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WORKING FOR A NONPROFIT AT THE BEGINNING of your career will likely offer more responsibility, leadership, and immediate growth opportunities than you ever would experience at the entry level in business or the government. Many people working in the nonprofit sector find the experience rewarding and fulfilling. They know their work helps people and improves their communities and they enjoy the less formal work environment that is generally offered by a nonprofit job.

However, working in the nonprofit sector is not without its stresses. Entry-level nonprofit salaries tend to be lower than in the business sector, the issues dealt with can seem overwhelming, and some organizations face fiscal constraints. Depending on what you want to do, here are some job titles that should be within your reach: research assistant/associate, project/program coordinator or assistant, executive assistant, organizer, volunteer coordinator, administrative assistant, event planner, etc. Having extensive volunteer experience in a given area, information technology skills, or being bilingual and/or bicultural can make you an even more attractive candidate.

"Year of Service Programs," both secular and faith-based, are great opportunities for recent college graduates to get started in the nonprofit sector. Most of these programs will help you find a job, place you in a community of people doing similar work and provide opportunities for training, professional and personal development.

Although many jobs will say that one- to two-years' experience in the given field is required, you should be confident in applying for just about any job asking for this range of experience that does not require a master's degree.

Continue to "Where do you fit in the third sector?" >>>

Read more...

1. What is the nonprofit sector?
   
2. What to expect from working in the nonprofit world
   
3. Where do you fit in the third sector?
   
4. Finding your dream job—or at least a position in that ballpark
   
5. Other ways of entering the nonprofit sector
   
6. Finally...