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Transitioning 101

This part of the Transition to the Nonprofit Sector learning center provides background information about moving from a for-profit to a nonprofit career.

Encore: Finding Meaning in a Post-Retirement Career
Marc Freedman, founder and chief executive officer of Civic Ventures, argues that older workers just may be the answer to the nonprofit sector’s leadership deficit.

 

Frequently Asked Questions: Bridging into the Nonprofit Sector
Answers to some common questions about transitioning into the nonprofit sector, including how to get started and what to expect regarding salary and work hours.

 

Fulfill the Dream of Leading a Nonprofit
For the untold numbers of corporate executives who dream of soul-enriching second careers in the social sector—but have no idea how to make that dream come true—our advice is to lend your expertise: Volunteer for temporary positions or board memberships at several different organizations until you find your joy and discover what you are really good at.

 

How to Market Yourself in the Nonprofit Sector
In a buyers' market, simply being a talented candidate is often times not enough to land a senior leadership role, so job seekers need to get out and sell themselves to prospective nonprofit employers. The idea of coming up with a personal marketing plan may be intimidating, but the six steps laid out in this article will help nonprofit job seekers put their best foot forward during a nonprofit job search.

 

Leading in Mid-Life: Nonprofit Careers for Older Workers
The desire to contribute has no age limit. Examples of men and women creating social impact span the generations, and we can expect to see even more as a new generation of older Americans – the “baby boomers” – seeks to be engaged in meaningful roles past.

 

Leading in the Second Half: The Nonprofit Opportunity
Commentary by David L. Simms, head of Bridgestar, for the MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures New Face of Work Survey.

 

Making the Jump
What should those who are looking to transition to a career in the nonprofit sector do to prepare themselves for their new roles? What skills do they need to hone? What cultural changes can they expect?

 

Practical Advice on Bridging into the Nonprofit Sector
Five pieces of practical advice for those who have, or are contemplating switching into the nonprofit sector, drawn from our research with those who have already made the transition.

 

Of Interest

2008 MetLife Foundation/Civic Ventures Encore Careers Survey
More than half of our nation's 80 million baby boomers are using or want to use their talents to improve society by working in education, public service, healthcare and nonprofit jobs.

 

Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career
Written by Herminia Ibarra this book is aimed at mid-career professionals who have invested much in careers that may no longer fully satisfy, Ibarra's book challenges the traditional belief that a meticulous assessment of one's skills and interests will automatically lead one to discover the right job. In reality, she argues, "doing comes first, knowing second."

 

Encore, Finding Work that Matters in the Second Half of Life
Written by Marc Freedman, this site discusses how Baby Boomers are inventing a new stage of work. As their numbers swell, they are transforming work itself—and creating a society that works better for everyone.

 

The Harvard Business School Guide to Careers in the Nonprofit Sector
Written by Stephanie Lowell, this career guide targets MBA-types interested in entering the nonprofit sector–whether as full-time managers, board members, or volunteers.