Ask Alexis | Sector Switching and Heading the Call to Service

Today's Ask Alexis comes from a job seeker frustrated in his sales career who wants to make the switch to the nonprofit sector:

Hi Alexis,

The biggest issues I am having in starting a career in social impact revolve around a three-headed hydra of fear, capital, and routine. I entered college ten years ago as an idealist whose only real interests included good books and a degree that allowed me to improve people's lives. I graduated with an International Relations degree and no desire to continue my education just to fund the wicked rulers of the world. Even more so, looking at the amount of money I already borrowed, I refused to put myself further in debt to “play the game," so to speak.

I spent the years after college working in customer service and sales, but I have always felt my true calling was doing what I could to make a positive impact in the world. How I can transition into the nonprofit sector without starting at the bottom? My resume illustrates many transferrable skills, but I'm struggling to find roles that don't require "previous nonprofit experience."

I found your website through a friend and will be checking it everyday. I am sure there are countless success stories from people who were in a very similar situation to mine and now have rewarding careers and lead contented lives. I will be one of those people!

Thanks,

Brendan

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Hello Brendan,

You mention that you have crafted your resume so that it showcases your transferable skills. I wanted to assure you it is likely that by highlighting your skills in this way, you might not have to start from the bottom. When you switch sectors from for-profit to nonprofit, keep in mind that there may not be as much of a change as you anticipate; nonprofits need accountants, administrative assistants, marketing managers, and HR managers just as much as corporations do!

Without knowing what type of work you are seeking in the social-impact sector, I’m not certain how large of a shift there will be in your job functions, but I can share a couple of examples of how your experience in customer service and sales may influence your career path:

• Customer Service: In previous roles, you probably gained experience working directly with clients or community members, solved problems, tracked and organized important documents, and served as the point person for any questions about your employer. It sounds like you have the experience to work in nonprofit administration!
• Sales: With a background in sales, you probably know how to highlight the value of your product or employer, are comfortable speaking with people, can build strong relationships with clients, and can handle large amounts of data. Sounds like you may be perfect for a career in nonprofit development!

Take a look at some of the open roles that are currently on Idealist to see how the job description lines up with your interests; then, make sure to use exact keywords in your application materials to showcase why you have the experience to land the job.

When applying to these jobs, think about your accomplishments and quantify your experiences whenever you can: the number of clients you see in a given day or week, money you've saved the company, instances when you were under-budget or exceeded sales quotas , number of new relationships you built, and the like.

Remember to not only highlight your transferable skills but to speak the “language” of nonprofits. For example, you’ll want to use the word “organization” in place of “company” and “community-driven” as opposed to “client-driven.”

I hope these tips help you make the switch into the social-impact sector!

To your success,

Alexis