20 The Salvation Army Interview Questions and Answers

When interviewing for a position with The Salvation Army, you can expect to be asked questions about your religious beliefs, as well as your views on social issues such as poverty and homelessness. The interviewer will also want to know about your experience working with people in need, and your ability to handle difficult situations. Prepare for your interview by thinking about how you will answer these types of questions.

The Salvation Army Interview Process

The Salvation Army’s interview process is generally positive, though it can vary depending on the position you’re applying for. For most positions, you can expect to have a phone screen followed by one or more in-person interviews. The questions asked will be relevant to the job you’re applying for, and the interviewer(s) will be interested in learning about your experience and skillset. In some cases, you may be asked to complete a written exercise or take a test as part of the interview process. Overall, the interview process is professional and efficient, and you should have a good experience if you’re prepared and organized.

1. Why do you want to work at the Salvation Army?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have a genuine interest in working for this organization. Show that you are passionate about helping others and improving your community by providing examples of how you’ve done so in the past.

Example: “I want to work at The Salvation Army because I believe in its mission to serve those who are less fortunate than us. In my last job, I volunteered at a local food bank where I helped sort donations and assisted clients with finding resources they needed. This experience taught me that there is always more we can do to help our fellow humans.”

2. How would you use social media as a recruitment strategy for the Salvation Army?

Social media is a powerful tool for reaching large audiences and spreading awareness about important issues. The Salvation Army uses social media to recruit volunteers, raise money and spread its message of hope and salvation. Your answer should show that you understand the power of social media and how it can be used effectively.

Example: “I would use social media as an outreach strategy to connect with potential volunteers and donors. I have experience using social media to promote my previous employer’s events and fundraisers. I also know how to create compelling content that will attract people to our organization.”

3. What is your greatest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. The interviewer wants to know that you’re aware of your weaknesses and are actively working on them. When answering this question, try to pick something that isn’t too detrimental to your career or personal life.

Example: “I’m very passionate about my work, which can sometimes lead to me putting in extra hours when I don’t need to. This has led to burnout in the past, so now I make sure to take breaks throughout the day and limit my time at work.”

4. Do you have experience with answering phones, taking messages, and transferring calls?

The Salvation Army is a large organization with many different departments, and they may need you to answer phones or transfer calls. They want to make sure that you can do these tasks well. If you have experience doing this in your previous jobs, talk about it. If not, explain that you are willing to learn how to do it.

Example: “I have worked as an administrative assistant for the past five years, so I am very familiar with answering phones and transferring calls. In fact, I’ve been trained on several call-transferring software programs. I also know how to take messages and forward them to the appropriate person.”

5. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, think of two or three strengths you have that are relevant to the position and explain how they help you succeed. Then, think of a weakness you have and explain what steps you’ve taken to improve upon it.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person who always arrives on time for work. This has helped me stay focused on my tasks throughout the day and complete them efficiently. My only weakness is that I sometimes get overwhelmed by large projects. To overcome this, I break down large projects into smaller ones so I can focus on each task individually.”

6. Are you comfortable working with people from all backgrounds?

The Salvation Army serves people from all backgrounds, and the interviewer wants to make sure you’re comfortable working with a diverse group of people. Show that you can work well with others by describing your past experiences in this area.

Example: “I’ve worked with many different types of people throughout my career, and I find it very rewarding. In my last position as a social worker, I helped families who were struggling financially get back on their feet. One family was Muslim, one was Jewish and another was Catholic. We had to work together to create a plan for each family member’s needs. It took some time, but we eventually found resources that met everyone’s unique situation.”

7. Tell me about a time where you had a low performing employee and how you handled it.

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, and they want to make sure you can handle conflict in the workplace. This question helps them determine how you will handle employees who don’t meet expectations or are struggling with their work.

Example: “I had an employee once that was very talented but struggled with time management. I met with him privately and explained that his performance was slipping and he needed to improve it. He agreed to try harder and promised to do better. After two weeks of improvement, we celebrated his success and moved forward.”

8. Describe a situation in which you dealt with an angry customer.

The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that provides services to people in need. As such, you may encounter customers who are unhappy with the service they received or feel their needs were not met. An interviewer asks this question to assess your conflict resolution and customer service skills.

Example: “In my last position as a receptionist at an insurance company, I had a client call me upset because she was denied coverage for her son’s broken arm. She felt it was unfair that he could play sports but couldn’t participate due to his injury. I listened to her concerns and explained our policy of only covering injuries sustained during work-related activities. We then discussed other options for her son to continue playing basketball.”

9. The Salvation Army has locations all over the world. If hired, would you be willing to travel to conduct business or help with events?

The Salvation Army is a global organization, and the interviewer may want to know if you’re willing to travel for work. If you are, explain that you have experience with international travel or working in different time zones.

Example: “I’ve worked internationally before, so I’m familiar with traveling for business. In my last position, I was responsible for overseeing operations at our locations in Europe, Asia and South America. I also had to manage employees who were located all over the world, so I am comfortable communicating with people from many different countries.”

10. Have you ever worked retail before?

The Salvation Army is a retail organization, and the interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in this type of environment. If you do, share your experiences with them. If not, explain that you are willing to learn how to work retail.

Example: “I worked at a local department store for two years while I was in college. It was a great way to earn extra money and get discounts on clothes. The job also taught me valuable customer service skills.”

11. Tell us about a time when you went above and beyond for a customer.

The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that helps people in need. Your answer to this question should show the interviewer how you helped someone and what motivated you to do so.

Example: “When I worked at my previous job, we had a customer who was looking for a specific type of toy for their child. We didn’t have it in stock, but I offered to order it from another store if they would like me to. They said yes, and I ordered it right away. A few days later, I got an email from them saying thank you for ordering the toy and letting them know when it arrived.”

12. How would you respond to a customer asking for specific information on a donation location or event?

The Salvation Army is a large organization with many donation locations and events. The interviewer wants to know how you would respond to questions from customers about these topics. Use your communication skills to answer this question by showing the interviewer that you can be helpful, friendly and informative.

Example: “I would first ask them if they have any specific needs or concerns regarding their donation location or event. If not, I would provide them with information on our website or direct them there for more details. If they do have questions, I would try my best to answer them as thoroughly as possible.”

13. What kind of connections do you have with the community? How involved are you?

The Salvation Army is a charitable organization that relies on the community to support its efforts. The interviewer wants to know if you have any connections with local organizations or businesses and how you can help them achieve their goals.

Example: “I am very involved in my community, especially when it comes to helping those who are less fortunate than I am. I volunteer at the homeless shelter once a month, where I serve food and play games with the children. I also donate toys and clothes to the thrift store every time I shop there.”

14. Tell me about a time when you were responsible for handling large amounts of cash.

The Salvation Army is a large organization that relies on donations to fund its charitable programs. The interviewer wants to make sure you have experience handling cash and other valuables, as well as the responsibility of ensuring they’re secure.

Example: “In my previous position at a local bank, I was responsible for counting and depositing money from our tellers into the vault every night. We had several security measures in place to ensure no one could access the money without proper authorization. In addition, we were required to count all the money twice before it was deposited.”

15. What was one time you struggled in a leadership position?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you overcame a challenge and what steps you took to improve your leadership skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation that helped you grow as a leader.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for leading a team of volunteers who were helping with an event. Unfortunately, one of our volunteers didn’t show up on time, which meant we had one less volunteer than needed. I immediately called another volunteer to see if they could come in early, but unfortunately, they couldn’t make it either. In this situation, I decided to take over the task myself so that no tasks went unattended.”

16. Do you consider yourself more of a leader or a follower?

The Salvation Army is a Christian denomination that requires its members to be devout in their faith. The organization also has a quasi-military structure, so it’s important for candidates to understand the expectations of being part of this type of environment. When answering this question, make sure you emphasize your willingness to follow orders and work as part of a team.

Example: “I consider myself more of a follower than a leader. I am very comfortable working within a structured environment where there are clear rules and guidelines. In my previous position, I was responsible for leading a small group of volunteers who were helping with an event. While I didn’t have any direct authority over them, I did use my communication skills to help motivate them and ensure they were all on task.”

17. Give an example of a professional goal you set for yourself and what steps you took to achieve it.

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, and they want to know that you are committed to your faith. They also want to see how you apply your faith in your professional life.

Example: “My goal was to become the top salesperson at my previous job. I started by making sure I understood what motivated me. I realized that I wanted to help others and make them happy. I then made it my mission to find ways to do this every day. I found new clients and increased sales for my company.”

18. We need someone who can stay focused during long shifts. Can you tell me about a time when you showed initiative throughout an entire shift?

The Salvation Army is a non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to help with its many programs. The interviewer wants to know if you have the ability to stay focused and motivated during long shifts.

Example: “I once volunteered at an animal shelter where I worked for eight hours straight, cleaning cages and feeding animals. It was a very rewarding experience because I got to see how much joy my work brought to the animals and their owners. I also learned a lot about patience and compassion from working there.”

19. Tell me about a time that you showed integrity in the workplace

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that values integrity in the workplace. This question helps employers determine if you can uphold their values and beliefs as an employee.

Example: “I once worked for a company where my manager was stealing money from the company. I knew this because he asked me to help him cover it up by falsifying some of our records. At first, I thought about doing it because I needed the job, but then I realized that I would be committing fraud myself. Instead, I reported what happened to my supervisor and resigned from my position.”

20. Tell me about a time when you were faced with a difficult decision and how you made the best choice possible.

The Salvation Army is a Christian organization, and your faith may be important to you. The interviewer wants to know that you can make decisions in line with the values of the organization.

Example: “I was working as an administrative assistant for a small business when my manager asked me to falsify some documents. I knew this would violate several laws and our company’s ethical standards, so I told him I couldn’t do it. He said he needed me to do it because his boss had ordered him to. I told him I understood but that I wouldn’t change the documents. He ended up resigning from the company rather than breaking the law.”