Reading this is a strong step towards obtaining the job and or new position that you want at a nonprofit or foundation. Congratulations, you have now made a solid and real step towards educating yourself on the possibilities and new career pathways hidden within the sector.

This information is meant to offer you insight into the different cultures of the separate nonprofit industries, and further offers advice on how best to apply and approach the sector you are most interested in.

From Green industries to the Arts, to women’s rights social services this touches on what you need to know in order to be able to apply at one.

Written here is real information about what it takes to get the nonprofit job you want, and also further pathways for adding meat to your resume, nonprofit profile, and employment strategies that actually work.

My name is Isaac Woodrow Schild and I am an nonprofit employment expert. I have been a CEO, President of a staffing company started by nonprofits, an Nonprofit Executive Director, and most importantly a Nonprofit Executive Recruiter and expert in the field– so I know the tricks, realities, and approaches to get you the interview and get you hired that no one else understands.

Think of nonprofits just like any other culture like a club: there is a specific approach for speaking to them, to applying with them, and for entering into them for a new career path.

In my prior years I have helped staff over a thousand nonprofit organizations, foundations and universities to date. And believe me when I tell you that this is a completely different playing field that most corporate cultures, and gaining real and usable nonprofit experience can be a very tricky thing.

I say this not to daunt you, or scare you from doing it, or opening your own nonprofit, but instead to educate you on the real activities that you will have to partake in. It is today that you change your career, and start doing things in your everyday life that start to prepare you for a career in the nonprofit sector.

Its is true that making a difference in your day job to help others is a very fulfilling path, but it is also true that it takes preparation, knowledge and strategy.

Step One: forget everything that you think that you know.

It is a misnomer that the it is a easy to transfer your current experience into the nonprofit sector. It does not matter if you have been a CEO of a large for-profit successful entity, nor a business development professional with over twenty years of experience. To get a job at a foundation, nonprofit organization, or educational institution your prior experience may not even help you in some cases unless you personally started Google, or your name is Hewlett Packard.

It is a general misconception that because private salaries are larger than the nonprofit sector that for-profit professional experience is also worth more. It isn’t. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

Now, what I am not saying is that your prior expertise is not important. If you are lucky enough to be looking to work at a nonprofit in a specialized field the exact same as your previous experience, this will hold more influence.

But where most people fall seeking work in the nonprofit sector, they are instead interested in working in a “related” field to what they had been working in. Sales professionals want to enter into Fundraising, Administrative professionals want to help run nonprofit programs, Consultants want to run Marketing nonprofit departments, Real Estate and Finance professionals want to run housing programs and help social services.

It’s just not that simple. Choosing to work in an area, and also having the specific skills is not the most important thing in landing the job that you want at a nonprofit. If that were true than previous experience would not be required at all. Instead pervious direct experience in the same department, arena, or area is sought. Do you have it already? If you do, then you will still need to apply the principles within this book to successfully obtain the position you desire.

If you are like most candidates, the good news is, there are ways around this barrier, but it takes work, devotion, and a willingness to create documentation, resumes, and information about yourself. The number one reason that people fail to land the job that hey want in the nonprofit sector is because they choose to not put the time and work into demonstrating you are a viable nonprofit candidate.

Getting a job at a nonprofit, is not just as easy as submitting a resume, making a follow-up phone call, and dropping a thank you note after an interview. Though it is true that all these things are a good idea, it is also even more true that you must first demonstrate to prospective nonprofit employers that you fit them much closer than you ever though required in the past, or in the for-profit sector.
Tip one: be mission driven.

Tip two: volunteer in the area you want to work, and in the position/or department you want obtain. From there you are just a hop, skip, and jump away from your dream job!

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Picking a staffing company is an important step in finding work or finding staff. We recommend using the smaller and local companies first because they tend to spend more time with their candidates and many times have more interesting jobs. When you are there work with the staffing recruiter to make your resume better. Ask for tips on how to improve it, and ask them if they recommend any other staffing companies in the area.

What To Ask A Staffing Company

The first thing you want to do is find out how to best apply. Here are some suggestions of good questions to ask when calling them.

1.Do you offer open temp interview and registration time slots?
2.What industry they place the most people in?
3.How many perm jobs do they find monthly for people in the area?
4.What do you think the best thing candidates get out of meeting with their company?
5.Are you in need of more candidates in any areas? If so, which?
What to do next?

We recommend registering with two to three staffing options. One small, one large in the area. Always cast a wide next when looking for work though agencies. They have a lot of applicants and can not help everyone. But if you have gone to three and not gotten any work, I would suggest you rework your resume or rethink your approach. After meeting with three you have plenty of good options if you are a viable candidate.

TIP: When you meet them. Ask them if they think you are a viable candidate for immediate work, and if so in what area. If they do not say the area you are interested in, ask them how to improve your resume and profile to be able to get the work you desire. But if you don’t ask, you will never know for sure.

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OK, it’s true we are experiencing a slight bounce back in the economy. So, now is the time to go out there and get that new job you always wanted. If you know it or not, right now, before every one and their brother is out there looking again is the best time to possible to look for a new opportunity.

It was announced that our most esteemed economic adviser for the United States just days ago – “the end,” of the most intense recession since the great depression.

It is clear that job loss over the past two years has been stifling. But to us this feels more like a similar premature announcement that was made five years back about the war in IRAQ. Look, the real truth is that the world at large, and the United States PEOPLE THEMSELVES have control over our own economic destiny.

According to Economic truths – what ever the people feel is the current climate is – controls what our economy does. What I can say is this. Companies at this point today are beginning to place their toes in the water. But for the most part they are only hiring positions that lead to sales or new business development. Not until there is also a national decision to hire support positions and more services are we truly out of the woods.

Right now people are unsure, but begining to believe, and because of this the economy and job market is going to waiver up and down for the next while until people start believing that something else will occur. You should also expects stocks to do the same.

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If you are one of the millions of people out of work and having a hard time finding employment – because you are over-qualified or because you are now applying to an area out of your most recent specialization, you had better get right to work making a new resume that actually shows you want to do type of work you are applying for!

Let’s face it, ALL employers are afraid to hire over qualified applicants because they think they are going to jump right back into upper management (at a different company) as soon as opportunity arises! This is what you are trying to avoid.

Here is an example: showing on your resume you were a VP for the past three positions is not going to help you get a support or management position. So, always think carefully about what entries to include on your resume. You do not have to include everything! Make sure always be truthful (or it may come back to haunt you) but, that being said if you have a ton of experience perhaps only showing the past eight to ten years of DIRECTLY APPLICABLE experience is a better bet for you. No one wants to hire someone unless they are FOCUSED. This is you new goal in writing your resume. In a perfect world your resume should show the same title as what you are applying for, and or information that most directly applies to the position you are interested in.

The main reason people do not get a job they want is because they do not have prior experience in the industry or because they did not take the time to fully make an appropriate resume. Candidates regularly spend hours writing a cover letter describing their prior work and applicable experience, but make the HUGE mistake not list the EXACT same information on your resume. BLAM! This is a huge no-no. Go the extra mile. Read this blog, and at the end you will be better informed about the REAL TRUTH about how to get a job, and what HR is really thinking.

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Look, first off, if you think that calling a career coach or job coach is going to allow you to put off making a real decision about how to get your next job, or what industry to go after, it wont. You can only do that for yourself. But, they might be able to get you fired up – when and if you ARE ready to make “the big” change. One thing is for sure…they will take your money.

For best results first have a solid idea of the job you want to get, and or at least the industry you want to break into before you hire a job coach.

Also, don’t forget about all the free and wonderful options you can also take advantage of. City employment centers are awesome and almost never used. People there will actually help to proof read your resume, and are paid to help you. Also, it does not cost a dime to talk to a recruiter. Tell them the dream job you want, and ask them straight out, “what do I need to do to be able to qualify?” They will believe it or not, tell you the truth. But be prepared if you ask, you may not like the answer. But don’t be afraid, if you don’t have the experience, why not volunteer in the exact job you want? Yes, you are not paid for the work, but in just weeks you could turn that into a paying job a close industry competitor that values what you have learned and your passion for the work. Nothing says you are passionate – like someone that is working for free. Trust me – it works, as long as you are positive, personal, not too cocky, and don’t try to wear the bosses hat before your time.

Some Good Job Coach Alternatives

•Local College Career Centers – if you did not go to one locally find someone that does. They normally can share the job info with you if you are a buddy.
•City Employment Centers- these are hardly used, and do have good things to offer if you are resourceful and have a good attitude.
•Staffing Companies- Why pay, when you can get the milk for free? These guys know their stuff and are on the pulse of who is hiring.

Places To Stay Away From

•Unspecialized Coaches – that have not worked with, or recruited in the exact industry you want to crack into.
•Paying for Advice you can get for free.
•People with bad attitudes in your daily life- stay away from talking to anyone that tells you – you cant work in a specific industry. If you want it bad enough, you can do it! Don’t let anyone stop you. Just stay away from the topic of employment with these people.

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If you are like most job seekers you have not put enough time into your resume.

Q: Have you had two other people proof your resume? Have you written detailed skills sections? Have you listed who you reported to in each of your past positions?

If not, you may wish to considering the following to improve your resume. No mater who you are (even an experienced recruiter) everyone has room to improve their resume.

Why Use Skills Sections?

The truth is the skills sections are useful to show that you can form a resume that explains your background as applied to the job description. You should have applicable skills sections: research skills, writing skills, finance skills, budgeting experience, and so on as needed for your resume and the job.

Do Use A Word Template

In all word and programs there are pre-made templates that you can use. Do that, and don’t try to design your own unless you have amazing with publisher and are graphic artist – otherwise it will only make you look quirky. This is a free resource and a very good idea.

Popular Things Done Wrong On A Resume Or During The Process:

1. Resume is not spelled Re’sume’ using italics, and do not use contractions on your resume or cover letter. They are a no-no.

2. Objectives are not needed.

3. The length no longer matters. We are not in the 80’s any longer the one page resume is a thing of the past. The more info the better as long as you are not long winded. Just keep it under 3 pages.

4. Do not misspell the name of the person you are sending to.

5. Do not use a template for your cover letter – and if so make sure to change all the needed areas on it.

6. Do not use cursive or odd fonts or colors. Stick to the normal.

7. Do not include a picture – its a red flag.

8. Do write a full page for your cover letter.

9. Do follow up in a professional and courteous manner about your application.

10. Do not use general words or language describing yourself like organized, motivated, team player, and so on. We want you to show us this in other ways, not on your resume.

11. Do not show up too early or be late at all for your interview. Five minutes before your time is perfect. Never be late even for one minute. Showing up at 12:01 for a 12:00 o’clock interview should not be done – and reflects poorly. Motivated candidates show up early – but not 20 minutes before, that is way too early.

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