies and procedures. We also had a diverse pool of applicants for open positions, which helped us hire qualified candidates from all backgrounds.”

15. Explain to us why you want to take part in the internship program.

This question is a great way to see how passionate you are about the internship and what your goals are. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any personal connections you have with LGBTQ+ rights or if you have ever been discriminated against for being part of the community.

Example: “I want to take part in this internship program because I am passionate about helping others who may not have as many rights as me. My best friend came out to me when we were both in high school, and he was bullied so badly that he had to move away from our hometown. He still has trouble finding work because of his sexual orientation, and I would love to help him find more opportunities.”

16. What was your favorite assignment during college and what did you learn from it?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what your interests are. It also helps them determine if your previous work experience is a good fit for Human Rights Campaign.

Example: “My favorite assignment in college was my senior thesis, which focused on how LGBTQ people of color face discrimination from both their race and sexual orientation. I learned that it’s important to consider intersectionality when working with marginalized groups.”

17. Tell us about a time that you worked under pressure.

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential candidate’s ability to handle pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation and how you handled it.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, we were under a lot of pressure to meet our sales goals. We had just hired a new employee who wasn’t performing well, which put us behind on our quota for the month. I met with the employee and explained that their performance was important to me and the company. They agreed to work harder, and I helped them develop strategies to improve their performance.”

18. This job requires you to travel frequently, can you do that?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to work in an environment that requires you to travel frequently. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how much you enjoy traveling and how often you have done so in the past.

Example: “I love to travel, especially when I am doing something meaningful like working on behalf of such an important organization as HRC. In my last job, I traveled at least once per month, sometimes more depending on the needs of the company. I find that I really enjoy getting to know new places and people while I am on the road.”

19. Do you feel comfortable initiating conversations with strangers?

This question can help interviewers understand how comfortable you are with networking and meeting new people. It’s important to be friendly, outgoing and confident when speaking with strangers because it can lead to more opportunities in your career.

Example: “I feel very comfortable initiating conversations with strangers. I enjoy getting to know new people and learning about their lives. In my last job, I was tasked with reaching out to local businesses to encourage them to support our cause. I would call the business owners and introduce myself and explain why we were contacting them. Many of them were receptive to what we had to say, and some even agreed to partner with us.”

20. What is your biggest strength?

This question is a great opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. When answering, think about what your most important skill set is and how it can benefit Human Rights Campaign.

Example: “My biggest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to listen to other people’s opinions and ideas, and I believe that collaboration is an essential part of problem-solving. In my last position, I was able to help resolve several conflicts between coworkers by encouraging everyone to talk openly about their feelings.”