What do you do if you want to excel in job interviews after a layoff in Grant Administration?

1 Update your resume

Your resume is the first impression you make on potential employers, so you want to make sure it reflects your current achievements, skills, and qualifications. Review your resume and highlight your most relevant and recent accomplishments in grant administration, such as the number, size, and impact of the grants you secured, managed, or evaluated. Use quantifiable metrics and action verbs to demonstrate your value and effectiveness. Also, update your contact information, education, certifications, and references.

3 Practice your answers

One of the best ways to prepare for a job interview is to practice your answers to common and specific questions that you might encounter. Think of some examples from your previous or current grant administration roles that demonstrate your skills, achievements, and challenges. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers in a clear and concise way. Also, prepare some questions of your own to ask the interviewer, such as about their grant strategy, culture, or feedback process.

4 Showcase your portfolio

Another way to impress the interviewer and stand out from other candidates is to showcase your portfolio of grant-related work. This can include samples of grant proposals, reports, budgets, or evaluations that you have written, edited, or managed. You can also include testimonials, awards, or recognition that you have received for your grant administration work. Make sure your portfolio is organized, relevant, and accessible, and that you have permission to share it if it contains confidential or sensitive information.

5 Be confident and positive

Finally, you want to convey a confident and positive attitude during the job interview, even if you are feeling nervous or insecure. Remember that you have valuable skills, knowledge, and experience in grant administration that can benefit the employer and the communities they serve. Focus on your strengths and achievements, and avoid speaking negatively about your previous employer or the reasons for your layoff. Express your enthusiasm and interest in the position and the organization, and thank the interviewer for their time and consideration.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?