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If you are looking to change your career from for-profit or
enter the nonprofit sector directly out of college or
graduate school, you may find this article helpful.
Another great way to
introduce yourself to the sector is to visit
NonprofitOyster.com
where you can enter your anonymous profile. Nonprofit
employers can send you an e-mail via our system indicating
their interest in you. You then decide if you are
interested in talking to the employer further.
Also, please check our
new website at
http://www.capabilitycompany.com.
We have a number of links and resources for jobseekers
available.
See you next month.Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Rebecca L. Worters
Sincerely,
Breaking into the
Non-Profit Sector
by Katherine Nesbeda
Reprinted with
permission of
onPhilanthropy
Copyright © Changing Our World, Inc. 2006
In the past five years, the philanthropic sector has seen a
growing interest from recent college graduates and young
professionals. More and more often, these students and
recent graduates are realizing that a career at a
not-for-profit organization, or serving at another
organization in some philanthropic capacity, does not have
to lead to a life of destitution. There are real jobs --
dare I say:
careers -- to be had in this industry, and
they come in all shapes and sizes.
As people come to realize this fact, an increasing number of
young professionals are now seeking to break into the
non-profit and/or philanthropy sectors, and as a result,
jobs are becoming more competitive to land. What follows
here aims to answer the question: How do I get a job in the
philanthropic sector?
Specify Interests
Before even embarking on the job search, it is necessary to
hone your areas of interest. For students, take a look back
over classes and extracurricular activities. While
academic/disciplinary background is not necessarily the most
important, it is helpful to assess what types of courses
have been of particular interest and why. What types of
clubs and/or volunteer work have you participated in? And
be sure to take advantage of all the resources provided to
you. These resources may include your school’s Office of
Career Services or Alumni network. Speaking with career
advisors or alumni may provide you with insight into jobs
you never knew existed.
For those of us no longer in school, similar reflection may
be beneficial. What were your academic and extracurricular
interests in college, and in what types of civic or
volunteer outreach do you currently participate? Also, look
at the skill-sets that you have developed since entering the
workforce. Identify the areas you believe these skills can
be applied to the non-profit sector, and play to these
strengths. They may be more applicable to non-profit work
than you’d originally thought.
I spoke with Judith Kidd, Associate
Dean of Harvard College about how her students are getting
into the philanthropic sector. First and foremost, she
recommends that those looking for a job ask themselves what
they want to get out of it. For those who want to be
trained in a specific manner, Dean Kidd recommends larger
institutions with established departments and programs will
provide structure and specialization. On the other hand,
smaller organizations may allow for more flexibility and a
variety of responsibilities within a given area, allowing
for the opportunity to dabble in many different things.
Dean Kidd also tells her students to
be realistic in the type of jobs they expect. She notes
that entry level positions at foundations and other
grant-making institutions are few and far between and most
work within these organizations requires years of experience
and particular expertise.
To continue reading this
article,
click here.
American
Humanics is a national alliance of colleges,
universities, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to
educating, preparing, and certifying professionals to
strengthen and lead nonprofit organizations.
Capability Company and NonprofitOyster.com
have partnered with the American Humanics Initiative for
Nonprofit Sector Careers and we invite you to learn more
about it
here.
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