Is there a service that can help me find my dream job?

March 25, 2006 8:37 PM

Are there effective employment counseling services for people interested in a career change?

I'm looking for a new career. I currently work in science editing and publishing, and what I like best about it is the feeling that I'm doing something useful and meaningful. However, I'd like to do more direct advocacy-type work. My happiest work experience was in college as a volunteer in a nonprofit AIDS community project helping to write press releases and grants, organize benefit events, and assisting however I was needed.

However, I don't know how to effectively job search in the nonprofit field or sell myself to those hiring in it. I'd be happiest working either in community services or by using my science editing/writing experience in a nature conservancy program, but I have no professional experience, only the volunteer work. What little career counseling I've had in the past (through my university) has been inadequate. I want help from someone with real analytical skill and knowledge of the field, who can intelligently assess my educational and professional qualifications and match me to the kind of job I'm looking for. I haven't been able to find this kind of service; a lot of the stuff I've found online seems geared to helping people figure out what they want to do, and I know that part -- I just need to figure out how to find and get the job, already. If you've ever been counseled effectively, can you tell me about the process -- how effective it was, what help you received, how expensive it was, that sort of thing? I'm particularly interested if it involved a career change. Thanks very much.

posted by melissa may to Work & Money (6 answers total)

melissa may, a number of years ago, I made a career shift (from the not-for-profit world to the land of filthy lucre) and the best advice I was given came from an experienced HR / career counselor. He told me to call people who held the types of jobs I wanted and to tell them that I was considering a career shift, and could they spend a few minutes with me for an informational interview. I was initially not at all enthused about this advice - what a lot of work it seemed! But it proved to be great networking, most people agreed and were very friendly and helpful to me, and I learned a lot about the realities of the field that I wanted to break into. Almost everyone I met suggested one or two names of other people - some even called contacts for me.

People were really good about sharing when I told them that I wanted to hear their experience - why/how did you get in this field? What do you like most about it? What would you recommend that I do to break in? What do you think that I have that are transferrable skills?

Someone that I met in this process later called me to tell me about an entry level marketing opportunity in a company - and I got that job. I only stayed in that company for a few years, but it was pivotal in making my transition.

You probably have many more transferrable skills than you realize, particularly where you have previously volunteered. The type of work you describe - writing, PR, events - in my experience, these are very desirable in the not-for-profit sector.

Here are a few resources that might be helpful:
Idealist
The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Good luck on your journey!
posted by madamjujujive at 1:22 AM on March 26, 2006

Many colleges and universities offer ongoing support to alumni. I'd give yours a call or stop by if you can and see if they can help you as well.
posted by cajo at 2:18 AM on March 26, 2006

Melissa,

If you're an experienced science editor, you would likely be a gift from God as a grant writer for many health-focused nonprofits. (I"ve been a technical writer and editor for 20 years now, and I do volunteer/pro-bono work for a few organizations helping them write and review grant applications.)

Make a short list of places that you'd like to work, find out who you'd need to talk to (madamjujujive's advice is superb on both fronts), and start sending out inquiry e-mails and letters, followed a few days later by phone calls.

Quite conceivably, you could do this on a volunteer basis *before* switching to paid employment in the nonprofit sector; this would give you both experience and references to draw on.
posted by enrevanche at 2:33 AM on March 26, 2006

You should team up with my sister for this. She's looking for something similar, except she's based in the UK. I'll send her the URL of this post and see if you two can help each other. :)
posted by divabat at 3:45 AM on March 26, 2006

this is a link for Opportunity NOCs, a non-profit job listing site.
posted by 45moore45 at 7:04 AM on March 26, 2006

Oops, well that didn't work! www.opportunityNOCs.org
posted by 45moore45 at 7:04 AM on March 26, 2006