Today, I participated in an hour long chat about ways in which people (recent college graduates and working professionals alike) can break into the non-profit sector. Below are a few key points of interest, along with my personal commentary.
Point 1- How do you go about obtaining a job in NYC or D.C. if you are not from the East Coast?
Answer: Word of mouth will be a great way to get your foot in the door. Another suggestion is to find a long weekend and some friends in the city so that you can head out for a few days to do informational interviews or office visits just so that they have the opportunity to meet you. Personal connections are key! Also, highlight your passion for the organization, and how your passion for this cause is so great that you would move to a new city.
Thoughts: As is often the case, networking is key. If you don't have any connections in those larger cities, you have a few options. First, if your cause is national or international, just getting more involved in the organization could be helpful. Let's take March of Dimes as an example. If you are involved in your local chapter, perhaps you can work with the chapter to organize a larger scale project or fundraiser. If you are successful and other chapters start to take notice, this might give you a leg up when job hunting in this larger cities, as the chapter directors can give you excellent letters of recommendation, and contact chapter directors in larger cities on your behalf. At the very least, it's a great accomplishment to put on your resume.
If your exact organization doesn't exist at that large level, still work to carry out a fundriasing campaign or program for a cause you are passionate about, as it can translate to similar organizations.
Point 2- If you are fortunate enough to land a entry-level job in the non-profit sector, what steps can you take to make it a career?
Answer: Keep educating yourself by reading and participating in professional development, document what you're accomplishing, build strong ties to your local professional community through networking, keep looking for new skills to build and hone, ask for honest feedback from the people you work with, and set goals.
The most important thing is to do a rackstar job in your current position, even if it involves a lot of "grunt work." Be as productive, creative and innovative as you can in the projects you’re responsible for. Then take it up even one more notch. If you do the kind of work that people can’t help but remember, it will reap benefits for you over and over when you need recommendations for other jobs, or are looking for other opportunities.
Another way to make new contacts is to volunteer with other organizations in your field. I once volunteered to staff the registration table at an event just so I could meet the organization's CEO and mingle with the staff so I could have a better chance of getting a job there. It was a great way to build relationships with the right people so that when my resume crossed their desk, they already would know who I was.
Start a YNPN in your area, if one doesn't already exist. That would be a great way to gain experience, grow your network, and have an incredible opportunity to build the network.
Thoughts: This was a lengthy segment of the chat, but one that provided a lot of good insights. A lot of people have the misconception that non-profit work is easy, and doesn't require much thought or a developed skill set. Nothing could be further from the truth; you really have to put a lot of time and energy into your work! Another piece of advice thatr came up was joining the Board of Directors for an Organization- this is a volunteer position, but gives those involved the opportunity to learn new skills (such as fundraising and grantwriting), and demonstrate leadership skills.
Point 3- Since many applicants have volunteer experience, leadership skills, advanced degrees, etc, what is the best way for young people just entering the non-proit sector to stand out from the competition?
Answer: Here again is where word of mouth and personal recommendations are key. Make networking a priority (through volunteering, board service, events) so that you can develop those relationships that will help move your resume from the masses to the top of the pile.
Nonprofits look to their pools of volunteers and interns and then to pools of volunteers and interns at partner organizations when they are looking to fill positions. So, if you want to play the number, get out there and get involved. This will be the single-most effective way to "stand out".
There is a ton of competition with recent grads that have stellar education and experiences as you described. But most of them don't frame it well and get tossed out with the others. Specifically regarding volunteer experience, if you have volunteered at a nonprofit similar to the one you're applying to or for a related cause, by all means list it on your resume. It shows that you have a passion for that particular arena and that you're already familiar with the kind of work the organization does. When listing your volunteer experiences, be sure to highlight any leadership role you played. On your resume you should mention that you coordinated all of the other volunteers, or started a project from the ground up in an unpaid capacity. These kinds of examples show the organization what you'd be capable of doing if they were to hire you.
Thoughts: This was my question, and it really made me think about the kind of work I do with non-profits. I do volunteer A LOT (as anyone who knows me will attest), but while I take on leadership positions in CKI, I don't necessarily take on leadership roles in the organizations with which I volunteer. So, I think the key points here are 1). Volunteer with a variety of organizations to get your name out, 2). Intern, and 3). Pick at least one (but not more than a few) organizations in areas you are very passionate about, and get more involved. If you like working with Boy or Girl Scouts for instance, volunteer regularly with their programs, create your own program or presentation that you can present to troops, or become an assistant troop leader.
Also, if you are interning- make sure that you do more than just fulfill administrative tasks! The point of an internship is to give you experience at a variety of levels within a particular organization. You should be able to develop programs, sit in on meetings to see how the organization is governed, learn grantwriting/fundraising techniques, and anything else that could be useful when looking for a job in the non-profit sector.
Point 4- Should you get a Master's, or not?
Answer: For the kinds of entry-level positions in which recent college grads are usually placed, a Master's degree is not required. But if you want to move up in the nonprofit field quickly and earn a higher salary, explore going back to school for a Master's degree.
Especially for young nonprofit professionals in particular, a lack of extensive work experience can keep you from obtaining positions of leadership in the nonprofit field. Organizations that are concerned that you haven't "paid your dues" may in fact respect your advanced education enough to offer you an upper management position. While you may not learn everything through a graduate degree program, the prestige affords you the kind of legitimacy that as a nonprofit professional it would normally take years to attain.
Thoughts: I think it's especially important for young people who haven't worked much to get a Master's. Depending on your undergraduate major, you may not have much experience with fundraising, PR, management, budgeting, web design, grantwriting, programming, and the like. You may not have extensively volunteered or interned. In this case, a Master's will help- IF you do it for the right reasons. If you pursue a Master's to avoid the "real world" for a few more years or because you can't find a job and are bored, you will most likely be dissatisfied, and it will be a waste of time and money. Evaluate why you want a Master's before you apply to the program.
To view the complete transcript of the chat, check out http://philanthropy.com/live/2009/10/career_in_nonprofit/
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