Best Practices
Best Practices refers to methods, policies, or approaches that have been proven to work well and produce good results across different organizations. Think of it as collecting and using the most successful ways of doing things that others have already tested. In international organizations, this often means learning from what has worked in different countries or projects and applying those lessons to new situations. When someone mentions "Best Practices" in their resume, they're saying they know and use these tried-and-tested approaches rather than starting from scratch or using unproven methods.
Examples in Resumes
Implemented Best Practices in project management across 5 country offices
Developed training materials based on Best Practice guidelines for field operations
Led the team in applying Best Practices and International Standards in humanitarian response
Typical job title: "Program Officers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Program Officers
Professional Networks
Knowledge Sharing Platforms
Professional Associations
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you identify and implement best practices across different cultural contexts?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that show experience in adapting practices to local contexts, understanding cultural sensitivities, and successful implementation in various countries. They should mention stakeholder engagement and measuring results.
Q: Tell me about a time when you had to change established best practices to meet new challenges.
Expected Answer: Strong candidates should provide examples of evaluating existing practices, gathering evidence for change, managing resistance, and successfully implementing improvements.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure best practices are properly documented and shared within an organization?
Expected Answer: Look for knowledge of documentation methods, training approaches, and experience with knowledge management systems. They should mention methods for encouraging adoption.
Q: What process do you follow to evaluate whether a best practice is actually effective?
Expected Answer: Candidate should describe methods for gathering feedback, measuring outcomes, and analyzing results to determine if practices are working as intended.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you understand by the term 'best practices' in international development?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding that best practices are proven methods that have worked well in similar situations and can be adapted to new contexts.
Q: How do you stay updated about current best practices in your field?
Expected Answer: Should mention professional networks, training programs, reading relevant publications, and participating in knowledge sharing activities.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Understanding of basic organizational procedures
- Following established guidelines
- Documentation of processes
- Basic report writing
Mid (2-5 years)
- Implementing best practices in projects
- Training others on procedures
- Contributing to process improvements
- Adapting guidelines to local contexts
Senior (5+ years)
- Developing new best practices
- Leading organizational change
- Managing knowledge sharing programs
- Strategic planning and implementation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to provide concrete examples of implementing best practices
- Shows resistance to adapting practices for different contexts
- Lacks experience in documenting procedures
- No demonstration of learning from past experiences
