With the new year rapidly approaching, companies are slowly beginning to re-open their available positions. With a heavy pool of qualified candidates, how can you make yourself stand out amongst the crowd? This blog will walk through helpful tips to help nail your interview and other resources available to streamline this process and kickstart the new year with your dream role.
Interviewees should prepare days before to ensure a strong interview. Think of your interview as a skilled dance. You have taken the time to perfect the choreography and readily anticipate each step. Before going into any interview, prepare yourself with answers to general interview questions. Prepare what skills set you apart, what experience you will bring, how you describe your work style, and so forth. The ultimate question: Tell us about yourself. This question can often be seen as a test. As much as you may wish to share about your family life, this is not the reason for this question. This is your chance to jump into your experience and share relevant skills, knowledge, or any work experience related to the position. Moreover, remember the 20-second to 2-minute rule when answering questions. Ensure your answers stay within this time to ensure a thorough but not overdrawn answer is given.
Employers want to see how you solve issues. How can you show them the situations you have been through, and how did your skill set help you find a solution? If you choose to share an experience that didn’t go as planned but showcases how your skills fixed the problem, make sure you are sharing from a factual viewpoint and not a personal view where it may seem like you are badmouthing your past employers. This will show them professionalism and how you can be an asset. This will show your experience, help them visualize you in this role, and see how you connect to their mission.
Employers want to know you care about their business. Start on the right foot by accurately researching the company. Find what you enjoy about their organization and share that with them. This shows them you took the time to understand their business and how you can positively contribute to the team. Being prepared with who they are and what they stand for can be a primary differentiator between you and everyone interested in this role. Your research may even give insight into something you disagree with and help determine if you believe this position is the right fit.
This leads us to the idea that an interview is a 50-50 relationship. As much as you want them to see you fit with their organization, you must also ensure the business fits your needs and values. As much as you are speaking about your experience, you should also ask questions that allow you to learn about the inner workings of their business beyond what your research has told you. Ask questions you couldn’t find; what key facts matter to you? What does a typical business day look like, how would they describe their company culture, and how does their business measure success? Questions like these can give you a better understanding of the workings of the business.
Finally, always end the interview by asking when to expect them to follow up. It is pivotal that you do not leave these questions vague. You want to know when to expect to hear from them and to let them know you anticipate their follow-up. If this is a job you know is a great fit, tell them, thank them for their time, and let them know you believe you could be an asset to their team and are excited to hear about the next steps in the process. It can be helpful to send a follow-up email, or a thank you card to let them know you are seriously considering this role and show a strong interest even after leaving.
Even though you are beginning the next step in your career journey, Great Jobs KC is always here to support you! Contact our Career Resource Team, careerresources@greatjobskc.org, with further questions or concerns. Moreover, don’t forget to utilize our Job Search Toolkit, https://greatjobskc.org/job-search-toolkit/, to help you navigate your job search.
Great Jobs KC is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that provides access to college scholarships and tuition-free job training, along with job placement assistance for young people from low- and modest-income families in the metropolitan area, providing a pipeline of talent for a strong regional workforce. Please join us on our mission for economic independence for all. For more information, visit www.greatjobskc.org.
Great Jobs KC is proud to announce the 2026 awarding class of its flagship KC Scholars 11th-Grade Scholarship Program. In its 10th anniversary year, 778 high school juniors across the six-county Kansas City region have been selected to receive scholarships of up to $50,000 each, representing a staggering total community investment of $38.9 million.
The Kauffman Foundation’s generous grant helps Great Jobs KC get closer to its $100M goal, supporting 50,000 Kansas City residents with job training and education.
The Kauffman Foundation’s generous grant helps Great Jobs KC get closer to its $100M goal, supporting 50,000 Kansas City residents with job training and education.
Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.
Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.
Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.
Program offers:
Eligibility Requirements:
If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE
As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships.
Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.
Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country. Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.
