The Chronicle of Philanthropy had a live Q&A session this week hosted by career consultant and author Shelly Cryer. I posted a handful of the most pertinent questions and answers here, but the following excellent list includes her initial thoughts for the business professional seeking nonprofit employment:

1. GET NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE. You have to demonstrate your commitment to a specific field of nonprofit work. Regardless of your age or extent of professional experience, you will need to volunteer or intern at a nonprofit.

2. THINK STRATEGICALLY ABOUT TRANSLATING YOUR BUSINESS SKILLS. If you are in sales, think about fund raising and development. If you have done marketing work, frame your work so it resonates for a nonprofit leader looking to ramp up her communications department. Ask people in your network for feedback on your resume to make sure it “speaks” to the needs of a nonprofit recruiter.

3. BUILD A NETWORK. It is critical for every job seeker – but especially sector switchers – to have a vibrant network of individuals you are communicating with about your job search. Identify experts in the field who can help you. Organize informational meetings all of the time. Stay in touch with the people who seem the most enthusiastic about you. Go to events sponsored by organizations where you would like to work. Network. Network. Network.

It’s the word-of-mouth referral that so often lands you the job. And for someone leaving business for a nonprofit, the word-of-mouth will help you make your case … the person who can say to an executive director colleague, “Jane, you have to meet with Deborah! She has the most interesting experience that is a match for that [grant writing] position you have been trying to fill. She comes out of the for-profit sector, but I have never heard someone speak so passionately about [homelessness in Nashville]. You have to meet her!”

4. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR COVER LETTER. For the sector switcher, your cover letter is vital. It is a key vehicle for “making your case” for how your business skills translate to a given nonprofit position, and it allows you to communicate your passion for the mission of the organization to which you are applying. Ask members of your network to give you feedback on your cover letter.

5. BE PERSUASIVE BUT RESPECTFUL. You want to be a great advocate for yourself. But I often hear nonprofit leaders complain of a certain arrogance that business professionals bring to their interviews at nonprofits. Great nonprofits are very professional organizations. Value your own experience, but don’t de-value that of the nonprofit professional. Be open to hearing about the skills you might not have. Go into the informational meeting or interview having done good research about the group. Ask great questions. Show interest in the point person’s own professional experience. Communicate that you understand the similarities and differences in nonprofit and for-profit work.

Navigate over to the CoP website for the full transcript!

Be free,

Jeff