Sector Switchers: Three Ways to Move Your Resume to the Top

Erin O'Connor Jones, Director of Candidate Services & Managing Associate,

Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group LLC

 

In this tenuous economy, it is more critical than ever for a job seeker to outshine the competition in order to land a new job. For sector switchers, enhanced experience, commitment, and knowledge of the nonprofit sector are what set them apart from other candidates, and ultimately, lead to their dream job. For those considering a career shift to the nonprofit sector, contributing time, expertise, and knowledge to one of the more than 1.8 million registered nonprofits are ideal ways to ease this transition, strengthen a resume, and make a difference.

Volunteer or Intern
Over 60.8 million people volunteer across America each year, performing over 8.1 billion hours of service, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. Increased funding from the Obama administration will provide a growth trajectory, enhancing and increasing opportunities for more new volunteers across the nonprofit and public sectors. Those who made the transition to the nonprofit sector volunteered at almost tripled the rate of their corporate peers, making volunteering one of the best ways for a sector switcher to explore a nonprofit sector career.

A volunteer position provides a unique window inside an organization. As a sector switcher, it is also a low-risk trial of your desire to work in the nonprofit sector before accepting a position that may not be a good fit in the long-term. When looking for a volunteer opportunity, consider two things: what are you passionate about and where can your skills best be utilized? If you are an accountant, consider offering your bookkeeping or financial forecasting expertise to a start-up nonprofit. If you hope to work with children, you might find a position at a family homeless shelter, working directly with children while their parents search for employment and/or housing.

Maximize your volunteer experience by making a point to meet as many people as possible within the organization, request an informational interview with a senior manager, read their strategic plan, or find someone working on a project that interests you. All your effort can provide you with valuable information about the organization, its operating strategy, and plans for its future growth and development.

If you are in school and looking for course credit or a living stipend, consider applying one of many internship programs available. As opposed to volunteer stints, internships sometimes offer a salary or stipend, college or continuing education credits, and tend to be time limited or project-specific. Interns often learn a new skill, explore an interest in a specific area or provide a full-time position within an organization such as in finance, development, or direct service programs. Finding an internship can sometimes prove more challenging than locating a volunteer position, but you can start with your alma mater or local university/college. Most importantly, don’t be shy. If there is an organization you are passionate about, contact them directly to explore opportunities. For example, if you are seeking a communications position, and have worked on the agency side of public relations; consider an internship within a development or communication department. There is a real shortage of resources across nonprofit organizations, and a smart organization will happily accept your writing and communications expertise in exchange for your broader learning.

The best way to maximize your time and exposure as a volunteer or intern will be to network as much as possible within the organization. Keep your eyes open to committees, after-hours meetings or social occasions to meet and network with as many people as possible. Networking to meet more people and to learn more about the organization is another way to assess whether the nonprofit sector and you are a good match.

Become a Consultant
Becoming a consultant allows sector switchers the opportunity to work with projects, specific programs and other front row activities at their nonprofit of choice. There are thousands of consultants working with nonprofit agencies, in volunteer and paid capacities. Like volunteering or interning, consulting opportunities are plentiful. Nonprofits typically hire consultants to help them in the areas of administration, finance, or operations. In addition, executive level support in the areas of executive transition, coaching, temporary staffing (interim directors) and fundraising such as grant writing, event planning, or fund development. They rely on consultants to solve short-term problems, provide solutions, or to fill gaps without making a long-term commitment to an additional, permanent staff person.

You can launch your services by registering online at sites like Idealist or with a regional nonprofit network, which you can locate through the National Council of Nonprofits Associations. There are also many traditional consulting firms working with nonprofit organizations such as Nonprofit Professional Advisory Group, the Bridgespan Group, Commongood Careers, and New Profit, Inc. These companies offer a range of consulting services within the nonprofit space, providing valuable resources to national and internationally-focused nonprofits.

If you decide to pursue the consulting route to your next job, you may find yourself staying there longer than you planned. Many people enter consulting as an interim step, but become so successful that they stop searching for a full-time, permanent job. As with anything, consulting has its positives and negatives. Consulting is often considered an excellent choice by many people, in part because they can pick and choose their clients along with providing flexible work hours. However, others find it to be isolating and difficult to work alone and tether between doing the current project and selling the next one.

Serve on a Board
Nonprofit boards provide oversight for nonprofits that have been incorporated with a state or national government. Board members are recruited both socially and strategically. Boards vary in size and scope of work, based largely on their size and scope of mission. Board members in the nonprofit sector hold a range of responsibilities, sometimes referred to as the 4G model – Give (Financial Investment), Get (Friend Investment), Govern (Time and Knowledge Investment), and Get Off (Stepping Down or Sideways).

If you are looking for a spot on a board, you’ll need to consider what board is right for you by answering the same two questions you would for volunteering or interning: what are you passionate about and where can your skills best be utilized? Depending on the type of organization you choose, you’ll be able to contribute in a variety of ways. Nonprofit organizations depend on their boards for many things, and increasingly for their expertise in the areas of fundraising and generating revenue.

In addition to lending your skills, time and expertise to an organization, serving on a board will bring you benefits, as well. Use your board membership as an opportunity to build your knowledge about the agency’s specific issue area (e.g.: Housing or HIV/AIDS), further develop expertise in a specific area such a grant management or fundraising, and deepen and broaden you nonprofit network.

Serving on a board is an opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge to other nonprofit leaders and influential people within the sector. Nonprofit boards range in size from 8-10 members or more, depending on the size/budget of the nonprofit, and as governed by their by-laws. Most board members sit on other boards or have in the past, and bring access to people throughout the sector with knowledge of resources, including job openings. When you join a board, you immediately expand your network and access to potential employment opportunities.

Locating the Best Resources
Many successful careers have been launched through volunteering, interning, or board work, but sometimes finding these opportunities can be tricky. My top recommendation is old fashioned networking with friends, family, or colleagues. When you’ve exhausted these resources, many online sites exist including VolunteerMatch, Board Source, Craigslist, or your local United Way. Lastly, if there is an organization you have a strong interest in or feel passionate about, make direct contact via email or telephone.

Volunteering, interning, consulting, or serving on a board are all excellent ways to enhance your knowledge and network to a successful job search. Each option offers another way to build your nonprofit resume through real-time, valuable experience. If you choose one of these options, you’ll invest your time and talents wisely, and will find that your future employer is impressed.
 
Additional Resources

Resources that Match Board Candidates and Nonprofit Boards

Online resources:
• boardnetUSA (www.BoardnetUSA.org)
• BoardSource (www.BoardSource.org)
• Bridgestar (www.Bridgestar.org)
• Volunteer Solutions (http://volunteer.united-e-way.org/org/board/dir-A-1.html)
• VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org)

Local nonprofit board fairs:
• National Council of Nonprofit Associations (www.ncna.org) lists state chapters that hold board fairs.
• The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org/Locator) hosts a listing of community foundations that will link to your local foundation.

Volunteer/Consulting Resources

Find a volunteer opportunity:
• 1-800-Volunteer (www.1-800-volunteer.org)
• Hands On Network (www.handsonnetwork.org)
• Points of Light’s Volunteer Centers (www.pointsoflight.org/centers/find_center.cfm)
• SERVENet (servenet.org)
• VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org)
• Volunteer Solutions (www.volunteersolutions.org)

Find a loaned executive placement:
• United Way’s Loaned Executive (http://national.unitedway.org)
• Building Blocks International’s Corporate Service Corp (www.bblocks.org)

Find a consulting project:
• Executive Service Corps Affiliate Network (ww.escus.org)
• Taproot Foundation (www.taprootfoundation.org)