Making the Transition from the Private Sector to the Nonprofit Sector

Editor's note: Michael Haynes, Principal of the Senyah Group, LLC, presented How to Transition into the Nonprofit Sector at the Foundation Center-Atlanta on April 28th. He has submitted this guest post as a follow-up to his presentation.

Corporate downsizing, "right-sizing" and outsourcing have caused many people to re-examine their career goals.  Some are merely looking for a job to weather the economic downturn; others seek more meaningful and fulfilling work.  As a result, many mid-to-senior level professionals are exploring career options in the nonprofit sector.

At the Foundation Center-Atlanta, I recently gave pointers on how to successfully transition from the corporate sector to the nonprofit sector.  During a lively and engaging discussion, several strategies were reviewed, including:

1. Do Your Homework
   • Identify those causes in which you are most interested and volunteer for nonprofits that address those causes. This will give you a feel for what it’s like to work for the organization.
   • Making a switch will usually mean lower pay; thoroughly review your financial needs before making the transition.
   • Interview donors and/or affiliates of nonprofits in which you are interested. They can give you a perspective on what some of the challenges are.


2. Leverage Networks as Much As Possible
   • One of the best ways to generate leads for open positions is to leverage your professional and personal networks. This is even more critical in a competitive job market.
   • After identifying potential contacts, conduct informational interviews to better understand a nonprofit work environment, expectations, assimilation challenges, etc.


3. Use a Targeted Search Strategy
   • Tailor your resume by highlighting your transferable skills. A functional/chronological resume is a format that best achieves this goal. (Make certain you also list your major accomplishments by functional area.)
   • Review websites geared towards the nonprofit sector:
     • OpportunityKnocks.org
     • Idealist.org
     • The Chronicle of Philanthropy
     • The NonProfit Times
     • Associationjobs.com
   • Identify recruiting firms that specialize in the nonprofit sector.
   • If you can, target nonprofits that have a track record of successfully assimilating people from the private sector.


4. Conducting the Interview
   • Always do research on the organization before your interview; identify their most recent challenges and be prepared to discuss how your background uniquely qualifies you to help them meet these challenges.
   • Be prepared to give specific examples of outcomes; describe the situation or problem you were faced with, how you addressed the situation, and what the results were.
   • The interview is a dialogue; make certain you obtain as much information as you can to ensure there is a fit between your work style, temperament and skill set.


5. Making the Transition
   • Spend most of your initial 90 days observing and listening. No one wants to hear how you did things at ABC Corporation. (After all, if ABC was so great, why did you leave?!).
   • Seek out a mentor; preferably someone who has made the switch from the private sector
   • Schedule informal conversations with you manager every 30 days, just to make sure you're on track and meeting his/her expectations.

Between 1987 and 2005, the number of nonprofits in the U.S. grew nearly triple the rate of the business sector.  This growth, coupled with the baby boomer generation retiring over the next decade, makes this an ideal time to make such a career move.

--Michael Haynes