Advance Your Mission Through Intentional Hiring

Each month, the Wyoming Nonprofit Network highlights a specific topic impacting the nonprofit sector in its What We Are Learning email series. In September 2025, WNN is evaluating the importance of the hiring process and the impact this process can have on building an effective nonprofit workforce.   

Start Thinking About the Hiring Process 

Starting with the position description, being intentional in the hiring process ensures that nonprofits select candidates whose values, skills, and experiences will advance the organization’s mission. Consider the pre-learning questions below related to hiring:   

1. How frequently is the organization reviewing and updating position descriptions for existing employees?  

2. Who is typically involved in the hiring process, and have these organizational representatives been provided with the training needed to participate in this process?

3. Is it a part of the organization’s existing process to be critical of educational requirements and terminology used in hiring materials to avoid unintentionally excluding candidates?

4. When interviewing, are most of the questions traditional questions that focus on a specific skill, behavioral questions that focus on past experiences, or situational questions where a candidate addresses hypothetical scenarios?

Online Learning Opportunity with Transformative HR 

Webinar Title: Elevating Your Interview Skills: Mastering the Art of Fair and Effective Hiring Webinar

Webinar Date and Time: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Webinar Description:

In today’s competitive nonprofit landscape, hiring the right candidate is more than just a process—it’s a strategic opportunity to showcase your organization's culture and values.

Join Adam Conley, founder of Transformative HR Support, for this one-hour training designed to help nonprofit leaders elevate their interview skills and attract top talent.

In this free webinar, attendees will dive into the essentials of asking the right interview questions, with a special focus on:

• Behavior-based questions that reveal a candidate’s true capabilities and cultural fit.

• Role-specific questions tailored to the unique needs of your open positions.

• EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)-compliant techniques to ensure fairness and inclusivity in every interview.

• How to create a welcoming, positive interview experience that highlights your organization’s strengths and values.

By the end of this session, attendees will feel confident in their ability to conduct interviews that are not only legally compliant but also compelling, helping their organization attract candidates who align with its mission and enhance the team’s dynamic.

Resources

• When preparing for an interview, does your hiring committee use the STAR method? The STAR method ensures that hiring organizations prioritize behavioral questions, which HR experts have found to be better predictors of job performance than traditional interview questions. Learn more by reading LinkedIn’s “STAR Method Interviewing 101.”

• From establishing the hiring team to sourcing candidates to managing a new employee’s transition, Bridgespan’s Nonprofit Hiring Toolkit “explores eight important steps to the hiring process.”

• Often, nonprofit leaders consider the internal experience of the hiring process, but are you also considering the experience of candidates? Read the Academy of Innovative HR’s “How To Improve the Candidate Experience (In 10 Steps)”  to ensure transparency in the hiring process.

What You Want to Learn Matters

Email Director of Learning and Development Tess Mittelstadt at tmittelstadt@wynonprofit.org with your feedback on the What We Are Learning email and suggestions on future topics.

The Wyoming Nonprofit Network amplifies, cultivates, and advocates for Wyoming's nonprofits.

Wyoming Nonprofit Network
822 West 23rd St., Unit A, Cheyenne, WY 82001
307-772-9050
wynonprofit.org