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Salsa Enterprise and Node Manager
at Salsa Labs in Washington, DC
Cause: Social Entrepreneurship
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Director of Communications and Outreach
at Just Vision in Washington, DC
Cause: Human Rights
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Online Associate
at M+R Strategic Services in Washington, DC
Cause: Other
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Full-time Web Developer
at Brave New Films in Anywhere (virtual)
Cause: Other
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Marketing / PR Manager
at Vittana in Seattle, WA
Cause: Social Entrepreneurship
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Teach in NYC with New Visions for Public Schools
at New Visions for Public Schools in New York, NY
Cause: Education
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Associate Vice-President, Competitive Bids
at CARE Inc in Atlanta, GA
Cause: Global Poverty
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Program Manager, Los Angeles
at Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, CA
Cause: Animals
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- *coming soon
5 Ways to Spring Break (and a New Job)
Posted to Sector Switchers March 10, 2010 @ 06:56PM PT
Are you a college senior or junior? If so, happy spring break! Maybe you are headed for vacation or home to the question, "Have you EVEN visited the Career Planning office?" If this sounds familiar, you are not alone as thousands of college students prepare to hit the streets looking for a summer job or a permanent, full-time job (preferably a career) in the next few weeks. Here are some ideas to get you started without having to give up your spring break plans:
- Write a resume: Invest the time in a first or second draft, especially if you are hoping to land a summer internship, job or full-time position. Trust me, a first draft is better than no draft. Once it is complete, share it with an advisor in your career planning office or professional. When you return from break, you will need to spend time editing and perfecting.
- Look online: If you have an online presence, make sure it is squeaky clean. Take a conservative approach, and get rid of any seemingly compromising information such as Facebook photos. Also, establish a LinkedIn account if you have not already done so. The goal is to have a potential employer find you and be happy with the results.
- Establish a network: Make a list of your contacts and a plan for connecting with them after spring break to discuss your career plans. If you are not traveling, use this time to schedule appointments, phone calls or send emails.
- Use your resources: Visit the career planning office and take full advantage of the services. Many colleges and universities stay open during spring break, and it's easier to schedule an appointment when the campus clears out. If you haven't already done so, ask for help with your resume, take a career assessment test and look at on-campus interviewing opportunities. In addition, ask for names of alums willing to talk with students, especially those in the nonprofit sector. This is a great opportunity to connect with people in the field that you already have something in common with.
- Stay focused: Graduation will arrive quickly, but do not despair. If you absolutely have to start working, land your summer job first, and then focus on your career. If possible, give yourself time to take a breath, or even better, volunteer with a nonprofit while you job search.
Take the time to enjoy your break (especially if it is your last college break), knowing you've started items 1-5 before embarking on a week-long of fun.
(Photo Credit: http://oullibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/spring-break.jpg)
Listen Up, Tune In, and Turn It On!
Posted to Sector Switchers March 08, 2010 @ 08:49PM PT
If you didn't have a chance to register and tune in to the live teleseminar hosted by the Encore community, you're in luck - it was recorded and is available for listening now. The hour was jam-packed with information from former NY Times columnist, Marci Alboher (now a fabulous Encore careerist!), me and Mark Noonan of Elders In Action in Portland, Oregon.
If you are looking for an encore career, sector switching or hoping for a new job in the nonprofit sector, this podcast will keep you moving forward. Mark's story is inspiring and proof that a career change is possible! If you've got a story to tell, let me know as I'd like to share it with our readers and the Change.org community.
(Photo Credit: http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/dear-miriam/css/42-miriamhearing29jan09.jpg)
How to Market Yourself for AmeriCorps*VISTA
Posted to AmeriCorps March 03, 2010 @ 11:53AM PT
For many AmeriCorps*VISTA sponsoring organizations, recruitment season is approaching rapidly. (For me at PACC, it starts tomorrow!) With the economy in the dumps and AmeriCorps in the spotlight, there are sure to be record numbers of applicants.
How do you make yourself stand out in the crowd?
You need to learn about the AmeriCorps*VISTA program and market yourself specifically towards its unique characteristics. Here a few of the defining attributes of AmeriCorps*VISTA:
Indirect service: At the core if its mission, AmeriCorps*VISTA is a capacity building organization. All VISTA members participate in indirect service like volunteer coordination, fundraising, and program development. VISTA members don't send much of their time (if any!) in direct service to people (like painting houses and delivering meals). Why is this important? As a candidate, you want to highlight your interest in working in a "behind the scenes" capacity and your experience working in community empowerment, capacity building, and program sustainability.
Living among community members: Another aspect of VISTA that distinguishes it from other AmeriCorps programs is that it requires members to live at the economic level of the community that they are serving. As a result, the VISTA program provides a stipend at 105% of the poverty line and prohibits VISTAs from having other jobs or forms of income. In your application and interview, be sure to talk about why you want to serve and your own thoughts on the theory that members should live at the economic level of the people they are serving.
Professional skills: Most AmeriCorps*VISTA members are placed in non-profit and community organizations and have the same level of responsibility and workload as the professionals around them. Organizations are looking for VISTA members with the professional skills to fit with the needs of their project and organization. In your application and interview, focus on your office skills like taking initiative, working independently and with teams, and communicating effectively.
Photo attribution: Odesk.com
Does Your Resume SHOUT "Hire Me?!"
Posted to Sector Switchers March 01, 2010 @ 02:30PM PT
What's my most favorite (okay, not always my favorite) topic? If you guessed resume presentation, you are correct! Resume writing seems like it would be so easy given that it's just a list of where you've worked, the dates and your job responsibilities, right? Umm...not so much. If done corrrectly, it's a powerful marketing tool that can get you noticed or worse, get you tossed into the trash can.
Take a peek at what NY TIme's Phyllis Korkki has to say about the art of resume writing, especially if you've been working longer than 20 years or are changing careers. Also, make sure you have someone take a second look at your materials for format, content and strength. If there's any question about it, find an expert to give their impression.
(Don't forget to register for Encore's free, live teleconference on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 while there's still space available!)
(Photo Credit: http://theepiphany.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/girl_yelling.jpg)
No Apology Necessary: More Ways to Defy Ageism
Posted to Sector Switchers February 24, 2010 @ 08:14PM PT
I wrote about ageism last week and have since received a lot of emails asking for more information and specific examples. I was able to reach out to each of you personally, but am posting again on the topic because it's relevant to so many readers.
As I've mentioned (a few times now...), I work one-on-one with many job seekers, including many smart and wonderful professionals between 50 and 70 years old. The good news is that I love them, but more importantly, I truly value their sensibility, experience and commitment. The bad news is that I cannot lie or change the dates on their resume or make ageism go away in the world of job search. I can offer some words of wisdom based on front line experience from my coaching and recruiting office chair:
Learn to use technology: There is nothing shameful about having an administrative assistant, especially if it freed up your time for "real" strategy and hands-on work, but in this economy, you may not get so lucky at your next job. If you are accustomed to having someone manage your email, documents and files, research on the Internet and even, clean your voice mailbox, I recommend a refresher course or online tutorial. At a minimum, get familiar with Outlook, Microsoft Word and Excel.
Stop talking and listen: Yes, this is much easier said than done, and even I (not yet 50 years old) have a hard time remembering this advice. Many job seekers come across as cocky, overconfident, too smart and even, overqualified. With experience comes wisdom and a desire to jump right in with all the answers, but a good employee is also a good listener. If you are networking or interviewing, resist the urge to dominate the conversation and really try to hear what the interviewer is asking. There is nothing worse than a candidate that interrupts or talks over someone during an interview. You can avoid the risk of appearing too confident, cocky or overqualified by simply, waiting for your turn.
Do your research: If you are having a difficult time landing a job, and think age might be a factor, do some research. Find employers that share your values and will appreciate your wisdom and experience.
Focus on your accomplishments: Do not ever apologize for your age, joke about it or mention it. Keep the focus on your achievements and build the case for your candidacy. If necessary, diffuse the underlying age thing with relevant and useful information about what you bring to the table. You always want your talent and skills to be the lasting impression, not your birth date.
If I've left anything out, please email me or post in the comment section. Happy job seeking!
(Photo Credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/)
Free Encore Career Advice via Teleconference!
Posted to Sector Switchers February 22, 2010 @ 01:53PM PT
If you are are ready for an encore career, switching sectors or exploring a career with a purpose, you won't want to miss an exciting opportunity on March 3rd! Join a free teleconference call at noon-12:45 p.m. Pacific time/3-3:45 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, March 3, to learn tips and get answers to your questions from career coaching experts and someone in his encore career.
The Encore Careers Telebriefing will feature me, Change.org sector switcher blogger and career specialist with the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, Marci Alboher, Encore's in-house career specialist; and Mark Noonan, whose encore career involves working at Elders in Action in Portland, Ore. Participants will be invited to submit questions in advance.
To sign up for the free telebriefing, visit the Get Started Guide page on Encore.org, where you’ll also learn the answers to 12 commonly asked questions about finding an encore career. Attendance will be limited to 250 participants.
(Photo Credit: http://majastevanovich.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/career_change21.jpg)
How to Serve in AmeriCorps While You're Still in School
Posted to AmeriCorps February 18, 2010 @ 09:33AM PT
When most people think of AmeriCorps, they think of people serving as full-time volunteers, taking off a year from school or work to give back to their community. Some people serve after they have graduated from college or high school or even as a year-off in the middle.
However, there is a whole other type of AmeriCorps program that enables members to go to school full-time, while serving as part-time AmeriCorps members. This programs are generally called Education Award Only Programs (EAP), but have various names from program to program.
Here is how they work: If you are a full-time student, but still want to serve in AmeriCorps, you can enroll in an EAP program. In these programs, members commit to serving 300, 450, or 900 hours over the course of the year.
Members receive project-specific training and professional development and when they complete their hours, received a partial Eli Segal Education Award (the full amount is $5,350), depending on the number of hours served.
My favorite EAP program? Students In Service, through Washington Campus Compact. What to find an EAP in your own state? Contact your State Commission for more information.
Photo Attribution: Georgian
