Feeding America

Name: Ami McReynolds
Position: Vice President of Talent
Education: Indiana University, psychology
Location: Chicago, IL

How did you get your start at Feeding America?
I’m new to Feeding America—I started in January. I’m a sector switcher, moving over from the for-profit world, where I worked for 15 years. I wanted to make a change in the kind of work I’m doing, so I applied to Feeding America.

What do you look for in entry-level employees?
We have a set group of competencies that we want all employees to have. The most important thing we look for is someone who is mission-focused: Someone who understands our mission, can communicate it, and can work towards helping us to achieve it. We also want someone who has the ability to work in a team environment, since we are very collaborative within teams and across departments. The third thing we look for is someone who is focused on their own development, and is looking for the opportunity to learn through their work as well as through more formal training and development programs.

Can you give an example of something a student or other applicant has done that really impressed you during the recruiting process?
One thing that impresses me are people who request informational interviews. Informational interviews allow you to learn more about the organization, without a job on the line. I’m also impressed in interviews when the questions that candidates ask aren’t standard, canned questions, and instead they are driven from the conversation we are having. That demonstrates they’re listening, making connections, and have a real curiosity for the work we do here.

Can you give us any sneak peaks into the typical interview?
We ask a lot of questions about your past experiences, so coming to the interview with specific examples of your work and being able to describe your contributions in prior professional environments is important. And although we are looking for team players, I want to hear specifically what you’ve done in your past. I don’t want to hear what your committee did, what your group did, I want to hear about your role. There’s a tendency to talk about “we,” but the interview is an opportunity for you to toot your own horn!

What mistakes can a candidate make that will take them out of the running for a position?
Someone who hasn’t done their homework. They don’t know Feeding America, they don’t know our mission, and they are clearly just looking for any job, no matter where it is—they aren’t invested in our organization. That’s a turn-off.

What is the biggest misconception people have about working at Feeding America?
There’s a misconception that when you go into a nonprofit the pace is slower and less formal. At Feeding America, we think big. We are fast-paced, innovative, and passionately focused on ending hunger in America.