|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Now that you know a bit about the Bay Area nonprofit sector, you can begin thinking about where in these nonprofits you might fit in. Jobs in the nonprofit world generally fall into one of two main categories. Direct Service Providers work directly with clients or specific communities and constituents, providing counseling, organizing, training, education, lesson planning, guidance, and/or serving as a positive role model. This category includes social workers, psychologists, therapists, and teachers, among others. Although many entry-level direct service positions require modest credentials, virtually all upper-level direct service jobs require advanced certification or accreditation of some sort (e.g., a Master of Social Work degree or a M.A. or Ph.D. in Psychology). In addition, many of these positions require expertise with a particular population or specific language skills.
Administration/Management Staff work "behind the scenes" for nonprofit organizations, typically performing duties related to management, strategic planning, fundraising, administration, legal compliance, grantmaking, etc. This category typically includes executive and finance directors, development staff, program directors, and administrative support staff. Although such positions remain highly competitive, the general requirements for higher-level administrative/management positions tend to be more flexible than direct service jobs. Accordingly, many nonprofit entrants from the private sector come into the sector through these types of jobs.
There is some crossover between direct service and administrative/management positions. For example, executive directors often enjoy significant social interaction with clients at events. However, these two tracks typically remain distinct. The nature of day-to-day work in each track, as well as the skills required to succeed at each of these two types of positions, are different. Integrating staff from these two tracks - often with conflicting priorities and different work styles - into an effective, unified organization is a very real challenge facing nonprofits today. In some organizations, there is a third track that includes jobs such as policy analysts, researchers and lobbyists. These positions are program-focused rather than administrative, but have no clients with whom to interact. Recommendations
<< Previous Page Next Page >> Copyright © 2000 Bay Area Nonprofit Job-search Organization |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corporate
Transitioners. Most people making
the transition from the private sector to the nonprofit world focus on
administrative/management positions. Skills learned in the private sector such
as marketing, project management, accounting or computers usually transfer more
readily to administrative/ management positions than to direct service
positions. Fundraising and development positions are an especially common fit
for people with marketing backgrounds. The output of the work can be far more
rewarding, but be prepared for a smaller paycheck!
B-T-D-T. Many individuals from the "Been
There, Done That" segment have a depth of personal experience and insight
into direct service matters. Employers greatly value this experience and
perspective, and many organizations prefer to hire their own
former-clients-turned-volunteers because they represent more "known,"
reliable qualities. You should take many things into account when thinking about
where to go in nonprofits (as with any industry), but here are a few ideas for
people who aren't sure what they want to do: