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A Primer for Nonprofit Jobseeking

By Commongood Careers

Preparation for your nonprofit job search can mean the difference between getting a good job and a great one. Good preparation entails the following:

(1) PLANNING: Know What You Want and What’s Out There

  • Describe your ideal organization (geography, mission, culture, size)
  • Define your ideal position (function, department, responsibilities, compensation)
  • Familiarize yourself with the field looking at online resources (Idealist, Guidestar, Foundation Center), publications (Stanford Social Innovation Review, NonProfit Times, Nonprofit Quarterly), foundations (New Profit Inc, Venture Philanthropy Partners, Social Venture Partners, Edna McConnell Clark, Ashoka), and award programs (Fast Company, Root Cause Institute, Manhattan Institute)

(2) NETWORKING: Build Relationships and Knowledge

  • Request e-mail introductions from personal contacts to organizations of interest
  • Conduct informational interviews first—look for knowledge, not a job!
  • Attend career fairs, volunteer, join boards, start consulting, initiate internships
  • Work with a search firm like Commongood Careers or Bridgestar

(3) APPLYING: Find and Apply for the Best Jobs

  • Start networking ASAP, but do not start applying more than 1-2 months before you will be available—nonprofits look to hire immediately, not months in advance
  • Stay organized and motivated, and be patient, finding the perfect job takes time

(4) MARKETING: Know Your Audience and Position Yourself

  • In your cover letter, explain why you are passionate about the organization’s mission, focus on the transferable skills you bring, and address how your experience fits with the requirements
  • With your resume, stick to relevant experience, stay under 2 pages, and avoid typos
  • For the interview, research the organization, prepare intelligent questions, dress professionally, reiterate why you are passionate about the mission, and interview with high energy, confidence, and a positive attitude (entrepreneurial nonprofits want passionate self-starters)

This article was written by Commongood Careers and is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 2.5 License.

For more information about nonprofit and socially entrepreneurial careers, visit Commongood Careers at http://www.cgcareers.org.