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

The post How to get a non-profit job appeared first on Keppie Careers.

Dan Macsai for Fast Company reports that The Chronicle of Philanthropy found:

Despite tough times for charities, a trio of new surveys of nonprofit organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Washington [DC] shows that most plan to hire in the year ahead—and that the overwhelming majority plan to raise staff salaries in 2010 or at least hold them steady.

The survey, which studied 1,200 organizations from October to December of 2009 (700 of those located in New York) points to higher salaries for fund-raising jobs, which were up by 10%. Senior-level finance jobs paid 7% more.

Gayle Brandel, president of Professional for Nonprofits, said, “Even in tough times…nonprofit clients…have a hard time filling those roles, “so they’re willing to pay a little more.”

Fast Company offers some advice:

“Safe bets include educational groups, hospitals, and charities that work with homeless people or AIDS patients–program areas that received increased government funding. However, it’d be best to avoid small social-services or arts groups, both of which “seem to have the toughest time,” says Gayle Brandel, president of Professional for Nonprofits.”

Professionals for Nonprofits 2009 salary surveys are available free on the company’s Web site. Go to: http://www.nonprofitstaffing.com.

If you are in the Atlanta area, Opportunity Knocks and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits are presenting a day of workshops and consultative sessions to help you improve your job and nonprofit career development strategies and job-seeking skills. This is how they describe the event:

Led by experienced and qualified career consultants, nonprofit leaders and subject matter experts you will learn how to become more competitive in the nonprofit job marketplace.

Who Should Attend? Nonprofit professionals seeking to advance their career and for-profit/corporate professionals looking to switch careers to the nonprofit sector.

PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE!

March 23, 2010
The Lodge at Simpsonwood
Rollins Center Building
4511 Jones Bridge Circle, NW
Norcross, GA 30092
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Click here for information.

(I will be volunteering for part of the day at this event. Hope to see you there!)

photo by olib

The post Altruistic Tuesdays – Should you consider working for a charity? appeared first on Keppie Careers.