Working for a charity can lead to a rewarding career.
If there is a cause that matters to you, working for a charity or nonprofit related to that cause may interest you. You can put your skills to work helping others and earn a living as well. If you have skills that offer a significant benefit to the charity, they may be able to pay you a competitive salary.
About Nonprofits and Charities
Nonprofit and charitable agencies are nongovernment organizations that exist to provide services at no or low-cost. People who work for nonprofits and charities are usually deeply committed to the cause that it supports. The agency itself is usually tax-exempt and does not make a profit after expenses are paid.
Testing Your Aptitude
Not everyone is cut out to work for a charitable organization. To learn if you are, ask yourself four questions. First, assess whether you are committed to the charity and its cause. If not, the work will not be enjoyable for you. Next, consider whether you're cut out to work well with others. Nonprofits often are comprised of many people working for the same cause. Another consideration is whether you want to pitch in wherever you're needed or if there is a specific skill that you want to bring to the table. Does your skill set translate well to the nonprofit world? Finally, ask yourself whether you can commit to multiple responsibilities. In the nonprofit world, employees frequently fill multiple roles.
Types of Jobs
While just about any type of skill can translate into something useful to a charity, there are skills that most nonprofits require and for which they will pay. Grant writing, volunteer management, fundraising, business management, secretarial work and education are all areas where you may find employment in the nonprofit sector. Virtually all charities are dependent upon volunteers, but most have at least a small budget for hiring talented employees to keep things running smoothly and to help bring in more money.
Using Your Skills
Take some time to sit down and consider your skill set. Ask yourself how your education, training and job experience translate into skills that a charitable agency needs. Write a resume that highlights how your job experience, education and training translate into an employee from which the charity will benefit. While you're waiting to be hired, put your skills to good use by volunteering at the agency. This will expose them to your skills and will allow you to get to know the people there.
