You left on bad terms.

How you approach this opportunity depends on how, and when, you left your last organization. If it was in a ball of fire, burning bridges along the way and publicly cursing the name of the people on your team, don’t hold your breath regarding another chance at the organization; it will be awkward, at best, applying to return. Timing could play a role, too. If you left many years ago, even if many of the key players are no longer working there, often, there will be someone with institutional memory who will make a return engagement difficult. Or, you may get lucky and find no one remembers your departure.

If you’re still set on a second chance, you’ll want to take special care to ensure you make it clear that you are exceptionally well qualified. In fact, you may need to be so qualified that they cannot imagine anyone else competing for the job. This requires you to know a lot about the specific problems the organization is facing and what the person in the role of interest to you will be required to do.

Use your sleuthing skills to assess how you can make a direct connection between what they need and what you offer. Tap into any friends or contacts you may have left at the organization, and don’t forget to find others who may have left after you departed who may be able to give you insight into what the company needs now. Make a solid case for why you’re the best person for the job and be prepared to answer for your past behavior. If you really want this job, a negative separation history will be an obstacle, but depending on the situation, it may not be impossible.

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Your departure was amiable.

On the other hand, if you departed on a positive note, and you were considered an essential employee, you could very well be in luck. Instead of explaining away your past with the organization, you can highlight how much you accomplished and enhance those qualifications with what you have done since leaving.

Keep these tips in mind whenever considering returning to a company you left:

Don’t assume anything. Even if it hasn’t been that long since you left, it’s possible many things have changed in the interim. Rely on new data and insights, not on how things were when you last worked at the organization. Recognize that you’ll need to reintroduce yourself and, in some case, re-prove your value and worth to some decision makers. Be prepare to make a case for your candidacy, just as you would if you were applying to a new organization.

Have a good story. Even if a lot of people who like you are on the hiring committee, don’t take anything for granted. Be prepared to sell yourself and convince them you are best for the job. Explain why the role interests you and be able to describe how committed you are to seeing the company through to its next success. No one expects you to promise to work there forever, but, especially if your tenure in the past was short-lived, be ready to make a verbal commitment to the organization.

Don’t get cocky. Even if you are ideal for the job, keep in mind: when you return to a past organization, personalities can help and hurt you. Just as there are people who likely still miss you, it is just as likely that those who didn’t care for you are still influential. Ask the right questions and make a case for why you are the best candidate that will overcome those objections.

Make sure you aren’t making a mistake. Remember why you left in the first place. Are you sure you want to go back? Write up a list of pros and cons and recognize that returning is likely to be as challenging as taking a new job elsewhere. Make sure you go in with a clear idea of what you hope to accomplish and why.

This originally appeared on AOLJobs.com

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Advice: Your first day of work

How can you be sure to make a good impression from the very first day?

Plan what you are going to wear.
Perhaps, in the excitement of getting a job, you haven’t thought much about what to wear to the office each day. Make sure you find out the expected attire. While many workplaces are “business casual,” if your job is “suit and tie,” you don’t want to be worrying about going shopping on your way home from your first day because you don’t have the right clothing. Plan everything in advance, as you would for an interview, so you will be comfortable and suitably attired from the start.

Get there early.
Make sure that you find out how long it is going to take you to get to work. Do not put yourself in a position of offering excuses for being late on the first day because you didn’t understand the traffic patterns. “The early bird gets the worm” isn’t just a trite cliche; it’s a reminder that when you appear prepared and ready, you’ll put yourself in a position to succeed.

Prepare how to introduce yourself.
You thought your “elevator pitch” was history now that you have a job? Not so fast. How do you want to introduce yourself to new colleagues? Think beyond, “My name is … ” What do you want them to remember about you? What do you want to be known for? Be sure to work on your eye contact, a pleasant smile and a firm handshake. All of this will contribute to the first impression that your colleagues have of you.

Remember names.
Don’t be the one who tells everyone you’re “not good with names.”

People will be impressed with someone who takes the time and effort to learn their names. Make this a priority. A few tips: Use people’s names as soon as they are introduced. Say, “Nice to meet you, Sara.” If you didn’t catch the name, or are unsure of the pronunciation, ask the person to repeat his or her name, and make a real effort to learn it. Take notes so you’ll remember people later. For example, jot down something to help you match a new colleague’s name and face. Another trick? Make an association with the person’s name. If Tom is tall, think, “Tall Tom” and you’re more likely to remember it later.

Organize your workspace.
Look around to see how other people organize their areas. If no one else has personal items or photos out, consider keeping your area clear of those types of things. Keep in mind, if you look sloppy at work, people will assume you aren’t well organized enough to manage important projects. Everything you do helps create an impression.

Take advantage of your new status to ask good questions.
There’s never a better time to ask questions than when you start a job. Don’t miss this opportunity to find out what you’ll need to know to do your job well. Be careful, though, not to ask questions that sound like you are challenging the status quo as soon as you start the job. Keep your questions to things that you are curious about and try to save the “Why do you do it that way instead of this other way?” types of inquiries for later on.

Be a good listener.
No one at work wants to try to teach you something and to later find out that you were daydreaming instead of listening. Make sure that you stay focused and listen carefully, especially when you first start a job. If you have a tendency to let your mind wander, be on alert and prevent it from affecting your work.

Be positive.
Everyone expects you to be happy to be at work when you start a new job. Stay positive and upbeat, and make sure to appear delighted to be there. Even if it isn’t your dream job, act as if it is.

Don’t bolt at the end of the day.
Especially when you start a new job, don’t be a clock watcher. It can’t hurt to stay a little beyond your designated hours so that everyone sees that you’re more interested in getting the job done and less interested in running for the door.

This post originally appeared on AOl Jobs.

Photo by bunchesandbits

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According to MBO Partners’ State of Independence in America report, the number of independent workers is expected to rise to 23 million by 2017. New online platforms, such as oDesk and Elance, help companies and businesses connect with individuals seeking opportunities. Savvy job seekers are building online portfolios and learning how to succeed as freelancers.

There doesn’t seem to be a question that freelancing and crowdsourcing will be key factors for anyone who wants a paycheck, but it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be no full-time jobs. Rob Rawson, CEO of Staff.com, an outsourcing platform that focuses on full-time work, says, “We believe future hiring trends will focus more on full-time work, with companies hiring highly skilled staff members globally. Full-time work is not about to go out of style. Managers are looking for reliable income streams and companies are interested in people they can count on, so this type of full-time work is not about to be replaced by freelancing any time soon.”

What’s the difference between crowdsourcing and freelancing? Rawson explains: “In crowdsourcing, many different people work on a task that can be broken down into multiple small components. The idea is that the wisdom of the crowd can be greater than the results you achieve from hiring one individual.”

Freelancing, on the other hand, focuses on hiring one person to handle a particular job or project.

It’s crucial for job seekers to recognize this global economy and how it factors into opportunities and how to find them.

What does the future of online work look like? Rawson believes the following are key factors for people to consider:

Increasing globalization.

Freelance work for certain types of jobs.

Full-time work is not likely to go away.

Global competition is going to be fierce for knowledge workers.

Savvy job seekers will keep an eye on how market trends affect how their jobs are being filled. Those looking for work that can easily be outsourced, or even crowd sourced, should identify ways to stand out and avoid being a commodity. Determine how to compete on factors beyond price and learn to market you and your skills as a valuable solution for target employers.

Read the whole post on U.S. News & World Report.

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Career change: how to find a career you love?

1. Decide what you want.  Avoid moving from one job or career to another before you narrow down how you want to spend your working hours. For example, ask yourself if autonomy is crucial, or if using your creativity is most important.

2. Once you narrow down what you want to do next, Miller suggests you craft an elevator pitch to highlight what you offer your target employer. The best pitches clearly explain how and why you are a good fit for your ideal job.

3. Build your team. Miller calls this your “tribe.” These people are willing to help and support you during your career transition.

4. Act on facts, not assumptions. We all get caught up in the popular myth that “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” Miller reminds career changers: “Remember, sometimes, that greener grass turns out to be Astroturf!”

5. Network strategically. When you meet new contacts, make sure they understand why you are a good fit for the type of job you want. Use social media tools such as LinkedIn and Twitter to find and target individuals who can be your allies and develop relationships with them.

6. Learn to ask for help. Miller reminds career changers that itâ€s tough (maybe impossible) to head into new territory and to succeed without help. He suggests you “Set aside your pride in order to reach for something new. Career change is hard at first; but it gets easier.”

Read the entire post on my U.S. News & World Report column.

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How can you land a job in a difficult market? Especially if your target job doesnâ€t lend itself so well to using these social media tools, or your target company doesnâ€t make software or applications you can use to create a resume? You can still stand out from the crowd.

Demonstrate your expertise. The best way to attract attention is to consistently demonstrate your expertise to the community of people who have the authority to hire you or the ability to refer you for jobs. How you do that depends on your audience. If they engage on social media, identify the most active communities and sub-communities. For example, if LinkedIn is their gathering place, but the conversation mostly happens in one or two LinkedIn groups, you need to join and participate in those groups. If your targets donâ€t use social media, but they are active in local or national organizations, societies or groups, you need to get involved there, too.

Look for opportunities to speak at association meetings, join committees and pitch in during in-person events. Post comments in online groups and start new discussions to demonstrate that you know what is going on in your field. You may be surprised to find that both in-person and online engagement can lead to crucial referrals that land you interviews for previously out-of-reach jobs.

Offer to help. If youâ€re thinking, “Great, but the kind of job I want doesnâ€t really have organizations or associations, and no one is online.” You can still help yourself access interview opportunities by putting yourself in places where you may meet people who know someone who can help you. The best way to get help is to be the first to offer to pitch in. Are you looking for a job at the school your child attends? If you actively volunteer and show that youâ€re easy to work with and willing to do anything for the team, itâ€s much more likely that the administration will have you in mind for the next job – or even consider creating a job for you. You want to be a cashier at the grocery store? Make a point to get to know the cashiers who already work there. Be the customer everyone loves to serve. Ask to speak to the manager to compliment the holiday display, or to make a helpful suggestion. (Donâ€t be critical, but if you really have a great idea, share it.) When people know who you are and have a positive feeling about you, landing interviews will be much easier.

Identify a problem and suggest solutions. Use your networking  and research to figure out some key problem areas for your target companies. Tactfully create some suggested solutions based on what youâ€ve learned, and send them to someone with the authority to recommend you for a job. (Itâ€s best to make some good networking contacts first, so you arenâ€t sending unsolicited information out of the blue.) If you can hit the mark with your ideas, you could shore up an invitation to interview.

Talk about them. No, idle gossip isnâ€t likely to land you an interview, but you can sometimes attract attention from companies by mentioning them online. For example, if you have a blog about best places to shop, and you run a post featuring a particular retailer, itâ€s possible (even likely) that organization will learn about your flattering post. When you apply for a position, you could have a leg up on the competition. Similarly, if you post kind comments about a business via your social networks, and use their handles (names) in your updates, theyâ€ll notice, and possibly remember you.

Always try to think creatively when youâ€re looking for a job. Even if youâ€re not the most creative or outgoing personality, you can sometimes stand out favorably in small ways, such as by writing a thank you note after a networking event, or by sending a link to an article you think a new contact will enjoy. Keep focused on going above and beyond whatâ€s expected in all of your interactions, and you are more likely to succeed.

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Companies he mentioned who did not adapt as quickly as needed and paid the price? Blockbuster and Borders.

Preparing for change involves a workforce ready to compete in a global economy — and who have skills we need right now — and that we’ll need going forward.

The importance of change and being adaptable was also a key theme in Malcolm Gladwell’s remarks. Gladwell, best-selling author and pundit, pointed out how even the way change happens (or tries to happen) is changing!

He compared the Civil Rights Movement of the 60’s, which was an organized and hierarchical movement with strong, top-down leadership to the “Occupy” movement of the past year, which had no leader, no specific ideology or strategy and was loosely organized at best. Gladwell’s point? Millennials prefer unstructured movements — they learn from Wikepedia (many authorities), not the encyclopedia (one authority). Gladwell explained, “They take a profoundly different attitude toward authority and toward expertise.” Gladwell explained this as a paradigm shift from hierarchies to networking, from discipline to flexibility.

However, he closed his remarks by explaining that “networks can start revolutions, but hierarchy is needed to finish them.”

An interesting way to think about and evaluate change — and how we approach change and its results.

What does this all mean for job seekers and business owners?

How are you preparing for your “next thing?”

If you are a job seeker, are you embracing new technologies and new ways to demonstrate your expertise and expand your network? While I’m not on the “resume is dead” bandwagon, we all know being competitive means jumping into using new tools, which may be uncomfortable or even difficult. You don’t want to use Blockbuster as your model, though — if you don’t change, you will probably be left behind.

Are you approaching your challenges in an organized manner, or are you more an “I’ll take it as it comes” type of “planner?” Maybe you’re not looking to start a revolution, but if you are (maybe in the form of a new business idea?), are you incorporating some hierarchical structure?

Hank Jackson reminded us, “Something that sounds like sci fi today can put you out of work tomorrow.” He also noted, “If you don’t know where you are going, you will end up somewhere else.”

Things are changing. You need to change, too.

photo by busy.pochi

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(Note: I’m happy to have a content sharing partnership with IvyExec. I hope posts from their blog help provide additional resources and ideas for my normal readers, and I welcome IvyExec members to regularly read my blog. Follow the links to learn more about IvyExec.)

Contributed by Barak Epstein and IvyExec.

Perhaps youâ€ve heard of the phrase “Knowledge Economy,” popularized by Peter Drucker in The Age of Discontinuity. If so, youâ€re most likely familiar with the idea that more and more of us work in positions that depend upon the creation, use, and manipulation of knowledge, as opposed to of materials or rote processes.

You understand that the skills that we need to work are changing. Maybe you understand that the skills you need to find a job have changed. But what you may not understand is that your power to define your profession has grown enormously as well.

My key recommendation to you is to think about how your electronic footprint communicates who you want to be, professionally, and what you have to offer. Letâ€s take a look at three electronic leads that have helped to change my career.

A Bloggy Footprint
I was interested in moving from the education field to the technology field. As a result, I built up a series of blog posts on the topic. When I landed an interview with a prominent technology firm, I shared my URL with the interviewer. She later wrote me to say that an article I had written about electronic textbooks in Texas resonated with personal experiences her family had had. I believe that this view constituted a key moment in my job search. My blog didnâ€t have a large following, numbers-wise, but its impact on my life had still been huge.

Donâ€t Let them Forget You: Regular Updates
Twice a year, I send out an update to professional and personal contacts about my achievements, plans and interests. I make sure to make the note conversational and link-filled. The body of the e-mail is short, but the links are rich. I recently was contacted by the head of a think tank that had passed me over for a job two years earlier. He wrote “I have been following closely your incredible career” before offering me interesting contract work. What convinced this gentleman, in the aftermath of my unsuccessful interview with him, that my career was “incredible”? One thing only: My semi-annual updates.

Trust the Crowd: Donâ€t Focus Too Much on Your Targets
Many folks will tell you how to use Ivy Exec, LinkedIn, etc. for targeted searches of companies that interest you or to scope out individuals you would like to meet. Those activities are critical. But donâ€t underestimate the importance of having an electronic network that is large and diverse enough to surprise you. I use Facebook, for instance, to share my thoughts on professional topics and to provide updates on issues at work that engage me. As a result, an acquaintance I havenâ€t seen in 20 years offered me his rich rolodex of contacts at my new firm. I wouldnâ€t have thought to seek him out for this sort of help but I did think to spend time digging up old contacts from the electronic universe.

Summing it Up
You are not the only person bombarded with social media opportunities; the people you seek to influence are in a similar situation. The challenge, naturally, is to get through to them. The opportunity, however, is that you can, through a few well-placed communications, shape the perceptions of those who have increasingly little time to evaluate you. If your electronic footprint is thoughtful, regular, and not over-targeted, I believe that you, too, can make the career change you desire.

The original article can be found on the Ivy Exec Blog.

Barak Epstein is transitioning his career to technology management after working as a teacher and social science researcher. Barak is an IvyExec All Access member at IvyExec. Ivy Exec, a web-based recruiting company that combines next generation technology with human power to deliver customized hiring solutions targeting high caliber professionals to help place them in executive jobs. 

photo by dekade

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This is particularly true for veterans. Most employers are not familiar with your military service, positions, jargon, or acronyms, so it can be even more challenging for veterans to make a strong case. What can job-seeking veterans do to help transition into civilian positions?

Identify your skills. Evaluate your military service. What did you do on a daily basis?

Note your accomplishments. Do not underestimate the value of awards and accolades you received, but do translate them into terms non-military personnel will understand.

Focus on what you enjoy doing. Don’t ignore your “soft skills,” or emotional intelligence.

Research potential opportunities. Once you have your lists, plug your skills (your keywords) into job-board search engines to see what types of positions come up.

Make a list of job titles and company names. Was there a particular industry that appeared repeatedly in your results? Continue to search online for more information about those fields or organizations.

Inform your network. Once you know what you want to do, be specific when you describe your goals to your network. Don’t just say you are looking for “a job.”

Translate your experience. A common problem for job-seeking veterans is helping civilian, non-military hiring managers understand their work history.

Be sure to include specific, quantifiable points in your descriptions. For example, do not assume the reader will know how many troops you led based on your rank and title.

Tell your story. In an interview, be sure to describe your experiences in a way that a layperson will understand.

Read the FULL POST on my U.S. News & World Report blog.

Photo by StevenM_61

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Zimmerman quotes David D. Corbett, founder of New Directions, a Boston firm that helps senior-level executives with career transitions saying, “People retiring lose their job and title, which are often tied up with their identity,” says . “It can also be isolating for many, not having work colleagues or a corporate infrastructure.” The article references Gary J. Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York, who explains, “Traditional retirement may lead to a lack of intellectual engagement, which is crucial for good health…If you think of the brain as a computer, physical and mental activity are essentially upgrading its hardware and programming,” Dr. Kennedy explains, if we donâ€t stay engaged, cognitive processes slow down and depression often sets in.

Most people would want to avoid those unsavory fates. What can you do?

Marc Freedman, author of “The Big Shift: Navigating the New Stage Beyond Midlife” and chief executive of Civic Ventures suggests planning ahead for a transition as early as your 50s. He recommends putting aside money to pay for additional education and to be prepared to take on unpaid work experiences to get the skills you need to land a new opportunity.

What else can you consider if you know you don’t want to relax and play golf?

This week, I’ve been suggesting ideas for people who want to plan a change, especially to an “encore career,” or a job combining purpose, passion and a paycheck. Have you considered transitioning to a non-profit career?

Think about Your Skills and How to Use Them

Laura Gassner Otting, author of Change Your Career, Transitioning to the Non-Profit Sector, and founder and president of Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, an executive search firm helping identify candidates for the non-profit sector, is an experienced authority on hiring in the “mission-driven” space.  Her advice is useful for people considering an encore career, or for anyone thinking of making a change to meaningful work.

Laura offered the following advice to professionals hoping to transition to non-profit sector work:

•    Non-profits are looking for people who have a strong track record of leadership and the ability to influence their constituencies. She explained, non-profit leaders manage, “Up, down, and sideways.” They need to work with partners, funders, and friends in the community and manage those relationships well, even though most of these people are not their direct reports.

•    Itâ€s important to be able to show youâ€re able to keep people motivated and engaged. Non-profits seek employees who are good at delegating with kindness and empathy, while simultaneously demanding accountability. Recognize that people volunteer and serve with non-profit groups for different reasons. Strong leaders know how to bring out the best in everyone and how to leverage all available talents.

•    Demonstrating your ability to manage across a broad portfolio of responsibility is key to success in non-profit leadership. There are typically less people handling more jobs in non-profit organizations. For example, one person may be handling public relations and fundraising under an “external relations manager” title. Knowing how to encourage people managing a lot of responsibility is crucial.

•    Being able to show an impressive record of delivering a solid return on investment is not only for the “for-profit” community. Demonstrating a background showing how you can move the organizationâ€s mission forward is more and more important as non-profit organizations are attracting donors who see their roles as that of investors, not just check writers.

•    One thing that has not changed in non-profit hiring: They still expect people who bring a passionate interest in their work and mission. Itâ€s not good enough to say you want to “give back,” you need to demonstrate a track record of interest and engagement in the organizationâ€s work. Laura explains, “Your passion and commitment for the organization and cause is the thing that sets you apart from other candidates.” She suggests joining boards and getting involved by volunteering for the organization or other, similar non-profits serving the same community.

She notes, “Working for a non-profit is like starting a marathon. You have to be committed long-term, even when the finish line is out of sight.  The need of those served can be seemingly endless, and you will have to do more for them with less, while still satisfying your many, varied constituents. A track record of dedication to the cause or constituency demonstrates an authentic commitment, and this commitment shows your future nonprofit employer that you will take their marathon seriously.”

Laura suggests anyone with an interest in making a switch to non-profit work get active now in the causes that interest them. She reminds candidates, the non-profit world is a very large sector, and suggests you think about where you want to work by answering these questions:

•    What issues do you care about?

•    What are the appropriate skills you have to help transition into the sector? (E.g., legal, sales, financial management). Whatâ€s missing from your skills? Consider taking a course to fill in any gaps in your background.

•    What type of organization will help you thrive? Do you prefer working for an organization thatâ€s slow and steady? A fast-growing group? Maybe youâ€d love working with a startup, or working directly for a founder?

Once youâ€ve identified your skills and made a match, youâ€ll be ready to approach the non-profit market from a position of strength.

Be sure to read more tips from my previous posts.

photo by SHINEZ Photo

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As mentioned in my last post, Civic Ventures, a think tank on boomers, work and social purpose, reports 9 million people ages 44 to 70 are already in encore careers (careers AFTER doing something else for a number of years — or their whole lives) that combine personal meaning, continued income and social impact. Another 31 million people, ages 44 to 70, are interested in finding encore careers.

What about you? Are you thinking about what is next? The best advice — for anyone thinking about  a career change or shift, is to plan ahead. Ruth Wooden board chair of Civic Ventures and former president of Public Agenda, where she is now a senior adviser, offered ideas about how people (especially those of typical retirement age) may take the next, logical steps in their lives and careers.

She explained how a lot of people who want to engage in purposeful work, or to “give back,” default to starting their own ventures, because there are so many obstacles: age discrimination, learning how to make a transition after years of doing the same thing and just not having access to clear resources to decide how to fit into an existing organization.

Ruth noted, “This movement is about trying to find other pathways for these motivated professionals – pathways that are not necessarily entrepreneurial, since not everyone wants to go that route.” She noted that community colleges offering continuing education programs can be a wonderful entreé for someone who wants to make a career shift to an encore career. For example, in less than a year, many will be able to earn certificates for practical, worthwhile jobs in healthcare and the medical field, or even in education or teaching English as a second language.

What can you do now if you are planning your next step?

Ruth says, “If you have a vision that someday you are going to want to be working in social purpose, start thinking now about it being something you care about. Where do you give money, where do you volunteer – cultivate those aspects of your life now. Even if right now, your involvement is as simple as writing a check for an organization you are passionate about – do it. If possible, volunteer – find your way into the field. Distinguish yourself as different from anyone else based on the skills you know you want to use in your next career and because of your strong interest in the new field. Be on a board, if possible. Consider how you can help out at your church or local school. If youâ€re interested in education, educate yourself – work in after-school programs, or volunteer to help out at a nearby school. If you are interested in that kind of thing, you are going to have to get going.”

How to Get Going

No doubt, there’s no time like RIGHT NOW to start thinking about tomorrow. Do you have a new year’s resolution to make a change? Maybe your resolution is to start THINKING about your change?

With the right information and a planned approach, it is possible someone with corporate experience to transition to a job with one of the over 1.5 million non-profit organizations in the U.S. Youâ€ll want to plan and plot out your future moves in advance.

Marci Alboher is a vice president at Civic Ventures, An expert on career transitions and workplace trends, she is author of One Person/Multiple Careers. She also coined the term “slasher career” to refer to people who canâ€t answer the question “What do you do?” with a single word or phrase.

Marci offers the following suggestions, insights and resources to help you shift to a non-profit career:

Become a “slasher.” (e.g. sales rep/literacy mentor). This could play out in two ways. Slashing can help you transition from your current field into a non-profit job. If thatâ€s your target, Alboher suggests you hold onto your day job while you dip into the nonprofit world on the side (using the suggestions below). By taking the slash approach, youâ€ll be able to continue earning a living and simultaneously build skills and relationships to help you transition to the non-profit sector.

On the other hand, you may wish to create a permanent “slash” career, where you have one foot each planted in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Either way, follow the advice below and carefully carve out time for each of the sides of your “slash.”

Volunteer in organizations where you have a strong interest and you can create real impact. Donâ€t just set aside a few days a year to work with Habitat for Humanity, for example. Incorporate high-level volunteer work and make a real effort to be involved in substantive projects that expose you to the field and introduce you to people doing the kind of work you want to do for a living.

Consult. Take on a consulting project for a nonprofit as a way to showcase your skills. If you choose to work for free, make sure youâ€re building relationships, knowledge, or something else to help you as you try to find a paying job. Non-profits appreciate and seek employees who are passionate about their missions, so it makes sense to identify issues and organizations you may want to work with for the long term.

Meet people. Leverage your social networks to help. Consider using Branchout or BeKnown (Facebook applications) or SimplyHired.comâ€s application to help you learn where your Facebook friends work. Add your volunteer interests and work experience to LinkedIn via the “add sections” tab when you update your profile. Search on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ for groups and people either working for or actively involved in non-profits that interest you.

Get involved in your target sector. Go to conferences or panel discussions. Look for Twitter “chats” about your interest area. Reach out on Facebook and LinkedIn to your friends. Update your Facebook status to let people know when and where you are volunteering. Share information and news about your favorite non-profit organizations and causes via your social media platforms. Subscribe to LinkedInâ€s newsfeed on nonprofit news. If youâ€re a good writer, consider authoring a blog highlighting those interests.

Show up. Once you identify organizations that interest you, go to their events and attend to conferences where you might be able to meet people who work in those organizations.

Dig in. Keep up-to-date on whatâ€s happening in your field. Use social media to identify leaders in the fields that interest you and follow them. In addition to exploring Encore.org, she suggests the following resources for non-profit career job seekers:

•    Job search: Idealist.org and Commongoodcareers.org

•    News in the non-profit sector: Dowser.org, Good Magazine, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

•    Volunteering: VolunteerMatch.org, catchafire.org, AllForGood.org, Idealist.org

Stay tuned for more advice about shifting to a non-profit job — no matter what stage career you are in!

(And, if you’re thinking about making a change — consider a gift for yourself or someone you love — some coaching to get you where you want to go! Once you know what you want to do, I can teach you what steps to take so you don’t have to go it alone!)

If you are in the Atlanta, area, get a taste of my expert advice about social media. I’ll be presenting at the Kennesaw State Universityâ€s College of Continuing and Professional Education for their Career Training Expo. The event, which will be January 12 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the KSU Center, is free and open to the public. To register, call 770-423-6765.

Stay tuned for even more advice about transitioning to the non-profit sector.

photo by orangeacid

The post How to make a change to a meaningful career? appeared first on Keppie Careers.