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[dave036]

Hi,

I have been a lurker on this forum from time to time, and now I'm here to ask a few questions in preparation for a 2nd round interview for a development position.

Some background is in order. I have a PhD in biology and left my postdoc for a teaching/administrative job at a medical school - I taught graduate courses and did some administration, grant writing, & fund raising over 5 years. After that, I transitioned to Faculty Affairs at the undergrad/grad campus, where I work for the Dean as 1 of 3 Directors who manage day to day operations. In this job, I work fairly closely with the offices of Finance and Development (for the undergrad/grad campus). I am not satisfied with my job at all, and I have been looking for new opportunities.

The Senior Director of Development at the med school, where I had my 1st job, recently advertised for a Director position, and I managed to convince her to entertain my application. I think I did this largely on the basis of my 5 year experience at the med school, where I was lucky to have raised money with some success (mostly through grants), and also to develop warm relationships with some key figures. The Sr. Director told me that she thought I had an interesting background, that she was the one who advocated for me, and that my background in science would be valuable. She also told me that I'd have to be a student of sorts, learning from colleagues in the Development office - this was a great relief for me, since she is realistic about the situation and I do not have to posture as someone with more experience than I really have.

I had a 1st interview with the Sr. Director this week and was asked back for a 2nd interview next week. My 2nd interview will be split into 2 30-minute sessions, each with 2 people on the Development team. 3 of them are Directors, and the 4th is a Coordinator (her job was described to me as someone who organizes the team, and she has an MBA and a lot of experience in finance). The office is kind of a ragtag bunch - former lawyers, former social scientists, everyone with at least a master's. Sounds like an interesting place, and the Sr. Director definitely values diverse academic experience.

My questions/requests are:

1. Please suggest a few key questions that I should be prepared to answer/discuss. What would you ask someone who has essentially no formal experience in a Development office? What would you ask if you were interviewing a potential colleague?

2. I want to look professional, obviously, and I was wondering what you would think of a navy blue suit with tame pinstripes, white shirt, dark burgundy tie/belt/shoes? I definitely want to avoid wearing the same charcoal suit and striped red tie that I wore to my 1st interview, in case the Sr. Director wants to see me again. Alternatively, I could go with the 3rd suit I own, a gray suit, with black shoes/striped blue tie.

I hate to focus so much on clothing, but if things go well for me, I will definitely be back in this same office to see the Super-Duper-Director of Development, and I can't roll in there looking like a rube, wearing the same suit 3 times with a different tie.

Thank you for your help.

[dale1]

I was on a committee last summer that interviewed development directors.  The questions were pretty diverse, but mostly revolved around the practices of a development professional.  If you really want to do this as a career, I suggest you look at CFRE or other professional designations.  Many positions require these.

In response to your questions:

1. I would ask you why you want to do this job, what skills you have to do it, and what your 5-year plan is. How much money have you raised and how did you raise it?  How do you develop ongoing relationships and rapport?  How do you manage your time?  What is your five year plan?
2. Business attire is required.  Don't wear a tuxedo. Be comfortable in what you wear.  Other than that, don't clash.

[alleyoxenfree]

Wear the same charcoal suit, for a visual reminder of the interview where you did so well, but change the tie each time.  The goal is to look professional and comfortable and keep the focus on you, not your wardrobe.  Don't wear pinstripes, IMHO.

Spend some time thinking about the words you use, your verbal style.  "Ragtag" is not a flattering way to describe potential colleagues, nor is "rube" or "just lucky" a good way to describe yourself or others.  You seem to have a bit of a negative speech style - without more language, it's hard to tell if you're arrogant, insecure, caustic by nature, a bit dismissive.

Development is a job that requires a lot of people skills, a lot of optimism, a good dose of realism about people without disliking people, and class without putting on airs.  You may work with wealthy people who are high-maintenance and who require lots of patience and a fair bit of sucking up without coming to hate yourself or them.  I'd be prepared to answer the question, "Why this job?" with some insight, because it's not clear in your post why you want it, other than you've been trying things and gaining skills, and looking for the thing you want to do - but why do you think that thing is Development?  Good luck.

[chronanon]

Are you comfortable asking people for large sums of money?  What do you do if they say no?

[brixton]

One way to view the office positively  -- rather than ragtag -- is that development offices need to connect to many different types of people -- lawyers, bankers, , nonprofits, government, academics, industry.  A wise foundation has people who represent  and have worked in these various fields.  Think about where you fit into the team.  What do you bring?  Who can you connect to?  What are stories that you can tell about connecting to one or more of these groups of people?  Knowing a lot about the school you represent is also important.  What part of the school's mission makes you passionate?  Can you sell it?  How do you see it as different from other schools and how would you present this compelling part of it?  I once interviewed a potential foundation person who was completely oblivious to our school and its mission.  He talked about programs we didn't have and suggested ways to raise money for programs we'd never be able to include. It seemed hard to picture him going out and talking about how we change the world when he seemed unaware how we might be distinctive.  So, know your school, know your team, and know yourself.

As for clothes:  business professional is best. 

Good luck!