Finding a Career in Today's Nonprofit World by Kara Montermoso, HR & Operations Manager, Idealist.org

1. modified version
idealist.org

2. How to start your search
Four Lens exercise
1. An issue and/or value
2. An organization
3. A role or position
4. A system
• Scope of work: local, national, international
• Approach to the work: direct service, advocacy, philanthropy, capacity
building, policy, research/analysis
• Type of organization: Established or a start-up? Influential in the field
or relatively unknown? Well-funded and centrist or grassroots and on
the fringe?
Four Lens exercise created by David Schachter, NYU Wagner
Graduate School of Public Service
idealist.org

3. (Re)search
From the
Idealist
home
page…
idealist.org

4. Searches
idealist.org

5. Self-assessment
Career Tracks exercise
• Find 50 spine-tingling job postings
• Look for patterns
• Create potential career tracks
• Assess end goals
Career Tracks exercise created by David Schachter, NYU Wagner
Graduate School of Public Service
idealist.org

6. Most valuable qualities?
From Idealist.org’s 2011 Employment Trends Survey
idealist.org

7. Types of positions
From Idealist.org’s 2011 Employment Trends Survey
idealist.org

8. The Idealist Guides
For First-time Job Seekers & Sector Switchers
• FREE, online PDF books to download, print, or email
• Chapters on:
• Resumes & cover letters
• Making yourself a stronger candidate
• Negotiation, saying yes, and why your search never ends
• Includes:
• Current nonprofit stats
• Advice from nonprofit HR professionals
• Best practices for your career search
http://www.idealist.org/info/Careers/Guides
idealist.org

9. Handbook to Building
a Better World
• Part career guide, part activist's handbook
• Inspired by our online community and their
ongoing search for work that gives back to the world.
• Provides a comprehensive understanding of the issues,
options, organizations, and resources so readers can be
proactive, whether it's through one's current job,
volunteering, donating, personal spending, board
service, starting an organization, or changing careers.
http://www.amazon.com/Idealist-org-
Handbook-Building-Better-World/dp/
B002PJ4GA4
idealist.org

10. The Leadership Survey
Next Generation Leaders Speak Out
• FREE, online report to download and print
• Largest national survey to date of emerging
nonprofit leaders.
• Designed to assess next generation leaders’ career
aspirations within the nonprofit sector.
http://www.meyerfoundation.org/newsroom/
meyer_publications/ready_to_lead
Produced in partnership with Idealist.org, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, the
Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the Meyer Foundation.
idealist.org

11. Making a Difference
Personal Profit in a Nonprofit World
• FREE, online PDF booklet to download
• This booklet is a step-by-step process is designed to
guide you toward informed financial decisions.
• Understanding personal savings accounts to learning
the fundamentals of job salaries and benefits within the
sector.
http://www.idealist.org/info/Careers/Guides/
FinancialAdvice
idealist.org

12. Additional Resources
• Grad School Resource Center and Fairs
http://www.idealist.org/info/GradEducation
• International Volunteering Resource Center
http://www.idealist.org/info/IntlVolunteer
• Nonprofit Career Center
http://www.idealist.org/info/Careers
• Idealist’s 2011 Survey on Employment Trends
http://www.idealisthr.org/
Idealist_EmploymentReport2011.pdf
idealist.org

13. idealist.org