Where can I find information on writing a resume for a nonprofit job?
Writing a resume for a nonprofit job is not that different from writing one for any other job. For either sector, your resume should be an easy-to-read, concise summary that shows why your skills and experience make you the best person for that job.
However, many nonprofit employers also like to see examples of giving back to society, like volunteering, serving on a board, or working for a nonprofit. This may be especially true if the nonprofit job that you want is not related to your professional experience.
"People choose to go into the nonprofit field because they want to do something more than just making money...So the underlying question is, 'Why have you decided that your goal is no longer to make money?'" says Richard M. King, a nonprofit recruiter and author of From Making a Profit to Making a Difference: How to Launch Your New Career in Nonprofits (River Forest, IL: Planning/Communications, 2000).
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Staff-recommended websites
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Staff pick
Bridgestar
Adapting Your Resume for a Nonprofit Job Search
Includes tips and sample resumes for individuals seeking to transfer from the for-profit to the nonprofit sector.
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ExecSearches.com
This web site features articles with advice for the nonprofit job seeker, including tips for composing resumes and cover letters. ExecSearches.com also offers a fee-based resume review service.
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The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Recruiters and Employers Offer Tips for Creating the Ideal Nonprofit Résumé
States that nonprofit employers like to see some form of giving back to society. Includes advice for explaining and justifying a midcareer switch. Published May 20, 2002.
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The Bridgespan Group
The Benefits of Diverse Experience in Leading a Nonprofit
This survey of over 600 nonprofit leaders focuses on their backgrounds and their organizations, suggesting that nonprofits that seek new executive directors should focus on finding candidates with diverse skills sets and experiences, and learning how they have handled, adapted, and grown from them. This valuable information can help nonprofits support their new leaders as they adapt to the organization's culture and build key relationships outside of the organization.
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Staff pick
Idealist.org
The Idealist Careers Guide to Presenting Yourself on Paper | Resumes and Cover Letters
Discusses what should be included in a resume and cover letter.
Staff-recommended books
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The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for Sector Switchers
Find: Amazon | Books in our NYC collection
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The Idealist Guide to Nonprofit Careers for First-time Job Seekers
Find: Amazon | Books in our NYC collection
