Working for a nonprofit can be an incredibly gratifying experience. You get to make a difference for a local cause that you can feel good about. Nonprofits are also a great way to diversify your work experience, gain new job skills, and strengthen your existing skills, which makes it a great option for new graduates or those who are just starting in a new field (think accounting, administrative work, event planning, or even IT!). However, getting hired by a nonprofit is a lot different than other fields. Especially for people who have experience in the corporate world, the nonprofit job search may seem a lot different!
Because nonprofits are often pretty small with a limited budget, nonprofit employees can end up wearing many hats. I know in my nonprofit experience, I’ve been hired exclusively for fundraising jobs, but along the way I’ve learned graphic design, data analytics, event planning, and I even got certified as a contact tracer and a preliminary vision screener. This is all because once they hired me, it was cheaper for my employers to invest in my education than it was for them to hire another employee or a contractor. If you’re someone who enjoys learning, variety, and trying new things, then you’re going to have a lot of fun working in a nonprofit! Since the nonprofit field can be so different, read on for details on the 5 ways to help you get hired in the nonprofit field.
Table of contents:
- Show a willingness to learn
- Be Patient
- Be Professional
- Find a way to show your passion for the mission
- Be courteous no matter what
Keep reading to learn more!
1)Show a willingness to learn- I include a section on my resume with the recent, relevant trainings that I’ve done. If I find a job I want, and it’s a great fit except for an emphasis on a skill or software that I don’t have experience with, I’ll do one or two free trainings and then add this to my resume. Websites like Coursera, Nonprofit Ready, and Udemy are all great places to train up on a skill or software that you aren’t already familiar with.
2) Be patient- Unlike a large company or corporation, a nonprofit doesn’t have recruiters dedicated to the hiring process. They may not even have an HR rep who doesn’t also have other responsibilities (I’ve personally seen HR do finances, office management, event planning, and much more!) Your interview may end up being an upper level manager or a volunteer from their board of directors. So be ready to wait a little longer than other industries when it comes to getting emails answered or hearing back regarding interviews. They may be really pressed for time until they hire you!
3) Be professional- some people fall into a trap where they think that because the nonprofit world can be a bit more informal- no recruiters, wearing multiple hats, and community centered work- that it’s okay to “let it all hang out.” I’ve seen people show up to Zoom interviews with a messy room visible behind them, miss a phone interview call and then try to call back 20 minutes late with no apology or excuse, and be way too casual in their emails- including using emojis when responding to an interview request! None of this is good! Potential employers want to know that you will represent their organization with professionalism at all times. Even when you think noone is around!
4) Find a way to show your passion for the mission- I’ve seen so, so many nonprofit job listings include “a passion for XYZ mission” as one of the job qualifications. As a longtime nonprofit employee, if I were to only apply to organizations where I already had an existing deep passion for the cause, I would never get the job! It’s just not possible to be THAT passionate about SO many different causes. No matter how great they are! However, you need to find a way to tie your interests, skills, and passions into the mission. This starts when you’re writing your cover letter, and continues when you’re interviewing. If the organization is for Juvenile Diabetes, and you don’t have an existing tie to that cause, talk about your passion for public health, children’s health, or children. If the cause is for the environment, talk about your personal interest in the environment. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t had a professional background in the cause, and I’ve noted that the work aligns with my personal values- and I’ve given true, solid examples of real overlapping values. This is KEY. You’re showing your interviewer that if they hire you, you’ll be able to share information about the cause and represent the organization and mission to others.
5) Be courteous- If you don’t get the job, make sure to respond politely and professionally (see here for my tips & template on how to respond to not getting a job). I can tell you from personal experience- this matters! I’ve had multiple organizations reach out to me later, after I wasn’t hired, to invite me back as a contractor to help with projects they had. Once, I even got hired because the first person they hired didn’t work out! Imagine how I felt! Plant those seeds now, so that you’ll stay on their list for future work!
Click here to learn more about the best places to look for nonprofit job openings!