Are you interested in working for a nonprofit organization, but not clear on what experiences and skills are needed in order to land a job? Below are insights from five professionals on Candid Career who all work within nonprofit organizations. Check out their specialized tips for how to get involved in various sectors of nonprofit work, as well as what skills will make you stand out as a potential candidate:
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Supaya Miranda, Executive Director of Prepare + Prosper (St. Paul, MN)
How to gain experience:
- Apply for committees and organizations that align with your personal values and mission to understand how the programs are being managed.
- Work within your community of interest as much as possible to learn about the community members’ needs. (Author tip: check out CCE’s website for opportunities to get involved in the local community!)
Marketable soft skills:
- Curiosity
- Positivity
- Desire to make a difference
Watch Supaya’s full Candid Career interview here!
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Mike Peoples, Independent Non-Profit Organization Management Professional (Charlottesville, VA)
How to gain experience:
- Study Emergency Management in undergraduate or graduate school
- Study any area within the humanities that will build skills in reading, analyzing and digesting information, such as English or History
Marketable soft skills:
- Leadership and management skills
- Ability to prioritize workload
- Ability to build the capacity of programming and staffing within an organization
- Ability to solicit donations
Watch Mike’s full Candid Career interview here!
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Tamara Wilkerson Dias, Executive Director of The African American Teaching Fellows Program (Charlottesville, VA)
How to gain experience:
- Volunteer with the nonprofit organization you are interested in to better understand their mission and become familiar with possible openings within the organization. (Author tip: Check out CCE or Idealist to search for volunteer opportunities.)
- Get involved in teaching experiences related to your fields of interest.
Marketable soft skills:
- Ability to learn new things, learn quickly, and be adaptable to new situations
- Willingness to try new things without the fear of failure
Watch Tamara’s full Candid Career interview here!
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Ana J. Almanzar, Director of Community Relations at the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation (New York, NY)
How to gain experience:
- Study political science, public relations, communication and/or negotiation to be better prepared for work in community relations.
- Complete an internship or shadow somebody within your nonprofit organization of interest in order to learn more about the pros and cons of that work environment.
Marketable soft skills:
- Ability to defend your own viewpoint
- Ability to answer difficult questions in the public eye
Watch Ana’s full Candid Career interview here!
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Jimmy Russell, Disability Rights Advocate with The Ability Center of Greater Toledo (Toledo, OH)
How to gain experience:
- Study social work or political science
- Take courses that enable you to conduct research and learn about the needs of people with disabilities
- Participate in student government to gain experience advocating for students. (Author tip: if you live on campus, connect with your residential community’s council! More information can be found on each community’s respective webpage.)
Marketable soft skills:
- Charisma; ability to relay ideas confidently and without worry that others will not like your opinions (Author tip: go to the Speaking Center to gain public speaking skills!)
- Hopefulness and confidence that you can influence others to do the right thing
Watch Jimmy’s full Candid Career interview here!
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All images are from Candid Career.
