How to get attention (when switching careers)
We’ve all heard of the Great Resignation, but the Great Reinvention might be a more accurate term. We are almost two years past that article’s publication, yet the idea of reinvention, and switching careers, is still a large part of the conversations I’m having.
Because you’re here, you are likely interested in finding a job with a mission-driven nonprofit or movement building organization. If you haven’t worked in this area before, you might be struggling to figure out how to network and make the connections you need. Or, if you have been working in this field but you want to switch the type of work you are doing, you may be having similar struggles.
Here are some tips if you are switching careers. However, if you aren’t switching careers, these suggestions could be helpful to you as well. Don’t skip them!
tips for career switchers on the job hunt:
Be specific about what you accomplished.
On your resume and when you answer questions in interviews, specifics are always the way to go. Make a list of your specific accomplishments and keep them close as you move through the hiring process. Here are two examples you could use on your resume:
Be broad in your skills.
While we want only specifics for what you accomplished, as you describe your skills, this is where you want to be broad. Both teachers and nonprofit program managers have experience coaching, managing (teams, partnerships, projects), building relationships and collaborating. Both corporate marketers and nonprofit communication professionals have experience analyzing data, public speaking, writing, and researching. As you are presenting yourself to a new audience, be sure to highlight the broad skills needed in the job you are applying for.
Take out jargon that will be confusing or make people less inclined to look at your resume.
I’ve talked about the brother-in-law test before - the idea that someone in a completely different field should be able to understand the highlights of your work. This is especially important if you are switching from a different field–like from education or the corporate world–to nonprofits. Here is an example that comes from my colleague, Arianna Haut, who leads all of NRG’s education searches:
AVOID: Today I taught, gave a quiz, graded it, and changed my lesson plan for tomorrow to reteach missing skills.
USE THIS: Today I facilitated discussion, administered an assessment, conducted data analysis, and redesigned my plan in response to those data.
Use verbs that the organization uses in the job description.
What are the verbs and skills mentioned in the job description? If they say that they want an expert manager or someone experienced in strategic planning, then those are great clues. You will want to make sure you use the verbs “manage” and “strategic planning” in your resume, application answers or cover letter, and again in the interviews. Bonus if you have specific accomplishments tied to those verbs!
When in doubt, ask for help.
My colleague Kristin Saybe has a few small group coaching sessions coming up including one on how to use LinkedIn on June 5 and one about preparing for interviews on August 22. The session about LinkedIn on June 5 can be especially helpful for career switchers. You probably have people in your extended network who work for the types of organizations you want to work for. Connecting with those people will give you a leg up when looking for job opportunities. Kristin will help you figure out how to navigate LinkedIn and make those connections.
upcoming event
HOW TO USE LINKEDIN TO GET YOUR NEXT ROLE
Do you dread updating your LinkedIn profile? Are you confused about why you need it to begin with? Then we have an event for you.
We’ll spend the first 15 minutes with some quick tips about key points to remember when crafting your LinkedIn profile and using LinkedIn more generally. Then, we’ll look at some of the tools and discuss whether Premium is worth the investment. Finally we’ll look at real life profiles and get feedback from the group. We’ll end with your questions. You’ll come away with a clear idea of how to use LinkedIn to help find and land your next role.
On to the jobs! Check out all of NRG’s searches here. Twenty-one of those positions are remote.
Opportunities NRG is hiring for:
Executive Director at Madre Brava; $175,000 - $200,000; Remote (US or UK)
Executive Director at New York Civic Engagement Table (NYCET); $110,000-$120,000; NYC metro area
Senior Program Director at Building Power Resource Center; $130,000-$150,000; Remote
Senior Campaign Manager at Only One; $70,000-$80,000; Remote or Hybrid in NYC
Cooperative Business Consultant at ICA Group; $70,900 - $80,900; Remote (NYC metro or Western MA preferred)
Business Development Partner at FuelEd; $80,000-$105,000; Remote
Director of Marketing at FuelEd; $90,000-$110,000; Remote
Senior Program Associate, Network Leadership at Growald Climate Fund; $79,000-$85,000; Full-time, hybrid role based in Brookline, MA. Staff are in-office three days a week.
Manager, Network Leadership at Growald Climate Fund; $102,000-$127,000; Preference for Boston, MA; Seattle, WA; or San Francisco Bay Area, CA. If based in Boston, the position is hybrid with 3 days in-office.
Senior Data Director at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $145,000-$155,000; Remote
Deputy Director Advocacy & Policy at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $122,000-$145,000; Remote (preference for NY/DC areas)
Director of Immigration at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $116,000-$122,000; Remote (preference for NY/DC areas)
Social Media Director at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $110,000-$116,000; Remote
Georgia Organizing Director at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $92,700 - $95,502; Remote in Atlanta, GA
National Campaign Manager at National Domestic Workers Alliance; $86,520 - $89,135; Remote, preference for DC
Deputy Director, Partnership Development at Vote Rev; $143,997 - $156,956; Remote
Senior Associate, Partnerships at Vote Rev; $78,771 - $85,860; Remote
Manager, Partnerships at Vote Rev; $93,588 - $111,192; Remote
Digital Manager at Mothers Out Front; $78,000-$83,000; Remote
Distributed Organizing Manager at Mothers Out Front; $78,000-$88,000; Remote
Senior Organizer, Colorado at Mothers Out Front; $70,000-$75,000; Remote in Denver, CO
Senior Organizer, Northern California at Mothers Out Front; $70,000-$75,000; Remote in northern CA
VP, Administration at Freedom Forum; $190,000-$195,000; Washington, DC. At least 80% of time onsite in Washington, DC or Laurel, MD
Director of Housing at UTEC; $86,000; Lowell, MA
Director of Information Technology at UTEC; $86,000; Lowell, MA
Corporate and Foundations Relations Director at Discovering Justice; $85,000-$100,000; Hybrid in Boston, MA
Opportunities NRG is hiring for in education:
Dean of Student Supports at Jasper & Beaufort; $90,000+; Ridgeland, SC
Assistant Principal of Operations at Jasper & Beaufort; $90,000-$110,000; Ridgeland, SC
Academic Dean–Lower Elementary (K-2) at Jasper & Beaufort; $90,000+; Ridgeland, SC
Founding Elementary Teacher at at Jasper & Beaufort; $60,000+; Ridgeland, SC
Teaching Roles for 2024-2025 School Year at Shore Educational Collaborative; $$56,965-$114,700; Chelsea, MA
Therapeutic High School Teacher at Shore Educational Collaborative; $$56,965-$114,700; Chelsea, MA
Middle School Teacher at Shore Educational Collaborative; $$56,965-$114,700; Chelsea, MA
Academic Educator at UTEC; $55,000-$61,000; Lowell, MA
join the nrg talent network
If you aren’t currently a member of the NRG Talent Network, consider joining. The survey takes 3 minutes to complete and then we’ll send you job announcements when your criteria (salary, location, etc.) matches the position.
Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date on all of the roles we are hiring for.
Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a thought partner to think through the best strategy for switching careers, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin Saybe to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you.
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