Getting a Job with a Not-For- Profit Organization
So, you've decided that, for your next act, you'd like to join the approximately 12 million people working for non-profit groups in this country. While looking for a job in the not-for-profit world is similar to conducting a search among profit-making enterprises, there also are significant differences. Here's what you need to know to make the switch.
--Figure out what type of group you'd like to target and job you want. Non-profits include a wide swath of enterprises-from charitable organizations to advocacy groups and associations. You'll need to narrow your search by focusing on the areas that most interest you. "You can't just say, I want to work with any good cause," says Larry Slesinger a Washington, D.C.-based executive recruiter and author of Search: winning Strategies to Get Your Next Job in the Non-Profit World (Piamonte Press, 2004). Similarly, determine the type of position you're after. Unless you're willing to take an entry-level job, you'll have the most success-and increase your marketability-- if you can transfer skills from your first career to the new organization.
--Determine how much you need to make. Non-profits tend not to pay at the same salary rate as for-profit companies. That means you might have to make some compromises in your pay. Before you start interviewing, figure out just what you have to earn, with a minimum level that's acceptable.
--Use networking and Internet search techniques. Once you know where to look, start tapping your network, as you would with any job search. But, make sure to include contacts you've developed from volunteer work you've done. In addition, there are many Web sites with job openings in non-profits you can go to, including www.opportunityknocks.com, www.execsearches.com, www.ceoupdate.com, www.idealist.org, and www.philanthropycareers.com.
--Don't be surprised if the search seems longer than expected. Non-profits tend to value collegiality and, for that reason, may involve more people in the interview process than you might be used to. And they may ask you to come back for second and third interviews.
--Be prepared to prove your good intentions. While many hiring managers in non-profits welcome the skills a for-profit refugee can bring to the table, some may be more suspect of your motives. One useful source ammunition is relevant volunteer work you've done. "They need to know that you're really interested in the organization and not just looking for a job," says Slesinger.
About the Author: Anne Field is an award-winning small-business writer based in Pelham, NY
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