20 Rotary Interview Questions and Answers

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

If you’re hoping to land a job at Rotary, you can expect the interview process to be competitive. To give yourself the best chance of success, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions. In this article, we’ve gathered a list of common Rotary interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Rotary Interview Process

The interview process at Rotary can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews- a phone interview and an in-person interview. For some positions, there may also be a third interview. The interview process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Overall, reviewers found the interview process to be professional and straightforward. However, some reviewers noted that the process can be lengthy, and that it is important to follow up after each interview. Additionally, some reviewers found the questions asked during the interview to be difficult.

1. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you view yourself. They want to know that you are honest, but also confident in your abilities. When answering this question, be sure to highlight a few of your strengths while being humble. You can also include a weakness if it is not too much of a problem for the job.

Example: “I am very organized and detail-oriented. I always make sure to have all my paperwork filed correctly and on time. My weakness is that sometimes I work too hard and forget to take breaks. This has led to me feeling overwhelmed at times, so I am working on taking short breaks throughout the day.”

2. How would you handle a difficult volunteer or staff member?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle conflict and challenges. Use examples from your experience to explain how you would respond to a difficult situation with a volunteer or staff member, and highlight the steps you take to resolve conflicts.

Example: “In my last role as an event planner, I had a volunteer who was consistently late for events. This made it challenging to plan our events because we needed all of our volunteers to be at their stations on time. After several conversations where they promised to arrive on time, but didn’t, I decided to remove them from the team. They were upset about being removed, but understood that this was in everyone’s best interest.”

3. Tell me about a time where you had to deal with an angry customer/client, how did you handle it?

An interviewer may ask this question to see how you handle conflict. This is an important skill for customer service professionals, as they will likely encounter angry customers at some point in their career. Your answer should show that you can remain calm and professional when faced with a challenging situation.

Example: “I once had a client who was upset because I forgot to enter one of her orders into the system before it shipped out. She called me on my cell phone while I was driving home from work, which made me nervous since she sounded very upset. However, I remained calm and apologized profusely for the mistake. I explained that I would fix the order immediately and give her a full refund. She calmed down after that and thanked me for fixing the issue.”

4. Do you have any experience working in the nonprofit industry?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience working in a similar environment. If you do, they may ask you more questions about your previous work to see how it relates to this position. If you don’t, they may ask you what skills you gained from that job that would be helpful for this one.

Example: “I worked as an administrative assistant at a nonprofit organization for three years. I learned how to manage multiple projects and prioritize my time to ensure all of our clients received excellent service. This skill has helped me become more efficient with my work and understand the importance of meeting deadlines.”

5. Why do you want to work at Rotary International?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of interest in working for Rotary International. It can also allow you to show how much research you’ve done on the company and its mission. When preparing for this interview, read up on the organization’s goals and values. Consider sharing a personal story that relates to these goals or values.

Example: “I want to work at Rotary because I believe in the power of community service. In high school, I volunteered with my local food bank. One day, we were short-staffed, so I helped out by bagging groceries. A woman came through who was clearly struggling. She had two young children with her, and she didn’t have enough money to buy all of their groceries.

I gave her what I could from my own bag, but it wasn’t enough. So, I went into my car and grabbed some snacks and drinks I had bought for myself. The next week, I brought more snacks and drinks to donate. That woman returned again, and I gave her everything I had left over. Since then, I’ve been volunteering there every week.”

6. If hired, what would be your approach for managing our social media platforms?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your social media management experience. If you have previous experience managing a company’s social media platforms, describe how you would approach the job and what strategies you would use. If you don’t have prior experience, consider describing what you would do if given the opportunity.

Example: “I would create a plan for posting on our social media accounts regularly. I would also make sure that all of our posts are relevant to our target audience and include links to our website or other online content. I would also encourage employees to post on our social media pages so we can show customers different perspectives.”

7. Describe a project that you worked on from start to finish.

This question is a great way to show your ability to work independently and manage multiple projects at once. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took from beginning to end and how they helped you achieve success.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating an event marketing plan for our company’s annual conference. This included researching different types of events that would fit our brand and finding vendors who could provide services we needed. After narrowing down my options, I created a budget based on what we had available in our marketing budget. Then, I contacted each vendor to negotiate pricing. Once all contracts were signed, I began planning the event by ordering supplies and setting up venues.”

8. Are you comfortable working with people from different cultural backgrounds?

Employers may ask this question to see if you have experience working with people from different backgrounds. This can be an important skill for a position like this, as many of the members in your club or organization will likely come from different cultural backgrounds than you. It’s also important that you are able to communicate effectively with these individuals and understand their needs.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with people from different cultural backgrounds. In my last job, I worked with several colleagues who were from other countries. We all had to learn how to communicate with each other, but we did so by learning each other’s language and practicing it together. I think this helped us build stronger relationships and better communication skills.”

9. Have you ever led a team before?

This question is a great way to see how you work with others. If you have never led a team, you can talk about a time when you were part of a group project and helped your team succeed.

Example: “I was once asked to lead a small group of volunteers at my church. We were tasked with creating a new outreach program for the community. I accepted this role because I felt like I had the most experience in organizing events. My team members were all very excited to be involved, so we met every week to discuss our progress. After several weeks, we decided on an idea that would allow us to help families in need during the holidays.”

10. What was your greatest accomplishment during your last job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your past successes. They want to know what you’re capable of and how you’ve helped their company in the past. When answering, think of an accomplishment that relates to the job you’re applying for. If you can’t find a connection, choose one that shows you have strong work ethic and determination.

Example: “My greatest accomplishment was when I started working at my last job. I had just graduated with my business degree and was nervous about finding a job. My previous internship gave me experience but no real connections. I applied to several companies and got rejected from all of them. Then, I found out about this position and decided to apply again. I got the job and learned that persistence pays off.”

11. What is your experience in program coordination?

Program coordination is a key skill for any position in rotary. This question allows you to show your ability to work with others and manage multiple projects at once. Use examples from previous positions or volunteer experiences that highlight your organizational skills, communication abilities and time management skills.

Example: “In my last position as an event planner, I coordinated several events each month. Each event required me to plan the venue, catering, entertainment and other details. I also had to coordinate with vendors and outside contractors to ensure everything was ready on time. In addition to planning large events, I also worked with other members of my team to create marketing campaigns and social media content.”

12. What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is an important skill for anyone in a management position. Employers ask this question to see if you have the skills and abilities that are necessary for leadership positions. When answering, think about what leadership means to you personally. Explain how your definition of leadership relates to your career goals.

Example: “Leadership to me means being able to motivate others to work toward a common goal. I believe leaders should be approachable and available to help their team members with any questions or concerns they may have. As someone who wants to advance my career, I know that I need to develop these skills. In my last job, I started taking public speaking classes so that I can become more comfortable giving presentations.”

13. Give us an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a client.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are willing to go the extra mile for clients. It also shows them how you can benefit their company and help it grow. When answering this question, think of an example where you went above and beyond for a client and helped them achieve success.

Example: “I had a client who was looking to expand his business into new markets. He wanted to know which countries would be best for him to enter based on his current customer base. I researched each country he mentioned and found out what languages they spoke there. Then, I used my contacts in those countries to find out more information about the market. After all of my research, I created a presentation with my findings and gave it to my client.”

14. How would you ensure that all volunteers were following protocol?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your leadership skills and ability to delegate tasks. Use examples from past experiences where you helped volunteers understand their responsibilities or delegated tasks to other team members.

Example: “In my last role, I had a large group of volunteers who were eager to help with the organization’s events. To ensure that everyone knew what they needed to do, I created a volunteer handbook that outlined our policies and procedures. This allowed me to train new volunteers on our expectations and gave existing volunteers a reference guide for common questions. It also helped me delegate tasks to specific volunteers based on their interests.”

15. We like to keep up with current events, especially those pertaining to our mission. Which news sources do you use?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your news consumption habits and how you might fit into their organization. It’s important to be honest about which sources you use, but it’s also helpful to mention any that are unique or interesting.

Example: “I read The New York Times every morning before work. I find it has the most comprehensive coverage of current events, especially international ones. I also subscribe to several newsletters from different non-profits in my field. I think it’s important to stay informed about what other organizations are doing.”

16. What is your opinion on the current state of international relations?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of current events and how you apply them to the field. It also allows the interviewer to see if you have any unique or interesting opinions on international relations that may be beneficial to their organization.

Example: “I believe that we are currently in an age of uncertainty, where many countries are unsure about what the future holds for them. I think it’s important that we continue to work together as a global community to ensure peace and prosperity for all. We need to focus on building relationships with other nations so that we can learn from each other and grow stronger.”

17. If you could go back and change something about your last job, what would it be?

Employers ask this question to see if you have any regrets about your past work experience. They want to know that you’re willing to learn from your mistakes and improve as a candidate. When answering, think of something small that you wish you had done differently. Explain what you would do instead next time.

Example: “I regret not asking for more training when I started my last job. I was eager to start working, but now I realize how important it is to be comfortable with the tasks I’m doing. If I could go back, I would request more training so I could get familiar with the equipment and processes sooner.”

18. How would you describe yourself as a leader?

Rotary clubs often have a president, vice president and secretary. These roles are typically filled by members who show leadership qualities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe your past experiences as a leader. You may also want to mention any skills you possess that make you a good leader.

Example: “I believe I am an excellent leader because of my ability to communicate effectively with others. In the past, I’ve served as the treasurer for my school’s student government association. During my time in this role, I learned how to manage finances and delegate tasks to other members of the group. This experience has helped me understand what it takes to lead a team.”

19. What is your favorite thing about volunteering?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what motivates you. It also helps them determine if your values align with those of Rotary International. Your answer should show that you are a compassionate person who is willing to give back to your community.

Example: “My favorite thing about volunteering is seeing the impact I have on others’ lives. Whether it’s helping someone learn how to read or teaching them how to cook nutritious meals, I love knowing that I am making a difference in their life. Volunteering has helped me realize my passion for education and nutrition, which led me to pursue a career as a teacher and dietician.”

20. Our organization has been around since What makes us unique compared to other nonprofits?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the organization and how you can contribute. It’s also an opportunity for you to share what attracted you to this particular nonprofit.

Example: “I’ve been following your organization since I was in high school, and it’s always impressed me with its dedication to helping children who are struggling. The fact that you’re able to help so many kids while still remaining financially stable makes me want to be part of this team even more. I’m excited to learn from your experienced staff members and use my skills to make a difference.”