Pivoting to a Career in the Nonprofit Space

The pandemic led many people to reevaluate their values and goals as they pertain to their career. Remote work situations allowed employees to reflect on the work they’re doing and determine if they feel fulfilled in their position and at their organization. With many people searching for more meaningful work, the non-profit space is seeing an increase in interest. Nonprofit work is a very different shift from the for-profit world so it’s important to be prepared before making the transition. Like any career transition, there are many factors to take into consideration to determine if the change will be a good fit for your personal and professional goals. Before you quit your job, we’ve outlined a few steps you should take to ensure that this new career path will be both rewarding and meaningful for you.

Do Your Homework
Searching for meaningful work can be overwhelming if you don’t determine certain causes that are important to you. When considering a pivot into the nonprofit sector, it’s important to identify what values and causes you’re passionate about and what organizations in your area align with your list. In the early stages of considering a shift to nonprofit work, reaching out to connections in your network who are currently in the space can be extremely helpful. Setting up brief calls allows you to learn about the industry first-hand and ask any questions about what a role with an organization entails. It also gives you the opportunity to learn about people’s journeys into the nonprofit industry and what steps they took to excel in their organizations.

Make Connections
Once you’ve determined that nonprofit work is an area you’d like to pursue, you can get an introduction to the organizations through volunteer work. Volunteering not only gives you hands-on experience working with nonprofits, but you can also connect with employees that work there in a low commitment situation. Through multiple volunteer opportunities you can work with different organizations and determine the ones that you feel are the best fit. In addition to volunteer work, networking both in person and online can allow you to establish new connections and learn more about nonprofit work.

Set Yourself Up For Success
Next, when applying to nonprofit roles, you should identify any transferable skills you’ve gained through past roles. While you may not have any formal nonprofit experience, these skills are extremely valuable to employers when letting them know your interest for the job. Finally, having a mentor or colleague review your resume is a powerful step you can take to showcase your abilities regardless of if you have any past nonprofit work experience. Tailoring your resume to fit work and mission of nonprofit culture proves your dedication and enthusiasm as you make the transition.

Pivoting into the nonprofit industry is a very fulfilling and exciting career move. Before making any big decisions it’s important to acclimate yourself with the work nonprofits are doing and how you can position yourself as an asset to the organization. While you don’t need to have a background in nonprofit work, highlighting transferable skills on your resume and showing your passion for nonprofits through volunteer work can be just as valuable. As you take the next step in your career, keep your goals and values in mind so that you can find an organization that aligns with you.