20 International Rescue Committee Interview Questions and Answers

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC provides life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is currently working in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster.

The IRC is always looking for talented, committed individuals to join our life-saving work. If you are interested in working for the IRC, you may be wondering what kind of questions you will be asked in your interview.

In this article, we will provide you with some sample questions that are specific to the International Rescue Committee. We will also give you some tips on how to answer these questions so that you can make the best impression possible.

International Rescue Committee Interview Process

The interview process at International Rescue Committee can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one in-person interview. The length of the hiring process also varies, but it typically takes several weeks to complete.

Overall, the interview process is fairly straightforward. However, some positions may be more difficult to land than others. For example, positions that require specific skills or experience may be more competitive. But overall, the interview process is fair and reasonable.

So if you’re looking to work at International Rescue Committee, be prepared for at least one in-person interview. The process may take a few weeks, but it’s generally a fair and positive experience.

1. What would you say is your greatest strength and weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to answer honestly. The interviewer wants to know what your greatest strengths are so they can understand how you will be an asset to the committee. They also want to know about any weaknesses that may need improvement.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always willing to help someone who needs it, even if it means going out of my way. My weakness would have to be my attention to detail. While I do my best to make sure everything is correct, sometimes I miss small mistakes. I’m working on improving this by practicing more.”

2. Do you have experience working with refugees or immigrants? If so, can you tell us about an interaction that had a positive impact on their life?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your interpersonal skills and how you interact with people from different backgrounds. Use examples from your experience to highlight your ability to work with others, communicate effectively and solve problems.

Example: “In my last role as an international development specialist, I worked with refugees who were resettling in our city. One family was struggling to find housing because they didn’t speak English and had no local contacts. I helped them navigate the process by translating for them and connecting them with resources that could help them find affordable housing. They eventually found a place to live and enrolled their children in school.”

3. How do you feel the immigration policy in the United States will change under the current administration?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your political views and how they might impact your ability to work with the committee. To answer, consider what you know about the current administration’s immigration policies and discuss how these policies could affect the committee’s operations.

Example: “I believe that the current administration will continue to enforce stricter immigration policies. This means that more immigrants will be at risk of deportation, which could make it difficult for them to access services provided by the committee. I would like to see the committee expand its outreach efforts to help immigrants who are in need of assistance.”

4. Describe how you would develop case plans for clients who are newly resettled.

Case plans are documents that outline the goals and objectives of a client’s resettlement. They also include strategies for achieving those goals, such as community integration or employment opportunities. Interviewers ask this question to assess your ability to work with clients who may have unique needs. In your answer, explain how you would use your interpersonal skills to build rapport with clients and help them achieve their goals.

Example: “I believe it is important to get to know my clients on an individual level so I can understand what they need to succeed in their new communities. For example, if a client has limited English-speaking abilities, I would develop case plans that focus on improving their language skills. If another client has no family support system, I would create case plans that provide resources for finding local support groups.”

5. What is one thing you think should be changed at the International Rescue Committee?

This question can help interviewers understand your opinions about the organization and how you might approach change. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on a specific aspect of the International Rescue Committee that you think could use improvement or an area where you would like to see more progress.

Example: “I think one thing I would change at the International Rescue Committee is the way we communicate with our volunteers. Right now, we have a lot of different communication channels for volunteers, including email newsletters, social media accounts and in-person meetings. While these are all useful, I think there may be ways to improve them. For example, I think having a single online platform where volunteers can access information and ask questions would make things easier.”

6. Tell me about a time when you gave a presentation to large group of people.

This question can help interviewers understand how you might present information to a large group of people in your role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention the topic of your presentation and what steps you took to prepare for it.

Example: “In my last position as an event planner, I had to give presentations to groups of up to 500 people at once. To prepare, I would write out bullet points on note cards so that I could read them quickly if needed. I also practiced my speech multiple times until I felt comfortable with it. In addition, I always made sure to have backup plans in case something went wrong.”

7. What kinds of programs have you worked with before?

This question is a great way to see if you have experience working with the kinds of programs that the committee is looking for. If they ask this, it’s likely because they’re trying to find someone who has worked with similar programs in the past and can apply those skills to their own work. When answering this question, make sure to mention any relevant experience you have.

Example: “In my last position as an international development coordinator, I was responsible for creating and implementing new projects within our organization. We had several different types of programs we were working on at once, including education initiatives, healthcare programs and poverty reduction programs. I also helped create and implement a program where we partnered with local businesses to provide jobs to refugees.”

8. How do you deal with stress? Are there any techniques you use?

Stress is a common problem for many people in the workplace. Employers ask this question to make sure you have strategies to manage stress and remain productive during your workday. In your answer, share two or three ways you cope with stress. Try to choose methods that are healthy and positive.

Example: “I find it helpful to take short breaks throughout my day. I also try to get enough sleep every night so I’m well-rested when I start my workday. Another thing I do is practice mindfulness exercises. These help me stay calm and focused on the task at hand. I’ve found these techniques really helpful in managing my stress levels.”

9. Can you describe a situation where you were able to resolve conflict between co-workers?

Conflict resolution is an important skill for anyone working in a team environment. The interviewer may ask this question to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. In your answer, try to describe how you used your communication and problem-solving skills to help resolve the conflict.

Example: “In my previous role as a marketing manager, I had two employees who were constantly disagreeing about their strategies for reaching our target audience. One employee wanted to focus on social media while the other preferred traditional advertising methods. I met with both employees separately to understand each of their perspectives. After some research, I found that combining both approaches would be most effective. I presented this idea to both employees and they agreed to give it a try.”

10. What qualities make someone a good caseworker?

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 qualities that are important for caseworkers and how they apply to your own experience.

Example: “A good caseworker is someone who has excellent communication skills, empathy and patience. They also need to be organized and able to multitask. I think these are all traits that I possess as a professional with five years of experience working in social services. In my previous position, I helped clients find resources and navigate their way through the system. I am confident that I could do the same here.”

11. What are some barriers that refugees face when trying to get jobs?

This question can help the interviewer understand your knowledge of refugee issues and how you might use that knowledge to benefit the committee. Use examples from your experience or research to explain what barriers refugees face when looking for work, and how you helped them overcome those challenges.

Example: “Refugees often have a hard time finding jobs because they don’t have access to many resources in their new country. They may not speak the language fluently, which makes it difficult to find employment. I worked with a nonprofit organization that provided job training programs for refugees who were trying to get back on their feet. We taught them basic computer skills, communication skills and other valuable information that would help them find jobs.”

12. Why do you want to work at the International Rescue Committee?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are passionate about working for this organization. When answering, it can be helpful to share a personal story or experience that relates to your career goals.

Example: “I want to work at the International Rescue Committee because I have always been inspired by their mission of helping people in need around the world. In high school, I volunteered with an organization that helped refugees find homes in our state. It was so rewarding to see how much we were able to do for these families who had lost everything. Working here would allow me to continue doing meaningful work that makes a difference.”

13. Have you ever been involved in a program evaluation? If so, what was it like?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with program evaluations and how you feel about them. This can be an important part of the job, so it’s helpful if you have some experience with this process.

Example: “I’ve been involved in a few program evaluations throughout my career. I find that they’re very useful for identifying areas where we can improve our programs or services. In my last position as a community outreach coordinator, I was responsible for evaluating our youth mentorship program. We had several goals for the program, including increasing volunteerism among teens and improving communication between parents and their children. After conducting interviews with participants and analyzing data from surveys, we found that we were able to meet all of these goals.”

14. When dealing with a difficult client, how do you handle the situation?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenging situations. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you had to deal with a difficult client or person and the steps you took to resolve the issue.

Example: “In my previous role as an event planner, I worked with many different clients who all wanted something different for their events. One of my clients was very particular about what they wanted at their wedding, but when we met to discuss ideas, they didn’t have any preferences. I asked them questions about what they liked and disliked so that I could create a unique experience for them. They were happy with the final result.”

15. Give an example of a time when you helped a team member overcome a challenge they were facing.

This question can help interviewers learn more about your leadership skills and how you work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where you helped someone overcome an obstacle or challenge they were facing at work.

Example: “At my current job, I have a colleague who is very shy and quiet. She often has trouble speaking up in meetings and expressing her ideas. One day, we had a meeting with our supervisor where she was presenting some of her ideas for the company’s new marketing campaign. My coworker got nervous and started rambling on about different aspects of the campaign without really explaining them well. I decided to speak up and ask her if she could explain each aspect of the campaign in more detail so that everyone understood what she was talking about.”

16. Do you have experience creating training curriculums?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to organize information and create training materials for employees. Use examples from past experience to highlight your organizational skills, communication abilities and creativity.

Example: “In my last role as a human resources manager, I was responsible for creating the company’s onboarding curriculum. This included developing an orientation program that covered all of the company policies and procedures, along with providing new hires with a list of available resources they could use if they had questions or concerns. I also created a training schedule for managers who were in charge of conducting employee reviews. These sessions provided them with tips on how to conduct effective performance evaluations.”

17. The language barrier is a very common problem among new arrivals. How would you deal with this issue if you were hired as a caseworker?

The interviewer is looking for a specific answer that shows your ability to work with clients who don’t speak English. Use examples from previous experience where you had to overcome language barriers and still provide quality service.

Example: “I have worked with many non-English speaking clients in my last position, so I am used to overcoming the language barrier. In my current role, I use an interpreter when needed, but I also rely on gestures and body language to communicate with clients. I find this method of communication very effective because it allows me to understand what they need without having to wait for the interpreter.”

18. Provide an example of a time when you successfully used data analysis to improve efficiency.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how you use them in the workplace. Use examples from previous jobs that show your ability to collect, organize and interpret data to make decisions or solve problems.

Example: “At my last job, I was responsible for organizing all of our client information into a database so we could track their progress over time. This helped me identify trends in our clients’ behavior and allowed us to develop new strategies to help them achieve their goals. For example, one of our clients had been working on losing weight for several months without seeing any results. After analyzing her data, I noticed she hadn’t logged any exercise sessions in the past two weeks. We discussed her options for increasing physical activity and she decided to start walking after work each day.”

19. In your own words, describe your role as a technical advisor.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your responsibilities and how you carry them out. In your answer, try to describe the role in a way that highlights your skills and abilities.

Example: “As technical advisor, I am responsible for reviewing all of the committee’s proposals before they are submitted to the board of directors. This includes reading through each proposal and making sure it meets all of the requirements outlined by the organization. If there is anything missing or unclear, I work with the team to make any necessary changes. Once I have reviewed the proposal, I submit it to the board members.”

20. How do you stay up to date on issues related to refugee resettlement?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have a passion for refugee resettlement and how you keep up with current events. Your answer should show that you are passionate about helping refugees, but also highlight your research skills.

Example: “I am passionate about refugee resettlement because I grew up in a family of immigrants. My parents came from Mexico when they were young, so my entire family has always been very involved in the immigrant community. When I was younger, I volunteered at an organization that helped new immigrants learn English. Now, I follow several organizations on social media that help refugees. I also read articles online to stay informed.”