Monthly Archives: September 2009

Launching a Career in Social Change: Résumé and Cover Letter Tips for College Grads


Posted by ajlovesya

This post was written for Nonprofit Career Month, a national campaign to promote awareness of careers in the nonprofit sector.

So you’ve decided to explore a career in the nonprofit sector.  Great!  However, if you’re a recent college grad, writing a résumé for your first job out of college is tough. Unlike traditional résumés where you can highlight previous experience that is most likely connected to the job for which you are applying, time in college is often characterized by random jobs and classes that don’t go together. How can you package and present your experiences in a way that demonstrates you’re a good fit to a potential employer?

What you want to send to potential employers is not a traditional resume but rather a Career Launching Résumé (CLR). Lauren Friese over at TalentEgg.ca defines a CLR as a résumé that focuses on your assets, demonstrates your interest in the position, stands out, and is written like a sales proposal. What do these four characteristics look like when applying for a job in social change?

Your Assets:

You need to demonstrate to an employer that you can do the job well and fit into the organization’s overall mission. What skills are your bringing to the table that will meet an employers need?

Showcase accomplishments not just duties: If the job you are applying for wants management skills, give data that shows how you increased sales or followed through with a successful project. Throughout your cover letter use key words like teamwork and resourceful to connect what you did and who you are with what the organization wants.

Your Interest:

A common piece of advice given when applying for nonprofit jobs is to demonstrate passion for the organization and its mission. But what does passion look like in a résumé?

Highlight any academic research related to social change: Did you use your thesis to examine the impact of educational policy on a local community? Have you explored business practices that address poverty or expand employment opportunities? Integrating social issues into research is a great way to show passion while developing writing and critical thinking skills. Since you are just graduating from college, this information should be at the top of your résumé and listed under your college.

Emphasize service and fit: In the cover letter, discuss the organization’s track record and how your skills can fit in with their future plans. If you have done community service before, put it on the résumé and describe. Organize your résumé chronologically but use subheadings and titles that demonstrate the skills and experience applicable to the job. Instead of saying “Relevant Work Experience” try “Community Leadership Experience.” If the job is managerial or administrative related, use related words in your titles and descriptions.

Standing Out:

Many of us have heard of the frightening statistic that most hiring managers only spend 30 second per résumé which means you have less than a minute to catch someone’s eye. How can you make a person keep reading?

Get a personal contact: 90% of all jobs are filled by referral. Try having an informational interview with someone at the organization you would like to work at and use that person as a segue into a job, or tap into your networks (alumni are great for this!) for contacts. Look into organizations that your college has a great relationship with and see if they are hiring. Make sure to mention personal contacts in your cover letter.

Selling Yourself:

In the end you are selling a product: YOU. It is crucial that the packaging is put together and there are no surprises. What is your best presentation?

Proofread and share: Print your résumé and cover letter out and read it the day after your write it to scan for mistakes. Share your résumé with peers for some fresh eyes to ensure that everything you’ve written makes sense and is easy to navigate.

Use social media wisely: “Googling” is all the rage these days. Make sure your internet presence is clean and interesting. Try starting a blog to build yourself up as a thought leader in the field or simply to discuss pressing issues in social change while developing your communication skills. Use LinkedIn to keep people up to date on projects you are working on while connecting with others who share your passion.


Approach College Like an Entrepreneur


Posted by ajlovesya

Jun Loayza recently wrote an excellent piece on why it’s a bad move to drop out of school to start a business. Some people feel that if they have a great idea, there is really no reason for them to stay in school.

At the root of this belief is a poor approach to college.  While in school we have a tendency to emphasize what we don’t like while focusing too narrowly on what we do like.  However, if you really consider yourself an entrepreneur it’s impossible to ignore the following resources colleges can provide:

Focus groups and product testers: All those students, staff, faculty, and community members!  Seriously, it’s research heaven.  If the group you need to work with is not on campus, most colleges have relationships with many organizations in their city.  Tap into those connections and ask if you can test out your ideas.

Mentors, networking, and learning opportunities: Colleges host conferences, lectures, and workshops often free or at low costs to students.  Professors and alumni can offer the one-on-one expert advice you need and might even let you work with them on projects related to your idea for more hands on experience.  Meeting people at events and developing mentors are what can further your career along and college is a great place to start building your network.

And nothing beats spending lots of time in the library.  Read up on the latest trends in your field, people making moves, and tips on how to develop your project.

Flexible schedule and limited risks: These are probably the greatest gifts.  Most of your basic needs are covered in college and unless you are planning something the risks the security and financial stability of the entire institution, your business ventures, should they fail, will not result in a catastrophic loss.   And you have more time, time that YOU have more control over, to work on your idea.  First class isn’t until 1pm and your shift at the café doesn’t start until 6pm?  Well, you have all morning to be researching and reaching out.

Funding and in-kind support: Some colleges have in-house funding opportunities for students or other kinds of support that you can use to launch your idea.  Website hosting, space for meetings, printing, internet access, and software are just a few of the resources that colleges may be able to offer you for free.  These little things eat up a lot of time and money when you are trying to launch on your own so take advantage of them!

What do you think are some of the benefits to staying in school as an entrepreneur?  What are some of the challenges?


Why Public Libraries Matter


Posted by ajlovesya

“One of the most subversive institutions in the United States is the public library, where citizens can find a fount of knowledge for personal growth.”

~bell hooks, Rock My Soul

For as long as I can remember the public library has been one of the few places where I could be comfortable in my own skin; alone, learning, reflecting, writing, and being still.  At first my use of the library was out of necessity; in high school the number of books we had to purchase was ridiculous so I would save money by borrowing.  But it was impossible to simply grab a book and walk away.  If I wasn’t signing up for a workshop or doing homework I was browsing books in new topics I was interested in.  And, most importantly, I was being left alone to enjoy it—mom had no problem with me being in the library until it closed and no one interrupted me.

Fast forward a few years and my relationship is the same.  The library is my refuge and wherever I live and work it is one of the first things I look for.

So you can imagine my anger when I received word the unless the PA Senate acts immediately ALL public libraries in the city of Philadelphia will be closed on October 2nd. While I no longer live in Philly, I frequented its libraries with the same excitement as I do in my hometown.

Shutting down libraries limits citizen mobility and civic engagement.  We aren’t just lamenting the loss of books (which is bad enough), we also risk losing safe public spaces for community meetings, workshops on everything from job hunting, resume writing, to building a small business, school trips, and most  importantly, personal growth.

Eliminating these resources is simply reprehensible.  And in one of the largest cities in the country this kind of loss will inevitably be tragic.

In Pennsylvania? Contact your legislator and call them out on their foolishness.

Not in Pennsylvania? Support YOUR library.  Let’s make it clear how much we value our libraries.  Donate, volunteer, or lend your voice.

Enjoy this post?  Share and tweet your support #savethefreelibrary

Update:  A budget was passed and the libraries have been saved.  If you read, tweeted, called, or shared THANK YOU!  Read more here: http://bit.ly/rqjXf


Want to Use the Internet to Bring About Social Change?


Posted by ajlovesya

Then check out these two events:

Twestival is here again!

Last year people in over 150 cities used twitter to raise money and awareness for charity:water, a nonprofit that builds wells for communities throughout Africa.  Giving the overwhelming amount of support and money raised (over $1 million!), Twestival is back this year (September 10-13) but with a new twist—each city is supporting a local charity.  I love the idea of working with a local nonprofit; perhaps it will be easier to keep in touch and updated on what is happening with the org and maybe even get involved.  Look for a twestival in your city or for a way to help out.

Mozilla.org Service Week

Mozilla.org Service Week (September 14-21) asks you to set aside time to help nonprofits fulfill their social justice missions by working on internet  based projects.  We hear so much about how we can use the internet to mobilize and empower people to enact social change now is your chance to participate!  Look for an opportunity.

It’d be great to hear about your experiences if you participate in any of these events.  Also, if you know of any events that allow people to use the internet to connect and give, please share them.


5 Nonprofit Career Exploration Tips for College Students


Posted by ajlovesya

As a new school year starts up many college students are at different places in their career searches.  Some have not even thought of it and others may find it suddenly thrust upon them.  If you know you want to get involved in nonprofit work, the process is even more difficult.  Aside from a handful of well known fellowships—Teach for America, Americorps, City Year, and the Peace Corps—the social change career search is daunting because it isn’t often presented as a viable career option.  Where do you begin?  How do you figure out what you want to do?

No matter where you are your career search involves more than finding a job; you need to have a sense of what you enjoy doing, what you are passionate about, and what skills and networks you want to develop.  Here a few ways to begin the exploration process:

Find a skilled volunteer or internship opportunity at a nonprofit: Skilled volunteer positions and internships allow you to develop a relationship with an organization while exploring what you are good at.   Take time to meet other people at the organization and learn a bit about what they do.   You can make wonderful contacts and use your experiences to add a new perspective to your course work.

Take a class with a social justice component: Social justice classes are unique in that they usually combine fieldwork with personal reflection and exploration of local issues in a broader social context.  You can get a sense of what issues are important to you and how you want to approach them.

Take an economics class: Contrary to what people believe economics does not automatically equate to a career in finance.  Economics is about how and why we buy and the impact our purchases have on local and global economies.  Additionally, learning about business structures and developing methodical and strategic thinking skills are valuable in any sector and in many positions.

Join a club that explores pressing social issues: Clubs provide you with the opportunity to bond with people who share your interests while increasing your access to diverse resources.  You can also help plan events, network with people, and increase awareness and advocacy efforts, all of which are valuable skills in the nonprofit sector.

Go abroad: Living abroad forces you to be more independent and fosters self awareness.  You also have the opportunity to explore international issues, learn another language, and engage in comparative research to better frame your understanding of social justice.  And finally, many organizations view travel abroad favorably as a sign of being able to work independently and be resourceful.

What are some other ways to explore the nonprofit sector and your place in it?