Sector Switchers Advice by Topic
- Job Seekers (86)
- Search Strategy (80)
- Random (48)
- Resumes (15)
- Cover Letters (6)
- Stories (1)
- Resources (82)
- Sector Switcher Stories (51)
- Interviewing (23)
- Volunteering (7)
- Sector Switchers (6)
- College Students
- Young Professionals
- Sector Switchers
- Grad Students*
- High School Students*
- Americorps
- Political & Advocacy Jobs
- Green Jobs*
- Government Jobs*
- Social Enterprise Jobs*
- Education Jobs*
- *coming soon
Interviewing Articles for Sector Switchers
So, Tell Me a Little About Yourself
Published May 18, 2009 @ 09:39AM PT
Congratulations! You’ve landed an interview, but now what? There are many ways to approach interviewing, but no matter how prepared you feel you may also feel a bit nervous and this is ok. I think a little nervous is a good thing, but a lot nervous might mean you aren’t well-prepared. Don’t forget the basics:
-
Leave the cologne at home. This means no perfume or heavy aftershave.
-
Dress your best. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
-
Wear a watch. Arrive 15 minutes early if possible.
-
Turn your cell phone or pager OFF.
-
Bring five extra copies of your resume and an updated list of references with their contact information.
-
A pad of paper and pen to take notes.
-
Be a good listener.
-
Answer the questions as directly as possible.
-
Don’t forget your sense of humor.
-
A firm handshake and a smile.
-
Your datebook to schedule another appointment.
-
Send a thank you note.
The basics are just that, the basics. These tips may make all the difference:
-
Check out this great resource for job seekers – You won’t be disappointed by salary information and posted interview questions from job seekers and readers.
-
Practice interviewing. Work with a trusted friend or colleague or hire a consultant or job coach. If you’ve had a lot of interviews and no job offers, you may want to take a look at your interviewing style.
-
Do your homework. Go way beyond just the employer’s website and read financials online at www.guidestar.org, learn about the senior management team, google for recent news articles or funding initiatives.
-
Prepare questions. There will be a time for your questions and you should be prepared with three or four questions (and make sure they are relevant).
-
Ask for feedback. Are you noticing a trend? First interviews, but no second invitations? Take some time for self-reflection and incorporate the feedback into your next interview.
I’d love to hear your stories about interviewing or questions that have surprised you. Feel free to post in the comments section and I’ll respond.
It's Not All About You - 10 Questions to Ace Your Interview
Published June 03, 2009 @ 09:49AM PT
Congratulations! You've landed an interview, but now what? My advice (in addition to being on time) includes preparing thoughtful questions in advance to demonstrate that you've done your homework.
Most important - it is not all about you, and what they can do for you. Rather, questions should be thoughtful and specific to the organization. This is your chance to show how articulate, smart and saavy you are! Here are some questions to get you started:
- What are the main objectives and responsibilities of the position?
- Do you have a strategic plan to support these objectives and responsibilities?
- How involved is the board, and how would you describe their involvement?
- What challenges or obstacles are expected in reaching these objectives? And what is the time frame?
- What resources are available internally, and what must be found or raised elsewhere?
- How would you describe the management philosophy of this organization? Or department?
- How has the organization changed in the past? And where do you expect it to go? (This is also a GREAT opportunity to mention a recent funding intiative, opportunity or other news worthy information.)
- What is the top priority of the person hired to do this job? What are the expected milestones in the first 6-12 months?
- Who does this position report to directly?
- What are the next steps in this process?
If your interview is going really well, don't get too comfortable. It's really important to save the questions about weekend and after-hour schedules, benefits, pay schedules, and your child care issues until you are further along in the process. Good luck!
Don't Forget to Say Thank-You: 3 Things of Note
Published June 04, 2009 @ 12:18PM PT
Hand written notes are mostly a thing of the past and unfortunately for many people, the thank-you note has gone this way too. I recently read that only 32 percent of job seekers actually send follow-up thank you notes. By not sending a thank-you note, you've lost an opportunity to connect with the agency or organization. Whenever a job seeker asks me if they are necessary or if people still write them, my response is always, yes, write the thank-you note.
The current economy and its competitive job market demand that candidates pull out all their best manners including an old-fashioned (It's my opinion that they've never lost fashion) thank-you note. This is not just any thank-you note, but another opportunity to get noticed by a POTENTIAL employer. What's the best way to the approach this? Here are three things to do:
- Note Cards They should be a neutral color, with little embellishment and "tastefully styled". White, creme, light blue, or even light pink colors will do just fine, but remember that less is more.
- Names and Business Cards Whenever possible, get the proper names (and spelling) of the people/person that you will be interviewing with. If this doesn't work, ask at the end or beginning of the interview for their business cards or names. If they don't have cards, write their names down before you leave the building as it's easy to forget especially if there are more than two people.
- Write the Note A personalized note is not just polite, but an opportunity to follow-up with one last thing about the organization that impressed you or the chance to say something you forgot to in the interview. It's a note, not another cover letter. Leave it to a few paragraphs and most importantly, put it in the mail!
If you are a sector switcher or considering a new job opportunity, a hand written note is just one more thing that will set you apart from other candidates. Think about the last time you received a hand written note. Did you throw it away immediately or did you hang on to it? If it's a close competition to choose the best candidate, a thank-you note may set you apart from someone else and make the difference. If you are still unsure, google thank-you notes and you'll see the range of how-to write a thank-you note tips and information that turn up
Going Up: Getting a Rise from Your Elevator Speech
Published June 10, 2009 @ 09:17PM PT
The elevator speech isn't a new concept, but the "best" way to craft one is constantly changing. If you are stuck, there is NO shortage of "experts" in this area and you'll find all sorts of information about how to develop and effectively pitch yourself. I think the most important point to remember is that the speech is not just for the elevator, but the gym, soccer field, bakery, and while walking your dog. A good speech should really only last as long as an elevator ride - 30 to 60 seconds within 150 - 200 words. That's a lot of things to say without a lot of words (especially given that it's your career). How can you make it effective? Here's a starting point:
- What is your passion? If you haven't identified this, you've got some work to do especially if you are considering a nonprofit career.
- What is your hook? This means where do you excel or have specific expertise. For example, are you a special event planner and just finished up a successful dinner or fun run? Tell your story including how it helped the agency, the mission and how much money you helped to raise.
- What do you want? For example, it's great that you have a real passion for working in health care, but it's a big field. Be specific and make sure you've clarified the "what and where" at the end of the elevator ride, soccer game, coffee or chance meeting in the produce section at Whole Foods.
Practice your speech with a friend, trusted colleague and even in front of a mirror. When job seeking, every opportunity should be considered another chance to tell your story. Be prepared because you just never know who you'll meet. A good friend landed an interview through a 5-minute exchange at the dog park (there was some follow-up on her part after the dog park, but it started there), and eventually, her dream job. You could be next. (Image courtesy of Business Week)
Interview: Through the Looking Glass
Published June 26, 2009 @ 07:14PM PT
Today's post is by Tracy Desmond Welsh, a seasoned executive search consultant, and a Vice President at Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group (I am moving this weekend, and am a wee bit overwhelmed by boxes and all the rest). As a nonprofit executive recruiter, Tracy has interviewed hundreds (maybe thousands) of candidates and provides a great perspective from the other side of the table.
Even the most seasoned and fearless candidate of the corporate sector can feel like Alice walking through the looking glass in the interview process for non-profit organizations. What is important to remember is that organizations mirror the markets that they serve. Understanding the similarities and differences of organizations that are predominately mission-driven and somewhat market defined versus organizations that are almost completely market-driven and somewhat mission differentiated is critical. You must embrace and synthesize the best that each sector has to offer to not only be successful in landing the job, but in thriving in the role and the organization.
- Group Interviews - while sector switchers may be familiar with group meetings of future direct-line staff at the finalist phase of an interview process, they may not realize that group interviews are often the first step in a series of interviews in non-profits. A common first step is to meet with a search committee representing a range of key constituents from board members to administrators to program and field staff. Each constituent will be interested in your perspective of their area. Given the breadth of the audience it is easy to fall into the trap of either being too vocal and alienating one group or being too vanilla and coming off as underpowered. The best antidote for such a situation is to be prepared with questions to ask each stakeholder. If time allows, make sure each member is heard from and that you are attentive so that you can tailor your own answers in a way that will resonate with their needs and aspirations.
- Outcomes and Process are equally important - You might have a resume touting an impressive list of outcomes at your last job. Being quantitative about your accomplishments is important in any interview situation. By all means, do list key accomplishments. The cue that many sector switchers miss is that the process is often as or more important as the outcome. If you describe how you arrived at an outcome as a unilateral event, you will be perceived as someone who "doesn't get" the cultural nuances. Before talking about your accomplishments, think about all the people who touched that project. Did you have to persuade people to get them on board? What were the challenges? Offer what you would do differently. Try not to use the pronoun "I" too often. It will sound like you are unwilling to give others credit. Also, most sector switchers understand that the speed with which decisions are made can sometimes be longer in the non-profit sector, however, this should not be mistaken for an inability to make decisions. These organizations are not measured on quarterly market performance. The drivers are different and are predicated more on mission forces than market forces. There is an intrinsic sense of employee equity in the firm, born of passion, hard work, and dedication. The payout is not in monetary shares but in the sense of community and the ability to have an equal voice.
- Do be passionate not patronizing - merely saying that you want to give back or work for a cause not widgets is not enough. Do avoid the pitfall of making it sound like your transition to the non-profit sector is a down shift from your corporate career. It's important that you are passionate about the organizations' mission, but you also need to convey how your skill set might add value to the organization and how the role will enhance your own professional growth. If you don't have personal or volunteer experience to draw from, you can differentiate yourself by learning the dynamics of the sector and the organization's place in it. You might envision something they hadn't thought of and your conversations will be more like working discussions than a trite answer about your desire to now give back.
If you have any interesting or funny interviewing stories to share, post them in the comment section. Erin would love to share them. Also, if you have any questions related to interviewing, post them in the Q & A section.
Ten Smart Questions for the Summer Interview
Published July 05, 2009 @ 07:25PM PT
Like many other job seekers (and the happily employed), you may be thinking "What really happens in the summer?" or "I'll wait until the fall to kickstart my search". Hold on, here is something you can do - schedule an informational interview. Most people slow down during the summer months, and as a result, have flexibility in their schedules. If you are feeling really motivated, try scheduling 2-3 informational interviews this month and lead with a variation of these 10 questions (Excerpted from Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector):
- Ask about them: What brought you to this nonprofit work and mission area? Has the work lived up to your expectations?
- Let them know you are well-versed: I read with great interest about how your organization is expanding its work into four new program areas. This is particularly interesting to me as an entreprenuer. Can you tell me about the funding challenges that poses and how, given current philanthropic trends, you are planning to handle them?
- The competition: Whom do you consider to be your competition for funding, for media, for members, etc?
- So, what's it really like: What is the working atmosphere like here? Is this typical for the nonprofit sector in your experience? What do you enjoy and what do you dislike?
- Sector-switching: I notice that many staff here, like you, have business backgrounds. What difficulties did that pose to you when you came into the nonprofit sector? In what ways did it makes things easier?
- The real work: Which skills, experiences, backgrounds, or personality types have you found to be most successful in your role? Which have not?
- Impact: How has this organization and your role changed since you've been here? In response to what?
- About you: How would you assess my background, and where would you think I ought to focus my professional development to be successful in the type of position I seek?
- Advice and wisdom: Do you have any words of wisdom, advice or warning based on your experiences? What do you wish you knew when you started that you know nw? Who else might have insights and a good network of friends and colleagues?
- Keep in touch: May I follow-up with you as my job search evolves to keep you posted and get additional advice along the way?
These questions are offered as a place to start, and you can probably think of many more. If nothing else, remember to keep to the scheduled time period and to follow-up with a thank-you note.
