Non-Profit, not-for-profit, NFP, NGO \u2013 it may go by many names but working in the for-purpose sector can be incredibly rewarding, full of great people, worthy causes and a wide variety of role types and opportunities. However, making the switch from other sectors can bring its own challenges \u2013 here\u2019s what you need to know before transitioning into the non-profit world!<\/p>\n
Before you start looking for roles and opportunities in the non-profit sector, take some time to identify your skills and passions. Non-profit organisations and NGOs are mission-driven, so they seek employees who\u2019re passionate about their causes. Because they\u2019re so mission-driven, this can require a bit of a mindset change for job seekers coming from the private sector who may be used to working to financial targets, and the public sector where neutrality is encouraged. You\u2019ll find many people in the non-profit world who\u2019re extremely passionate about the cause they\u2019re working towards and don\u2019t mind letting you know about it!<\/p>\n
Take the time to reflect on your skills and interests and how they can be applied to the non-profit sector. Virtually any role that exists in the for-profit world has its counterpart in the NFP space, so chances are you don\u2019t need to start from scratch. Doing some research on Do Good Jobs, our website or LinkedIn can start to give you an idea of what options are out there.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t worked in the non-profit sector before, the question around your interest and motivation for making the change will likely come up. It\u2019s essential to tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your transferable skills, as well as demonstrating how you align with the mission and values of the organisation. Let them know that your interest in working with them is genuine by outlining what has drawn you to their cause in your application.<\/p>\n
Non-profit organisations typically rely on a mix of funding sources, such as government contracts, grants, donations, and fundraising events. When doing your research on potential organisations and job opportunities, it pays to get an idea of how they\u2019re funded and what that means for job security and potential opportunities for advancement. You can often find this information on the organisation\u2019s website, but don\u2019t be afraid to bring it up with your recruiter or hiring manager if you\u2019re unsure.<\/p>\n
By their very nature, most non-profit organisations tend to be smaller and are often governed by a Board (though there are certainly some exceptions!). However small team size doesn\u2019t necessarily mean small output \u2013 non-profit organisations are known for punching well above their weight when it comes to outcomes and achievements. You\u2019ll need to be prepared to work collaboratively and wear multiple hats in your role, but the upside of smaller team sizes is that you get exposure to a broader range of tasks and areas of the business that are normally not available to you in other sectors. Non-profit organisations can sometimes be a product of their own success \u2013 their staff gain diverse skillsets and build up resilient communication skills, making them very attractive to the hiring market!<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no sugar-coating the fact that non-profit salaries are often lower than their for-profit or government counterparts, and that\u2019s something you need to be prepared for if you\u2019re interested in moving into the sector. However, compensation can vary depending on the organisation, location, and job function, so it’s essential to research salary expectations for the specific job and organisation \u2013 you might be surprised!<\/p>\n
When enquiring about roles, be upfront with your salary expectations and don\u2019t be afraid to ask what their remuneration package looks like.<\/p>\n
The non-profit sector is highly competitive, and it may take some time to land your dream job. Be flexible and open to opportunities that may not be your ideal role but can help you gain experience and build your network. Consider temporary or contract work, which can often lead to permanent job opportunities. Non-profits often rely on volunteers to help achieve their mission too, volunteering for an organisation you\u2019re interested in can be another great way to gain experience and connections. If you have leadership experience under your belt, consider governance roles where you can bring your expertise to the table while gaining valuable insights into the sector.<\/p>\n
We highly encourage anyone looking to transition into the non-profit sector to give it a go \u2013 there\u2019re so many great opportunities out there and the feeling of \u2018doing good\u2019 with your time shouldn\u2019t be underestimated. You\u2019ll need to be prepared to work hard, be flexible, and be passionate about the mission of the organisation you\u2019re interested in, and you\u2019ll find that non-profit work can be incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n
Interested in making the leap? We work with a wide variety of non-profit organisations so take a look at our website for our current vacancies<\/a>. Do Good Jobs is a website that specialises in promoting opportunities in the non-profit and voluntary space nationwide, sign up for their job alerts<\/a> to be kept in the loop.<\/p>\n Good luck, Non-Profit, not-for-profit, NFP, NGO \u2013 it may go by many names but working in the for-purpose sector can be incredibly rewarding, full of great people, worthy causes and a wide variety of role types and opportunities. However, making the switch from other sectors can bring its own challenges \u2013 here\u2019s what you need to know […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[34,32,1],"tags":[24],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2786"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2791,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2786\/revisions\/2791"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mclaren.co.nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nKirsty and Nikki<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"