Positioning Your Resume For Non-Profit Careers

Are you considering pursuing a job that you can be passionate about? Well, many professionals have found that switching to a career in the non-profit industry can be very rewarding. While the current economy may have impacted the funding for many non-profit organizations, it still continues to a viable, thriving industry.

So if your career has been in the private or government sector for many years, how do you translate your experience, skills, achievements and qualifications to appear more appealing to non-profit employers?

I strongly recommend developing a resume that does not scream “I am changing careers", as employers and recruiters can often shy away from new career changers. However, there are a few successful resume strategies that can help you get your foot in the door with non-profit organizations.

1) Develop a compelling objective statement

Instead of a wordy, “me-oriented” statement that fails to highlight your real focus and value proposition, try a statement like this

“Position as staff accountant where emphasis on cost reduction, accurate financial reporting and federal audit preparation can be of value.” A value-driven statement like this clearly indicates you are seeking a position as a staff accountant and it also lets the reader know what skills you are bringing to the organization.

2) Emphasize your career achievements and go light on unrelated tasks

It is important to demonstrate to the hiring manager why you are right for the job. Provide concrete examples of your career accomplishments, achievements, and quantifiable contributions. For example:

Saved company over $15,000 by developing and implementing stringent cash disbursement policies.

Don't overlook the impact that strong, verifiable qualitative statements also create a powerful message. For example:

Successfully spearheaded partnerships with previously hard-to-reach communities by creating educational presentations.

3) Load the resume with non-profit industry keywords and buzzwords

To increase your chances of being called for an interview, your professional resume must be targeted to your ideal positions; keep in mind that developing a targeted, non-profit resume takes effort, commitment and lots of research. Many of the skills you acquired while working in the for-profit world, such as staff development, strategic planning or financial budgeting are very relevant to charitable organizations.

-- Emphasize these capabilities without using business jargon, industry slang, or acronyms that may be unfamiliar to someone in the nonprofit field.

-- Carefully examine the job listing, visit the company’s website and learn as much as you can about the job and the desired skills, qualifications and experience.

-- Incorporate those keywords into your resume to encourage the reader to invite you for an interview.

4) Maximize your community involvement and volunteer work

Non-paid work and contributed expertise will go a long way and increase your credibility as a candidate in the nonprofit industry - most nonprofit organizations will favor candidates who have solid experience, strong transferable skills and/or are actively involved through volunteering and giving back to the community.

Generally, volunteer work is listed on a resume under a section called Volunteer or Community. However, do not underestimate the value of what you are doing simply because you are not being paid.

-- You can integrate your volunteer work into your work experience (it is not employment experience, but it is certainly productive work) Use the correct title for what you are doing, for example use the title “Project Coordinator” if you oversaw a project.

-- Describe the nature of your job responsibilities, including achievement and skills learned as you would any other job description.

5) Market your “soft” skills

Non-profit organizations want individuals with a strong sense of community and a desire to help others. Research has shown that the following skills are rated high in the nonprofit world: people, sales, communication, problem-solving, analytical, creativity initiative, presentation, team work and leadership. Make sure that your resume reflects all aspects of what you have to offer.

An excerpt from a nonprofit career website states “In his book From Making a Profit to Making a Difference: How to Launch Your New Career in Nonprofits (Planning/Communications, $16.95), Richard M. King, president of Kittleman & Associates, a Chicago company that recruits employees for nonprofit organizations, argues that a résumé for a nonprofit job candidate must present "more of who you are than of what you are." No matter how impressive your previous job titles and your list of accomplishments and project responsibilities in the business world, Mr. King writes, your résumé must telegraph the reasons you are now motivated to work for charities."


About The Writer

Abby M. Locke (premierwriting.com) is a career marketing strategist and leadership brand coach who partners with 6-figure executives and professional MBA women to help them achieve true career mastery and success through cutting-edge, career branded communications, innovative job search campaigns, and proactive career management tools.