Creating a Resume for a Non-Profit Position

When most people think about applying for employment, they typically focus on the corporate sector. However, there are some great positions available in the non-profit realm as well - and they often pay just as much as corporate employers.

But when you think of the non-profit realm, it’s good to think about it as its own industry. This is not to say that you can’t come in as an accountant, communications expert, or executive director and still make a difference. It’s just important to understand that non-profits function differently because they’re not trying earn money for the same reasons. It’s good to keep this in mind, if you’re creating your first resume for a non-profit, as well. Here are some ideas to remember…

Hard-Sell your Achievements

One thing that makes the non-profit unique is that it faces greater challenges in the business world because it innately suffers so much uncertainty; if a grant request isn’t accepted, a program may die, and so on. So when organizations are thinking about hiring someone, the someone must be willing to wholeheartedly believe in the organization’s mission and fight for its cause.

So as you’re creating your resume, it’s a good idea to really hard-sell your achievements in the non-profit realm. You can talk about what projects you’ve developed, how successful you’ve been at raising money, who you’ve successfully networked with, and how connecting with them help grow the business or organization you were previously with. Well, that’s if it’s all true. The point is that you want to show the organization that you will get there and work hard for the cause, no matter what sector you’re looking to be hired for. Good organizations are built on forward-thinking employees, so it’s your job to prove you are one.

Show that You Can Transition Easily and Have High Risk Tolerance

If you’re thinking of transitioning from a for-profit company to non-profit organization, then it’s good to show that you can make the transition easily due to previous experience you have. For instance, if you’ve ever volunteered for a board - or another non-profit organization - you want to make sure to highlight your experiences. Even, if your only experience is having volunteered for a couple of United Way events at your previous employer, this is good to mention.

Also, because non-profits often suffer constantly-changing conditions, it’s good to showcase your high-risk tolerance - show that you can handle ambiguous environments where anything can happen. You can give an example of an experience of having to think on your toes or fight for a cause, while not knowing how the situation would turn out. The more you highlight your understanding of the inner workings of a non-profit, the better your chances will be of getting considered for your position of choice.

Creating a resume for a non-profit is not much different than creating one for a for-profit business. You need to understand the industry you’re entering and make sure to provide information about your skills and achievements that showcases your understanding. If you can do these two things, you can catch the attention of a non-profit.

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