Posted 7/26/21
If you are considering a move to the nonprofit from the for-profit world, there are some aspects that you should consider because the change can be more involved than you might expect. It really does require some thought before you attempt the career change.
Many people find themselves considering this move in mid-career with an effort to find fulfillment in their work. They can feel as though something is missing when working in for-profits alone, and develop an interest in doing good for others. While it is not a big risk to make this move, I am only trying to inform those considering it of areas to contemplate. I think the most common pitfall to avoid is the belief that the nonprofit is going to provide fulfillment to those who join (of which I am naively guilty). It would be unfair to the organization to place that expectation on it because there are pressures involved in running the organization, just like in business, plus there are challenges and failures unique to the nonprofit that can add stress and frustration to the work of the mission. You will need to clarify the expectation in your own mind before attempting a move.
The helpful strategy I tried was identifying people working in the industry and requesting an informational interview. This can result in a better understanding of the expectations as well as provide answers to your specific questions. I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful and generous these people were with their time, plus I contacted them out of the blue. It only helped to reinforce my decision to go ahead with the career change, and have found it to be fulfilling ever since.
Once you have made the decision, it begins with the application and interview process. Most for-profit organizations look for skills and abilities to help the company make more money, as well as fitting the existing culture. Everyone in the organization is working toward the same goal, and they can receive additional compensation and rewards for gaining higher profits. The nonprofit also looks for people with skills that contribute to the mission, but there is a philosophical difference in the purpose. If you are considering a career in the nonprofit, it is important to understand your own interests and causes that are important to you. In my experience, the great majority of employees felt strongly about the mission and helping those in need. It impacts everything done in the organization so if you have no feeling about the mission or you do not see it as important, you may find yourself out of place. It requires some soul-searching to assess your own attitudes toward the reason for working, (be it financial reward or supporting a cause). The reason I say this is that I have seen people make a move from the for-profit, and eventually change back to business. Both involve two different entities with two different purposes. While much of the operations (HR, bookkeeping, service delivery, customer service, etc.) are similar, the purpose for choosing either should be identified for each individual prior to the move.
If you do decide to pursue the non-profit, then your resume and interview needs to convincingly express your interest, even passion for the mission of the organization. The reason for this is that hiring managers look to maintain a culture of caring to support the cause. If you are not focused on the mission of the organization, then you can potentially disrupt the culture that the hiring managers are trying to maintain. Early in my move, I focused my resume and interview responses on the skills I could bring to the table in order to help grow the organization (which is a business interviewing tactic). I failed, however, to talk about an interest or caring for the mission. (Also, it is advised that you not fake the caring because it will most likely backfire, because most hiring managers will identify a red flag in the interview). You can have a genuine interest or willingness to learn, but it is best to have a true caring for the work done by the organization, and need to ensure that you communicate it.
So, it is worth the time to self-evaluate your move to the non-profit because a poor fit can look bad on your resume and affect future opportunities. Remember, it is very difficult to fake caring for a mission, so be sure as you possibly can regarding the positions for which you apply, because as mentioned above, a reckless move can result in complications and a poor experience both for you as well as for the organization trying to maintain a culture of service.