To get to know our applicants as passionate people, we interview 70 candidates in 30 minute slots over two days. Interviewees chat with two Spark members and get a chance to ask their own questions about Spark. When you have your interview, we give you a one-pager with some key information about Spark so that you don't need to know everything about Spark off the top of your head.
Here's what we'll ask about in 1:2 interviews:
- You, communities you're part of, and your role in those communities
- What you like to work on and what you do for fun
- Your connection to our mission
- Your interest in our work
Spark doesn't recruit for skills, so while you can spend time telling us about those skills, we care more about what those skills mean to you and your passions. Why do you like doing what you do? What's your approach to it?
We're not explicitly asking whether you've built a business, interned somewhere impressive, or founded your own startup. While those things are typical ways to get exposure to entrepreneurship, we welcome all kinds of entrepreneurial thinking in Spark. We purposely don't recruit applicants based on specific resume accomplishments like startup entrepreneurship or consulting internships – in fact, a spectrum of experiences with self-startership, diligence, and intrapreneurship helps diversify our board's approach to leadership.
We won't penalize you for mentioning your startup if you have one, but remember that joining Spark's leadership board won't help you accelerate your venture. We encourage you to mention any work relevant to the interview topics we listed above, whether that's being proud of your minimum-wage job, your tutoring side-hustle, or your academic research.
Here are the criteria we look for – same as our written application criteria, but we replace Growth Mindset with Initiative & scrappiness:
- Initiative & scrappiness
Does this person demonstrate proactivity when faced with a challenge?
Does this person take initiative to solve problems around them?
Does this person try to implement solutions with the resources available?
For Creative thinking, Passion & drive, and Mission fit, see above.