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As a new school year starts up many college students are at different places in their career searches. Some have not even thought of it and others may find it suddenly thrust upon them. If you know you want to get involved in nonprofit work, the process is even more difficult. Aside from a handful of well known fellowships—Teach for America, Americorps, City Year, and the Peace Corps—the social change career search is daunting because it isn’t often presented as a viable career option. Where do you begin? How do you figure out what you want to do?
No matter where you are your career search involves more than finding a job; you need to have a sense of what you enjoy doing, what you are passionate about, and what skills and networks you want to develop. Here a few ways to begin the exploration process:
Find a skilled volunteer or internship opportunity at a nonprofit: Skilled volunteer positions and internships allow you to develop a relationship with an organization while exploring what you are good at. Take time to meet other people at the organization and learn a bit about what they do. You can make wonderful contacts and use your experiences to add a new perspective to your course work.
Take a class with a social justice component: Social justice classes are unique in that they usually combine fieldwork with personal reflection and exploration of local issues in a broader social context. You can get a sense of what issues are important to you and how you want to approach them.
Take an economics class: Contrary to what people believe economics does not automatically equate to a career in finance. Economics is about how and why we buy and the impact our purchases have on local and global economies. Additionally, learning about business structures and developing methodical and strategic thinking skills are valuable in any sector and in many positions.
Join a club that explores pressing social issues: Clubs provide you with the opportunity to bond with people who share your interests while increasing your access to diverse resources. You can also help plan events, network with people, and increase awareness and advocacy efforts, all of which are valuable skills in the nonprofit sector.
Go abroad: Living abroad forces you to be more independent and fosters self awareness. You also have the opportunity to explore international issues, learn another language, and engage in comparative research to better frame your understanding of social justice. And finally, many organizations view travel abroad favorably as a sign of being able to work independently and be resourceful.
What are some other ways to explore the nonprofit sector and your place in it?
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Comments
09.08.09
I agree on the economics. I think a couple of good economics, and or statistics classics are necessary.
Chris Blattman, who you probably read given your interests, also made a good suggestion about languages, that they are learned during immersion, he suggest skipping the college language classes if push comes to shove. He also say don't bother with management classes and that is something I really agree with. They are useless in lieu of reading a good book, and learning how to write well (because you will be writing your butt off, and at times what you write will need to be not only convincing but will have to carry an assigned attitude - for proposition acceptance for instance), and becoming knowledgeable about the world.
It is also important to understand that people who have been in (or lived in) those countries for a long time understand the nuances of the country, and how things really work there, so hitching yourself up with someone with that kind of knowledge, from the area of the world you may have a specific interest in is a nice idea if you can do it.
Don't be afraid to think critically about the non-profits either. Their mission statement should be clear and concise, as should their plan and system for evaluation their goals. There are actually a lot of non-profits, and not all are created equal, and you shouldn't assume that just because something is a non-profit that it automatically fits in with your goals.
I thin as with anything getting a job after college especially i the sector requires an open mind and the willingness to take a philosophy class. In other words things that help you think critically will help you go further even if they have no particular direct use for them.
This is from a NYT and I thin it applies to all sectors not just this one.
09.08.09
I also agree on taking courses in economics and statistics. Idealist.org is a great networking site to learn about non-profit career and job opportunities. As someone trying to transition from corporate to non-profit work, I simply started volunteering at a local non-profit that interested me.
01.08.10
I wanted to add that full time volunteer programs really can open doors for you or at least allow you the opportunity to discover your gifts and talents. I spent two years in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I started a network called Volunteer Program Alumni if there are any others of us here on Brazen Careerist. Cheers!
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