Advising Services

Session Chart Our advising services are skill-building and results-oriented by design.

We divide the job search into four key areas: exploration, networking, resumes and cover letters, and interviewing. While some people may seek more support in some areas and less support in others, we believe that building skills in each area is essential, especially in a rapidly changing job market.

By the end of the engagement, jobseekers possess real-life skills and knowledge, as well as an individualized Strategic Action Plan to guide them through their nonprofit job search.

While career advising with Commongood Careers is in-depth, it does not require a long-term commitment. We deliver our services through a streamlined package of four 1-hour sessions, which can occur either by phone or in person at our Boston offices. Engagements are scheduled at the convenience of the jobseeker, as well as the availability of Commongood Careers advisors.

Session 1: Exploration

The first session focuses on getting to know you, and mapping out your preferences, core competencies, and career goals. Before the session, you will be asked to complete a Self-Evaluation Worksheet. During the first session, you will work with the career advisor to further refine your interests in terms of job role and organization type, explore your core competencies (namely your skills, knowledge, personal attributes), as well as identify any areas where you feel you need the most support in your job search.

The outcome of this session is a solid understanding of your interests, strengths, and challenges. This information will begin to lay the foundation for your individualized Strategic Action Plan, a document that builds structure, accountability, and outcomes-based results into the overall process. Upon the completion of your advising sessions, the Strategic Action Plan serves as a comprehensive blueprint for your job search.

Session 2: Resumes and Cover Letters

The resume and cover letter are the heart of the application process. In many cases, this is a candidate’s first opportunity to introduce themselves to a prospective employer. We believe a core competency-based approach is best to demonstrate a jobseeker’s ability to demonstrate their value, as well as connect the dots to the particular responsibilities of a job and culture of an organization.

This session entails reviewing your current cover letter and resume, and making adjustments that highlight your core competencies, including how they specifically map to the position type (or specific position, if known) that reflect your career goals. At the end of this session, you will have the information required to produce a resume and cover letter that clearly demonstrate your fit with a position and organization.

Session 3: Networking

The ability to develop and foster relationships with people who could lead you to your next opportunity is an essential part of the nonprofit job search.

In this session, we will explore the best practices of networking, identify the various connectors in your life, and develop a plan to help you activate your networks. This session also includes information and guidance around how to use social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, and how to leverage associations and other membership organizations to make connections.

Session 4: Mock Interview

Interviewing can be stressful, so what do we suggest? Practice, practice, practice! This session is a 40-minute mock interview, either for an actual position that you are interested in applying to, or one that you identify before this session. Shortly after the mock interview, your advisor will lead you through a 20-minute debrief to review feedback and develop strategies to position you for success in a real-life interview setting.

After this session, you will be armed with feedback on your overall presentation, ability to communicate effectively, ability to demonstrate your core competencies in your responses, as well as other areas that are specific to nonprofit interviews.

What it Costs

The fee for the complete career advising package is $750. Unlike more expensive, longer-term career advising services, our offering is designed to be economical in time and cost.