1. The first screening (usually a phone or virtual call) This part is pretty quick. Maybe 15 to 25 minutes. They’re mostly trying to figure out: do you communicate well do you understand what community engagement actually means are you someone who can work with different kinds of people It’s usually light — more conversational than intense. 2. The main interview (panel style) This is the real one. Expect two or three people: a manager, maybe a coordinator, sometimes someone from HR. They’ll ask mostly behavioural questions: “Tell us about a time…” “How would you handle…” “Give an example of…” The tone depends on the organization. Community-focused agencies tend to be warm but structured. Government departments are a bit more formal, but still friendly. They want to see if you can: build relationships handle conflict with calmness explain things clearly adapt when things get messy (which happens a lot in community work) Sometimes they’ll sneak in a scenario question, like dealing with low turnout, a crisis, or a difficult client interaction. 3. A practical task (not always, but common) Some places ask you to do something small: draft an outreach message outline how you’d plan an event write a short engagement strategy review a case scenario and say how you’d respond It’s not a test of perfection — they’re watching how you think. 4. Reference checks This usually means they’re already considering you seriously. They’ll ask about: reliability how you interact with people your communication style your attitude in stressful moments Community roles depend heavily on trust, so references matter. 5. Final call or offer If everything lines up, they’ll either: call you for a short “fit” conversation or go straight to an offer Usually not too long after the main interview.