Category Archives: non-profit work

5 Questions to Help You Create Your 2012 Nonprofit Career Plan


Posted by ajlovesya

On Wednesday, Rosetta Thurman and I hosted our first #ynpchat of the year on creating a 2012 nonprofit career plan.  The questions, adapted from Rosetta’s powerful piece on the 15 questions you should ask about your nonprofit career, strengthened our sense of pride in our work and allowed us to walk away with a better vision and strategy on how to rock our careers in 2012.

 

1.  What do you most want to get out of your involvement with the nonprofit sector?  In other words, why are you here? What are you hoping to learn and do that will help you grow professionally and personally?

 

2.  What accomplishments in your nonprofit career were you most proud of in 2011?  I must say that the responses to this questions blew me away.  From raising money, to implementing new programs, to finding our voice in the sector,  we clearly have done a lot of good for ourselves and others.  Yet so often, we are quiet about the work we do, thinking that to focus on accomplishments is taking attention away from the problems we may be addressing.  Yet the reality is, if we dont celebrate what we do, nobody else will and our accomplishments often lead to more interest in our work.   So let your light shine, people!  My challenge to participants: do you have a portfolio of your accomplishments?

 

3.  What opportunities do you want to take advantage of in 2012 to grow your leadership and further your nonprofit career? This question essentially has two parts 1. Understanding how you would like to grow and 2. identifying those opportunities that would aid in your growth. In reflecting on your accomplishments and your reasons for choosing your work, it’s easier to think about how you’d like to grow and seek programs, events, or other opportunities that would help you.

 

4.  What’s ONE step you can take in the next 30 days to make progress on your 2012 career goals?  I don’t know about you, but it’s so easy for me to make a list of my goals then walk away hoping they get done.  30 days to take one step makes progress actionable and manageable.

 

5.  Given your 2012 career goals, what’s your ONE-WORD theme to guide your work for the year?  VISION.   FOCUS. CREATIVITY.  DISCIPLINE.  My personal favorite: STRENGTHEN.  Thinking of the previous questions, what  word embodies your success, your ambitions, and your plans?

 

This was one of the most exciting chats we’ve hosted and proved to be a great way to kick of the new year.  Didn’t participate in the chat?  Check out the responses on twitter.  You can also share your thoughts below, on facebook, or tweet your responses using the#ynpchat hashtag so we can keep the conversation going.  And be sure to join us Wednesday, February 1, 12PM-1PM EST for the next chat!

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Staying competitive in the workforce when you’re looking for work


Posted by ajlovesya

I am happy to welcome this guest post from Elizabeth Campbell, an aspiring nonprofiteer in Chicago. While my last post discussed the importance of  managing your professional development, what does this mean when you’re looking for work or are new to working?  What actions can you take or resources can you leverage to grow and stay competitve?  Elizabeth shares her thoughts below.  Be sure to add yours in the comments!

As someone who has recently graduated and joined the real world, I can tell you that staying competitive in the job market takes dedication and lots of patience.

But I will say I’m lucky. I already know for certain that I want to work in the nonprofit sector. I’m devoted to social change and building communities. I might be unemployed in a large city, but I know exactly where to look for work. I’m also keeping busy in many ways as I send out résumés and cover letters with fingers crossed.

  • Reading the local paper. In just a few weeks of reading the Chicago Tribune every day, I’ve learned so much about this town. Not only do I feel more prepared for job interviews, I also care much more deeply about this community, which helps me stay motivated.
  • Researching local organizations. In addition to applying to jobs via website such as Idealist, Opportunity Knocks, or Chicago’s NPO.net, I spend lots of time going to the websites of individual organizations I find interesting. Even if they aren’t hiring, I add them to my list of organizations to keep an eye on. I read up on their history, mission, programs and staff.
  • Reading articles, social media posts, blogs and books about nonprofits. You might have noticed by now that a lot of my time is spent reading. Online and offline, I’ve been catching up on nonprofit sector news. News sites such as Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Quarterly, Nonprofit Times and Philanthropy Journal offer a lot of information without having to subscribe. Spending time on social networking sites like Twitter and LinkedIn lets me see not only what’s going on with other nonprofit professionals, but also what they think. It encourages conversations and connections. And, of course, catching up on sector-related books and blogs helps me feel like I know what I’m talking about to prospective employers.
  • Joining a member organization. I’ve joined YNPN-Chicago. It was free and a close friend is on the board, so I had no excuse. And so far I’ve met many other nonprofit professionals. Not only have a made some friends, I’ve gotten the opportunity to volunteer with their Programming Committee. I’m learning some new skills and having a voice in this association. 
  • Maintaining down time: crossword puzzles, reading, writing letters to friends. This is very important. Every day I make sure I do certain activities just for the enjoyment I get out of them. Especially as I wind down for the night, I love to work on the paper’s crossword puzzle, read a book just for fun (currently, it’s F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Tender is the Night”), and writing letters to my friends scattered all over the country. It relaxes me and keeps me sane!

Staying competitive in the workforce means staying knowledgeable. But just because I can’t afford all the wonderful workshops and conferences that Chicago has to offer, doesn’t mean I can’t keep learning. Taking advantage of Web-based media and professional networking keeps me dedicated and enthusiastic. That way, when I do finally get an amazing job, I’ll hit the ground running.

In the meantime, I’ve got another cover letter to write.


Elizabeth recently earned her B.F.A. in Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She now lives in Chicago where she’s looking for work in nonprofit administration. You may reach her online through her website, blog, Twitter and LinkedIn.


The number one resource job seekers should pay attention to: human resources


Posted by ajlovesya

While much of this blog focuses on professional development in the nonprofit sector, an important part of thriving in the sector is knowing what you can/should and cannot/should not do on the job. Yes, the day to day interactions and the larger legal and social protectations and expectations that affect your experiences at work.

I’m talking about Human Resources, people.

Mention HR and people assume you are talking about folks who hire and fire. However the folks in HR often have a birds eye view on organizational culture, general practices in hiring and firing, and understanding of legal protections to employees and employers. This kind of information is always helpful for job searching, identifying organizations to work for, and most importantly, what you are and are not entitled to as an employee (in your quest to save the world dont forget that you do have rights).

Here are my favorite HR blogs:

Ask a Manager: Alison Green answers questions from readers while sharing great advice on what it takes to be a great manager, all with a bit of snark :) There is also something juicy about her blog.  Specifically, the kind of questions readers ask make me wonder “Wait–this really happens at people’s jobs?!”  She also blogs at US News. My favorite posts:

Evil HR Lady: Like Alison, Suzanne Lucas answers questions from readers. She combines her advice with timely comments on job searching practices and social issues that affect employees and their organizations in a straight-no-chaser style. She also blogs on BNET.  My favorite posts:

See You Guys, I’m Going Home: If the title alone doesn’t make you want to read the blog, Donna Ballman’s wit and insight on legal issues in the workplace will. She also blogs at AOL Jobs.  My favorite posts:

Are there any HR blogs you read?  Share them below!

Photo Credit. And I am obsessed with The Office–couldn’t talk about HR and not have a picture of Toby!  And there’s your random Allison Jones fact for the day.


The ABCs of Social Media While Job Hunting


Posted by ajlovesya

Puzzle Job Search

Earlier this month I gave a presentation on how to use social media while job hunting at the annual Fundraising Day – NY Conference.  It was a blast connecting with fellow fundraisers, gaining a deeper understanding of philanthropy, and some new resources and best practices.

In my presentation, I covered the basic framework I think people should have when trying to get into social media for career development purposes.  Most people were using social networking for personal reasons, however they wanted to know what simple specific actions or new techniques they should use to gain access to job opportunities and expand their network (remember, the #1 way nonprofits fill positions is through their network!)

Before we get into the ABCs, there are some basics to keep in mind:

  • Have a complete profile: take advantage of the space you are given and share a bit about who you are! Include a link to a place where people can read more about you.  No blog or website?  Start with about.me
  • Be prepared to help others: you really do get as much as you give
  • Be specific in your approach: you dont need to connect with everyone–it’s not a numbers game
  • Be in it for the long haul: it’s about building relationships, which takes time

A:  Awareness

Use social media to learn about job opportunities and increase your knowledge of trends in your field.

To get started: Subscribe to key blogs in your field. Visit nonprofit.alltop.com or fundraising.alltop.com to look at the most popular blogs in the nonprofit and fundraising spaces.

B: Branding

Develop a strong reputation as the go to person in your field by adding value to conversations taking place online.

To get started: Answer questions on LinkedIn. Check out http://learn.linkedin.com/answers/ to get a better sense of how to search and answer questions in your field.

C: Connections

You can build relationships online that can provide support and resources during the job hunt and beyond.

To get started: Find leaders on twitter to follow by using wefollow.com and introduce yourself by congratulating or complimenting them.

Here are some additional resources for job seekers using social media:

True Story: How Social Media Can Land You a Job

Three Tactics to Boost Your Network Using Social Media

How LinkedIn Can Transform Your Job Search

10 Smart Ways to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

What questions do you have about using social media while job hunting?  What resources or advice would you share for folks wanting to get started with social networking for career development?

Photo Credit


Three Ways to Cultivate Professional Relationships


Posted by ajlovesya

This is the last guest post of my advice series featuring insights from young nonprofit professionals.   Check out the other articles and be sure to subscribe to my blog via email so you never miss a post.

By Guest Blogger Jessica Journey

After graduating from college, figuring out the next steps in your career can be daunting – not to mention exhausting! Searching job boards, requesting informational interviews, drafting cover letters, attending events, calling contacts…

Don’t let your efforts be in vain – invest your time and energy strategically and build your network for the long-term. Take these three steps to cultivate professional relationships with your networking contacts:

Send an email immediately.

  • Most professionals expect quick online communication. As soon as you can get to your smart phone or a computer, send your new contact a friendly message.
  • Keep it simple but personal. Express your gratitude for their time and attention. Be sure to include a specific reference to something you two discussed.
  • BONUS TIP: Still have an old Yahoo or AOL account? It’s time for an update! Get a Gmail account – make the username your name. No numbers in the username. Please.

Follow-up with a handwritten note.

  • Online technology is great, but a handwritten note offers its advantages, too! Your contact will definitely take notice if they receive a small card with a kind note.
  • Especially as young professionals, we need to break down stereotypes about our generation. Sure we enjoy social media, but it’s because we really love people and relationships – a handwritten note shows just that!
  • BONUS TIP: Prepare the envelope with address and stamp before the meeting. That way, you won’t forget to finish the note and drop it in a mailbox. You’ll be so glad that you did!

Connect over social media.

  • The easiest way to keep the conversation going with your new contact is social networking. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn – there are plenty of possibilities.
  • Which network depends on you and what networks you’ve decided to leverage for professional purposes. Maybe you use Facebook for your friends and LinkedIn for your career – so, only connect on LinkedIn.
  • BONUS TIP: Make the request personal. For example, replace the default connection message on LinkedIn with your own personal message. Using the standard language just looks lazy. Period.

Implement the three steps with your networking contacts – whether it be after a quick introduction at an event, a one-on-one coffee conversation, or a formal interview. You’ll be glad you did; your career will benefit from this long-term approach!

What other ways do you follow-up with networking contacts? How do you keep the connection alive and the conversation going past the initial meeting? Please leave a comment with your idea!

Guest Blogger Jessica Journey is a nonprofit professional, thriving in the Indianapolis community. She has more than six years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy. Follow @Jessica_Journey on Twitter and read her blog at www.jessicajourney.com