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Thinking about a job in the charity sector?

Starting work can feel exciting, confusing and a bit intimidating all at once. You might be applying for your first job, preparing for an interview, starting an apprenticeship or stepping into a new role after education.

One thing that can help is knowing what employers are really trying to understand when they ask questions. Interviews are not there to catch you out. A good interview should help both sides work out whether the role, the team and the organisation are a good match.

This guide is based on advice from CharityJob’s article, “25 Great Questions to Ask Candidates as an Interviewer” by Karen Harlow, which explains the kinds of questions interviewers often use and why they ask them. It has been reframed here to help young people prepare, build confidence and understand what employers may be looking for.

1. Employers want to understand who you are, not just what is on your CV

At the start of an interview, you may be asked questions like:

“Tell us about yourself.”

“What attracted you to this role?”

“What kind of work environment helps you do your best?”

These questions can feel broad, but they are a chance to show your personality, motivation and attitude.

You do not need to have a perfect answer. Try to explain where you are in your journey, what interests you about the role and what you are hoping to learn or contribute.

For example:

“I’m looking for my first full-time role where I can develop my communication and organisation skills. I’m interested in this opportunity because it feels practical, people-focused and connected to work that matters.”

The aim is not to sound like someone else. The aim is to help the employer understand you clearly.

2. Skills matter, even if you have not had a formal job before

Many young people worry that they do not have enough experience. But experience does not only come from paid work.

You may have built useful skills through school, college, volunteering, caring responsibilities, clubs, faith groups, sports, creative projects, part-time work or helping family members.

If an employer asks about your skills, think about examples such as:

Working as part of a team

Solving a problem

Organising your time

Helping someone

Communicating clearly

Learning something new

Handling responsibility

A useful way to answer is to explain the situation, what you did and what happened as a result.

For example:

“In college, I worked on a group project where we had to present our ideas. I helped organise who would speak about each section and made sure we practised before the deadline. It helped me become more confident working with others and managing time.”

You do not need a dramatic example. A clear, honest example is usually stronger than an exaggerated one.

3. Employers are interested in how you think

Some interview questions are designed to understand how you approach decisions or challenges.

You might be asked:

“How would you organise your first few weeks in this role?”

“What would you do if you had several tasks due at the same time?”

“How do you handle something you have not done before?”

These questions are about your thinking process. Employers know that you may still be learning. What they want to see is whether you can be honest, ask for help when needed and take sensible steps.

A strong answer might include:

“I would start by checking what is most urgent, asking my manager if I was unsure, and breaking the tasks down so I knew what needed to be done first.”

This shows maturity. You are not pretending to know everything, but you are showing that you can think calmly and responsibly.

4. Your attitude can be just as important as your experience

For entry-level roles, employers often look closely at attitude. They may want to know whether you are willing to learn, reliable, respectful and able to work with different people.

You may be asked:

“Tell us about a time you worked with others.”

“How do you respond to feedback?”

“What motivates you?”

“Why does this organisation or type of work matter to you?”

Try to answer in a way that feels genuine. You do not have to say you have always dreamed of doing that exact job. It is okay to say you are interested in learning, gaining experience and contributing to something useful.

For example:

“I’m motivated by feeling that I’m improving and doing something helpful. I like knowing that my work is making a difference to a team or to other people.”

5. It is okay to talk about challenges

You may be asked about a difficult situation, a mistake or a time something did not go to plan.

This can feel uncomfortable, but employers are not usually expecting you to be perfect. They are looking for honesty, self-awareness and what you learned.

A helpful answer could be:

“There was a time when I underestimated how long a piece of work would take. I realised I needed to plan earlier and ask questions sooner. Since then, I’ve tried to break tasks into smaller steps and check deadlines properly.”

That kind of answer shows growth. Everyone makes mistakes. What matters is whether you can reflect and improve.

6. You can prepare without memorising a script

It helps to think about possible questions before an interview, but try not to memorise answers word for word. If you sound too scripted, it can make the conversation feel unnatural.

Instead, prepare a few real examples you could use in different ways.

Think of:

One example of teamwork

One example of solving a problem

One example of learning something new

One example of dealing with pressure

One example of something you are proud of

These examples can help you answer many different questions.

7. You are allowed to ask questions too

An interview is not only about whether they choose you. It is also about whether the job feels right for you.

You could ask:

“What would a typical day look like in this role?”

“What support would be available while I’m learning?”

“What does success look like in the first few months?”

“How would the team describe the working culture?”

“What are the next steps after the interview?”

Asking questions shows that you are interested and thinking seriously about the opportunity.

8. You should be treated fairly

A good interview should feel respectful. Interviewers should ask questions that relate to the role, your skills, your experience and your motivation.

You should not be asked personal questions that are not relevant to the job, such as whether you plan to have children, your relationship status or other private matters.

If a question feels uncomfortable or unrelated, you can pause and ask:

“Could you explain how that relates to the role?”

This gives you time and helps bring the conversation back to the job.

9. Confidence does not mean pretending

Many people think confidence means being loud, polished or never nervous. That is not true.

Confidence can look like:

Taking a moment before answering

Asking for a question to be repeated

Being honest about what you are still learning

Speaking clearly about your strengths

Showing interest in the role

You can be nervous and still do well.

10. A simple way to prepare

Before an interview or workplace conversation, take 20 minutes to think through these questions:

Why am I interested in this role?

What skills or qualities can I bring?

What examples show that I am reliable, willing to learn or good with people?

What do I want to learn from this opportunity?

What questions do I want to ask them?

Write down a few notes, but do not worry about creating perfect answers. The goal is to feel prepared enough to have a real conversation.

Final thought

Starting work is a big step. You are not expected to know everything on day one. Employers are often looking for potential, attitude and a willingness to learn, as well as experience.

The more you understand what interview questions are really asking, the easier it becomes to answer with confidence.

Be honest. Be prepared. Be willing to learn. That is a strong place to start.

Source: CharityJob, “25 Great Questions to Ask Candidates as an Interviewer” by Karen Harlow, published 7 July 2026.