Board member interview questions and scoring card

Are you looking for interview guidance for your Board member recruitment?

Our Board Appointments team has the expertise to help. Below you can find an in-depth interview guide and example questions to help structure the interview.

Ahead of interview

Agree what, if anything, you’d like the candidate to read or review in advance – although ideally, they will read your Annual Report and the website as a minimum.
Discuss whether you want candidates to have access to questions ahead of the interview (no more than 24 hours in advance) – this is an inclusive approach that supports neurodiversity and gives everyone the best opportunity to respond.
Consider any access needs whether the interview is in-person or online.
Consider if you need independent support from a ‘critical friend’ or expert – especially if you’re appointing to a specialist board role, e.g. Treasurer and the panel don’t have that expertise.
How will you build in the views/opinions of your users, customers or experts by experience?

On the day: Chair/Host of panel or Nominations Committee

Introduce everyone and explain the process:

Explain you’ll be asking questions because you want to find out more about the candidate, their interests, skills and experience – if they are not clear about any of their answers, you may ask for greater clarity.
There will be time at the end of the interview for them to ask any questions they may have.

After the interview

Thank the candidate for meeting you. Explain that you have a few people to see, but hope to conclude within [specifiy timeframe].
If a second interview is scheduled, make them aware of that process and the timeline too.

Checklist – key points to cover in the interview

Make the candidate feel welcome
Outline structure of interview
Use of plain language avoiding sector or organisation jargon
Active listening: summarise at appropriate intervals and move interview on if necessary
Clarify any confused discussion and revert to areas that were unclear at the end of the interview
Draw the interview to a conclusion and manage time effectively

Example questions:

Can you tell us a bit about your background and what makes you excited about this role? Why this charity? Why now? How does it fit into the bigger picture for you personally and professionally?
What personal qualities do you think make a really good trustee – and which personal qualities do you feel you would bring to the role? What particular skills do you feel you would bring to this role?
What is your understanding of [insert relevant policy area or activity]? Based on your understanding of [insert your organisation] and the role of Trustee, what do you understand to be the biggest risks and opportunites facing our organisation? What role do you see the Trustees having in facing those challenges and opportunities?
Focusing on an area in which you have particular expertise, please tell us: what is your ambition for charity in this area? What do you think our priorities should be? What strategies could we deploy to achieve this?
What do you see as the key characteristics of an effective and high performing governing board?
What experience of collective leadership do you have (either as a board member, or otherwise)? How would you describe your influencing style and approach?
Tell us about a time when you have had a difference of opinion with another member of your team. How did you effectively manage this?
What key issues do you see impacting on the finances of organisations like ours in the next couple of years?
What does diversity, equity, and inclusion (EDI) mean to you? Please provide specific examples where possible. How would you, in the role of trustee, seek to progress EDI at this organisation? How would you work to create an inclusive environment across the Board and with the Executive?
How comfortable are you with the time commitments outlined? Is there anything we should know about that would prevent you from taking up this role? (e.g. job offers, etc.) What, if any, training, support or development do you feel you may need to fulfil this role to the best of your abilities?

Download the full Word Document of questions and scoring card below, including additional questions for prospective Chair of Finance Committee/Treasurers.

Download interview Questions and Scoring Card