To ensure delivery of timely information, please add <jobswatch@deweykaye.com> to your address book.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

How Do I Get That Nonprofit Job I've Been Seeking?

It's ubiquitous, that old saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Career and interviewing advice abound on the internet, but every so often a resource comes along that really stands out. While networking and conducting some candidate research on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/in/linktoddowens), I connected with Julie Bauke (www.congruitycareer.com/) and her outstanding new book, Stop Peeing on Your Shoes: Avoiding the 7 Mistakes That Screw Up Your Job Search. In her book, on her website and in her consulting work she offers job seekers sage strategic advice about their career trajectory, their next move, putting your best foot forward and networking for current and future success. Check it out.

During my 9 years at Dewey & Kaye I have personally interviewed thousands of individuals, as well as conducted more than 600 interviews with search committees who are wrestling with decisions related to hiring the right professional to lead a nonprofit organization. In most cases these individuals are volunteer board members operating with the best interest of the organization at heart, and seeking someone who will do the same. During these interviews I have seen just about everything. Here's a list of the best advice I can offer for those of you interviewing for a role in a nonprofit organization:

1. Don't leave your passion at the door. This might or might not factor into interviews in the private sector. However there is a good chance that the person(s) interviewing you are there because they care deeply about the cause the organization is supporting. They want to hear the same from you if you are going to lead the organization at some level.
2. Don't make it about the money. I'm astounded when candidates respond that their primary interest in the role is compensation. In most cases you're interviewing with someone who isn't being paid to interview you, or has chosen to work in the nonprofit sector due to their passion, and not their desire to be a millionaire. It can be about the money at some level, obviously. However, it shouldn't be about the money first.
3. Don't do anything to take the focus off of you. I've been in interviews where a strong candidate wore a jangly bracelet that kept hitting the glass table top around which we were sitting, and at the end of the interview the noise the bracelet created was all that the committee heard. Don't do this to yourself. You've got one shot with the search committee. Wear neutral or smart colors, dress professionally, and don't make a statement with your new cologne/perfume. Allow your impressive self to do the talking, and leave them wanting more of you because of how prepared you were.
4. Preparing for a nonprofit interview is much easier than a private sector interview. Most information about nonprofits is public. 990's are available free and online (www.guidestar.org). Foundations frequently publish information on their current grantees. Google alerts (http://www.google.com/alerts), when used properly, will conduct most of the necessary research on an organization, your interviewers, board members, etc. for you while you sleep. Be smart about this and don't waste anyone's time by being unprepared.
5. Practice makes perfect. Candidates can easily anticipate at least 50% of the interview questions that will be asked of them. For these questions, you should hit a home run with your response. Find someone you trust and admire, and ask them to "interview" you with the questions you anticipate. Ask them to critique your responses. While job hunting, my wife and I used to do this while we were loading the dishwasher. The thinking here was that if you could formulate an intelligent response while distracted by something else (where does the glassware go?) that you'd sound even better when focused on it 100% in an interview. And if you really want to convince someone with your response, ask yourself the questions while responding to yourself in a mirror. It's silly, but it works. Trust me.
6. Finally, be assertive and considerate. I stated above that you're likely interviewing with volunteers. When you enter the room, shake everyone's hand, look them in the eye, and greet them appropriately. When you sit down and are ready to start, thank them for their time before answering any questions. When the interview concludes, reinforce your interest in the role, and thank them again for their time. When you get home, send them each a thank you note, or thank you email. I'm a diehard advocate for hand written thank you notes, but have come around to the fact that this might be generational. I receive email thank you notes all of the time, and feel that a well written email thank you will suffice. However, leave your abbreviations and emoticons for communicating with your friends. And remember, spell check is never a substitute for proof reading.

Follow these simple tips and you'll excel in an interview situation. Read Julie's book and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Then go out and practice what you've learned. In a down economy, it's the people that can back up their resume with an impressive personal presentation that will be given the golden ticket. Good luck!

Written by: Todd Owens, Principal, Dewey & Kaye can be reached at towens@deweykaye.com, or by calling 412.434.1335. He can also be found on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and the BrazenCareerist.