acknowledgements
	foreword
	rewards & challenges of nonprofit work
	understanding the nonprofit sector
	education
	who are you & where do you want to to go?
	managing the job search process taking care of yourself tools for the job search
	getting your foot in the door
	gathering information
	informational interviews
	marketing yourself
	getting an interview
	the job interview
	negotiating
	following-up & staying in the loop
	appendix 1:  common nonprofit job titles
	appendix 2: assessment of nonprofit wages & benefits
	contributors

Taking Care of Yourself
When you first decide to start looking for a new job, a number of emotions may hit you. Fear, a sense of loss, loneliness, relief, and excitement are all part of the job search. After all, you're leaving something that was once important to you to seek out the unknown. Though the unknown may be scary at first, think of all the possibilities waiting for you out there. This is YOUR time, your chance to explore all that you are and all that you have and want to give to others.

Taking care of yourself during this time is critical. But let's get finances out of the way since that's usually the most stressful component of looking for a new job. For those who have decided to stick with their job while they're searching, now is the time to be cutting down on your expenses to prepare for the full-time search. For those who are already job searching, it's ideal to have some money saved to help you focus on your job search - three to six months of salary aside since the job search has been known to take up to six months. But that's ideal. There are ways to make money while looking for a job as discussed in other sections of this book. The main things are to know your financial situation, make sure that you're aware of your expenses, and budget so that you can take as much time as you need for your job search (Personal Finance for Dummies and Quicken are two good resources for creating budgets and tracking your finances).

Money aside, there are many emotional and physical aspects of taking care of yourself during the job search. As you probably know by now, the job search is not an easy process. So why go it alone? Surround yourself with support. Being part of a networking group or job search support group can help you discover yourself and where it is that you should celebrate your talents. In the Bay Area, there are many forums for sharing job searching experiences. Specific to the nonprofit sector is BANJO (the Bay Area Nonprofit Job-search Organization) where job seekers come together to share experiences, take part in facilitated peer or panel workshops, and just support one another. It's also great to have a buddy or a coach if you can afford one to help you stay on track. Get together with your buddy to check in and keep each other motivated. While you're talking, why not take a walk? Exercise not only helps keep you healthy, but it can also help you manage the job search stresses and anxieties. Taking a break to go for a jog in beautiful San Francisco, catching a yoga class or even just stopping to breathe and stretch will keep you refreshed. Eating well during this time is another component of staying fit, and there are many great cheap bites throughout San Francisco.

Volunteer. We have a need to feel like we're contributing members of society. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and feel motivated to continue seeking work in the nonprofit sector. Staying connected to the community will not only be a way for you to continue feeling productive, but it can also be a great way to try out an organization you're interested in. Making connections as a volunteer is a great way to see the organization from the inside and keep you on the organization's radar screen if there is a job opening. Volunteering is also a great way to gain the experience you need to improve your skills Above all, be kind to yourself. This is not an easy process, but remember that this is your opportunity to find the best fit for your talents. You are commended for having the courage to make this change for yourself.

But remember, your new job is to find that new job. The following section discusses the tools you'll need to help you find that new job.

Tools for the Job Search
It's best to get as many tools as possible for your job search. The Internet is an invaluable resource for researching organizations, identifying individuals to talk to, searching for job openings, and communicating with contacts. It is important to remember, though, that human contact is also extremely important in getting a job. Often, the more you do to get your face in front of someone in a position to give you a job (or know about one), the better chance you have. Ideally, a successful job seeker will be armed with the following tools and will use each of them when appropriate: Internet access and e-mail, computer/word processor access, fax access, and a phone with voice mail or a GOOD answering machine. Sources for free or cheap computer access include public libraries, cyber cafes, shops like Kinko's, and JVS' Technology Access Center.

Keeping track of your contacts and setting goals for your search will help you stay organized and motivated. Some people put their prospective interviewer's contact information into a spreadsheet or database and keep running tabs on conversations and follow-up phone calls made to each contact. Others keep folders on organizations of interest, manually write up each conversation, and staple this to the folder. Yet another way is to keep index cards and staple business card to them. Write important notes about your initial conversation on the business card immediately after you meet the person, and then keep track of follow-up conversations on the index card. Whatever way you find best, stay organized so you will have all your contacts handy when you need to reach for them.

Creating a notebook in which to record your goals and daily accomplishments is also a good way to stay on track. This way, you can create goals like calling five people, volunteering, and searching job postings. The next day, your goals might be writing a cover letter and resume to fit that dream job listing. By writing down your goals and activities in a notebook, you can look back on your good day's work and reward yourself, or remind yourself to stay focused the next day.

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