If Google Can't Find You, You Don't Exist

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Job Searching, Networking, Personal Branding

Published May 19, 2009 @ 06:08AM PT

Everyone thinks that young professionals have completely mastered the art of social media. The stereotype is that Generation Y is always online, and companies are eager to tap the tech savvy minds of the "Facebook Generation". I even took on that assumption during an interview I conducted for a new position my organization was hiring for. I asked the candidate, a recent grad in her early 20s, to share her experience using social media tools. She told me she knew how to use Ning, but didn't know much about Myspace, Facebook, or Twitter. I almost fell out of my chair. For shame! A Generation Y job seeker who didn't even have a Facebook profile? Where had she been living, under a rock with no access to wi-fi? For a job that involved communications and marketing, this was a big deficit in her knowledge. I was also a little miffed that I couldn't find out any additional information about her online.

The nonprofit field is getting more competitive for top jobs as more and more candidates apply for positions with impressive education and experience. Instead of spending a fortune to go back to school, young professionals need to make themselves stand out by developing a strong personal brand that potential employers can view online. Are employers Googling you? Assume that they are. And if they can't find you, you pretty much don't exist. Yes, you can use social media to expand your network and position yourself for your next nonprofit career opportunity. Here are a few ways to get ahead of the game.

Post Your Resume on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is THE place to make purely professional connections with your colleagues in the nonprofit field or even that great speaker you met at a conference. Sign up on www.linkedin.com and fill out a profile with your work experience and educational background. List your accomplishments and professional memberships. LinkedIn also allows other people to post recommendations of your work. There's no better way to market yourself than someone else writing a paragrah about how awesome you are! To see an example, you can view my LinkedIn profile here.

Professionalize Your Facebook Page
I know, you originally created your Facebook profile to keep up with your friends in college. But you've graduated now, and guess what? Your Facebook profile can be Googled. So make sure you remove all of those photos of you doing shots at the bar. All of them. (I know, it was fun. But it's time to let go of the memories. Or at least just get rid of the evidence.) I'm not saying not to be yourself, I'm just encouraging you to consider whether your future employer would want to know about that side of you. Fill in the "Info" section of your Facebook page listing your previous jobs and educational background. And upload a nice headshot of your smiling face that anyone would love to hire.

Start Blogging
Google loves blogs. Google loves blogs so much, they have a special blog search. If you have a blog with your real name listed on it, Google will find it. Sign up at Blogger or Wordpress to get a free blog set up and start writing about issues that you care about, preferably somewhat related to the nonprofit field. It showcases your writing skills, social media savvy, and utter brilliance to future employers. Check out this fabulous resource to get started: Bamboo Project Readers' Guide to Blogging for Personal Branding

What happens when you Google your name? If the answer is "nothing," you've got some work to do!

"I Have a Degree, Hire Me" Doesn't Work Anymore

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Job Searching, Personal Branding

Published May 29, 2009 @ 07:35AM PT

So you just graduated from college or grad school and you want to do something with your life. You want your job to have meaning for your life and for the community. You want to make a difference and help change the world. You're sure you'd be a shoe-in for a nice little nonprofit job directing an afterschool program or a food pantry. Plus, you're kind of a big deal. With that degree from Yale or Stanford, you've got this in the bag.

Newsflash. Everyone has a degree. Americans are more educated now than ever, with 1 in 3 adults holding Bachelor's degrees or higher. In many metropolitan areas like Washington, DC, it's more like 1 in 2. It's not uncommon for new grads to flock to the nonprofit field to cut their teeth in their first management position. When we recently advertised a job for my organization, we received 200 applications - all of them boasting at least a Bachelor's degree. So whoopty-do. No matter how fancy your degree is, you still have to step your game up and tell the hiring organization what else makes you special.

Some of the job applications we received pretty much said in a nutshell, "I'm graduating from college in May and I need a job. May I please work at your nonprofit? Pretty please, with a cherry on top?" Um, how about no. It takes much more than that to land a great nonprofit job. Much more.

Tell me what's unique about you. If you were a product, why should I buy you? Job searching is all about marketing yourself. Imagine standing in the laundry detergent aisle at the grocery store. Why buy the Tide over the Cheer? Guess what, in that moment of choice, you're wondering which one will make your life easier. Similarly, in your nonprofit job search, you need to let the organization know that not only do you have a good education, but you know how to apply it. Emphasize how you can and will solve problems and get things done.

If it's now common to have a degree, you need to articulate what's uncommon about you. Because, "I have a degree, hire me" just doesn't work anymore.

Turn Your (Nonprofit) Swag On

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Leadership, Networking, Personal Branding

Published June 08, 2009 @ 08:44AM PT

The hip hop music world is obsessed with swag these days. I had to look in the urban dictionary for its official definition, which states that "swag" is simply the way you present yourself. Every song lyric on the radio has some mention of the importance of having this kind of extreme confidence in yourself, otherwise known as "getting your swag on". One of the most popular songs out right now is a song called "Turn My Swag On" by Soulja Boy. I admit, I'm not one to listen to all the teenybopper music these days, but as I watched my 14-year old cousin dance to this song, I realized that there was a bigger message for all of us to learn.

How important is swag in the nonprofit world? It's priceless. Nonprofit organizations are just as seduced by high levels of confidence in potential employees as we are with the hip hop stars of today. When you're networking, interviewing, or even meeting with a potential partner for your organization, it's crucial that you exude as much confidence as possible, even if you really feel nervous inside. It's amazing to me how many candidates I've interviewed for jobs, where in our conversation I'm struggling to get the person to make eye contact with me instead of speaking down to the table, or their shoes.

If you have issues with self-confidence, here are a few ways to practice beefing it up:

• Smile. A lot. Smiling will always help to quell any nervousness you may have.
• Always give a firm handshake when you meet someone (preferably while smiling).
• Make frequent eye contact (preferably while smiling).
• Talk about your accomplishments.
• When someone compliments you, just say thank you. Not "oh, this old thing?" or "it was nothing". Take credit for being fabulous.

Nonprofits want the kind of employees who believe so highly in themeselves that they can bring others on board for the cause. They want the kind of leaders that aren't afraid to "turn their swag on". And, evidenced by the song's over 8 million hits on YouTube, the rest of the world does, too.

Commanding Respect in a New Nonprofit Job and Why You Should Ditch Your Nickname

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Leadership, Personal Branding

Published June 11, 2009 @ 09:53AM PT

The nonprofit field is, in many ways, just like any other sector. You have organizational culture, office politics, rainmakers and those who do the "grunt work". If you're coming into your first full-time job at a nonprofit organization, you are likely to be in an entry-level position that is expected to do a lot of the grunt work around the office. Although you may have a fantastically relevant and expensive college degree, you may be tasked with taking notes for board meetings, making copies, answering phones, setting up logistics/catering for conferences, scheduling meetings for senior-level staff, procuring coffee or water for visitors to your office. Some of this work may seem menial, but you must remember that somebody has to do it for the nonprofit to operate effectively.

But just because you may have a job that's low on the organizational totem pole, it doesn't mean that your colleagues shouldn't treat you with respect. My grandmother always told me that, "People will treat you the way you allow them to." The first step to getting the respect you deserve? Ditch your nickname. As a young professional just starting your career, you want people to see you as an adult, not as a college kid with a cute nickname.

True Story
In my first full-time nonprofit job, of course everyone knew my name was Rosetta. Then I made the mistake of telling my boss that my "friends" called me Ro. She decided that she was one of my friends and decided to call me by that nickname. I thought it was cool that we were on nickname basis, until I realized that by calling me "Ro", my colleagues began to see me as "little Ro who answers the phone" and got too comfortable with treating me as a friend, versus a colleague with just as many valuable skills as they had. Since I was their friend "Ro", it was also easier for them to pay me less than $30K salary than it would have been to pay "Rosetta".  How do I know this? Just a year later, in my next nonprofit job, I introduced myself as Rosetta Thurman, and accepted nothing less. Within a year in my new position, I was earning double my previous salary.

If you don't want to be seen as the youngin' that makes all the copies and perks the best coffee, it may be time to ditch your nickname. I'm not saying you have to change your whole persona around your friends and family, but that you should consider using your full name at work. There is certainly a different perception of "Sam" over "Samantha" in office culture, especially if you are a woman. Using your full name gives off the perception that you are important enough for everyone to remember it. Even if it is an unusual or complicated name. If your co-workers slip into nicknaming you without your permission, simply smile and say, "I prefer to be called Rosetta". Works for me every time.

Nonprofits Aren't Looking for Mother Theresa

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Job Searching, Personal Branding

Published June 16, 2009 @ 05:57AM PT

True story. So I'm interviewing a candidate for a position at my organization. This young lady is pleasant enough, and I start the conversation by leaning in across the table with my best encouraging interviewer smile and ask her the million-dollar question: why do you want to work in the nonprofit field? She blinks. Flips her hair. Flashes a nervous smile and announces, "Well, I've always had a big heart, and I just want to help people."

I blink.

I blink again, thinking this was a false start. Surely she had more to say than that. The satisfied look on her face, however, told otherwise. I sighed, knowing she would bite the dust on most of the other interview questions I had for her if she couldn't at least convince me that she had anything more to bring to this job than the spirit of Mother Theresa.

I wanted to tell her, "you do know that we're not missionaries, don't you?"  I kept wondering why, for some reason, she thought that telling us about her big heart would make her a competitive candidate for the job. It did not.

If you're trying to break into the nonprofit sector for the first time, please practice answering questions about why you want to do this kind of work. Just because you like helping people, doesn't mean you can perform in any nonprofit job. We like your big heart, but if you want to work for social change, you've got to bring much more to the table. Namely: relevant education, skills, and a passion for the specific cause that the organization is addressing.

Give Me Three Good Reasons Why I Should Hire You

by Rosetta Thurman

category: Personal Branding

Published June 18, 2009 @ 05:59AM PT

Have you ever gone to a conference or a lecture, and the speaker opens up their speech with "I want to talk to you about three things today." Do you notice how the audience leans forward, breaks out their pens and notebooks, interested and ready to take notes?  That's because people love lists, how many points to expect, and can only remember about three things at a time.

"For example, when we present phone numbers, we present them in groups of three and four, which helps us to remember the list," said University of Missouri-Columbia psychologist Nelson Cowan.

In an interview for your dream nonprofit job, your objective is to be the candidate the hiring team remembers. You want to leave the organization with the impression that you can do any task they throw at you in the position. Picture how you would answer this common nonprofit interview question: Tell me how your experience and qualifications relate to this position. What if you were the one candidate that came into the interview with your nonprofit swag, and blew the interviewer away with this answer:

Let me give you three good reasons why you should hire me.

You might imagine the interviewer raising their eyebrows a bit, leaning forward, breaking out their pen and notebook, interested and ready to take notes.  This is exactly what you want. Don't be afraid to break out of the box.  Be memorable and you have a better chance of being called back for that second interview.

Would You Recognize a Golden Opportunity if it Slapped You in the Face?

by Rosetta Thurman

categories: Networking, Personal Branding

Published June 22, 2009 @ 05:07AM PT

I was at a nonprofit event recently and there was a photographer there taking pictures of the speakers and the attendees. As the event was ending, several of the nonprofit leaders approached the photographer to inquire about her services for nonprofits. She said sheepishly, "well I don't have any business cards on me." Still wanting to get to know her, the people who had gathered around her further inquired about her day job. Did she work for a nonprofit as well? The photographer then proceeded to tell the people that had gathered all about her current position and how much it sucked. It wasn't long before everyone walked away, muttering, "my, my look at the time."

I tell you this story because it's a prime example of missing a golden opportunity. The photographer at the nonprofit event had a captive audience for her services staring her smack dab in the face, and she blew it. Not only did she not bring business cards, but she gave the attendees a negative vibe when she started talking about her crappy nonprofit job. Let me share some tips for what you should do to capitalize on your golden opportunity when it slaps you in the face. Sometimes, you only get one chance!

Always Carry Business Cards
Business cards are still the numero uno way of exchanging information without having to stalk people down on Facebook. Especially if you're currently unemployed, you want people to have a way to contact you if they come across any job leads. Visit www.vistaprint.com to get a few hundred simple cards made up for about $20. You never know when you're going to be at a happy hour or conference and find yourself chatting up the CEO of a nonprofit you would die to work for. In the worst case scenario that you forget your cards, be sure to ask for THEIR business card so that you can follow-up. And, please DO follow-up within 24 hours, while the memory of your remarkable presence is still fresh in their minds.

Be Ready to Answer the "What Do You Do?" Question
If you're unemployed, or actively looking for a nonprofit job that's different than the one you have now, it's important to be super smooth when someone asks, "so, what do you do?" You DO NOT want to say: "Well, right now, a bunch of nothing until I find a job. Know anybody that's hiring?" You want to use this moment when you're networking to sell yourself to that person in the hopes they might connect you to a job lead. You DO want to tell them what you want to be doing in your next job. For instance, maybe you want to work in the fundraising department at a nonprofit that works on environmental issues. Even if you've only written thank you letters, you should tell people that you're a "fundraising professional with an interest in the green movement" or something similar. Now the person you're speaking to can effectively make connections for you based on your interests. Sometimes, it's not what you know, but who you know. I didn't know diddly squat about fundraising until someone opened a door for me to get into a nonprofit and learn.

Project a Positive Attitude
Nobody likes a whiner. So it would make sense that nobody wants to refer or hire a whiner. Even if your last position was the nonprofit job from hell, you don't have to tell everyone about it. In fact, you should tell NO ONE about any negative experiences you had on your last job. When you're networking, you want to be remembered as "such a nice person" with a great attitude. If people like you, they are more likely to go to bat for you when you need a favor or an introduction to a potential employer. And everyone likes a positive person. Turn your nonprofit swag on: smile, give firm handshakes, and don't be afraid to talk about your accomplishments.

Do you have a story about taking advantage of a golden opportunity? Please share in the comments or email me at rosetta@change.org!