Realities For Bosses And Employees

Having a lot of talent around you makes life a lot easier for bosses. But as Terry Francona learned after he was let go by the Boston Red Sox -- after leading his team to its first two World Series in 86 years -- all that talent is worthless if you can't manage it.

In his book "The Gifted Boss," Dale Dauten wrote that the key to success in the workplace comes from good bosses and good employees working together. He offered the following six realities of gifted bosses and great employees as part of that idea. They are:

• The “talent-squared” workplace is possible because gifted bosses and great employees want the same thing from a workplace: freedom from management, mediocrity and morons; a change; a chance.
• Gifted bosses don’t just hire employees, they acquire allies.
• Great employees don’t have jobs, they have talents.
• Great bosses and employees often reverse the typical job search; instead of the employee doing the hunting, it’s the boss.
• While many gifted bosses have created such special work environments that they have virtually no turnover, many others embrace substantial turnover and become masters of the “secret skill” of firing.
• An alliance between a gifted boss and a great employee is a kinship of talent, often creating a bond that can last a lifetime.

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This tip was first published in NPT Weekly. Subscribe to this eNewsletter and others like it on our website.

Put Your Job Search Into The Next Gear

The job search is painfully slow for the majority of Americans.  Most of us wish there was a way to shift it into another gear.  What if I told you there is such a way?

The key to getting a nonprofit job quickly is to use multiple sources.  Many job seekers rely too heavily on one job search method.  It is much more effective to use a number of different techniques equally.  Many of them can even complement each other.  For example, you can use traditional networking to give you a leg up on the positions you find on a nonprofit job board.

Another good tip is to be overly prepared.  You should take the time to lay out a schedule every day.  This will help you stay organized.  Creating daily benchmarks can also be helpful, as they will help you stay on task.  It's much easier to complete your daily tasks when you know you are very close to accomplishing a goal you set for yourself.

What techniques do you use to speed up your job search?  We'd love to hear your stories, so share them in the comments section below.

Tweet Your Way To A Nonprofit Job

Do you hear all that tweeting?  It's not the birds, it's the sound of millions of people using the popular social networking site Twitter.  The site was launched in 2006 and it has been an Internet sensation ever since.  It's most useful for connecting with celebrities and to drive traffic to website, but it's also useful for the job search.

How exactly can you tweet your way to a nonprofit job?  It takes a lot of work but it can be done.  After you have created your account, chosen an appropriate profile picture, and written a description of yourself, it's time to start following people.  There's aren't that many nonprofits that aren't on Twitter, so it should be very easy to find their Twitter handle.  You can look on their official website for a link to their profile if you are having trouble.  Organizations will often send out a tweet if they have open jobs, so it's good to keep an eye on their tweets.

That's not the only reason you will want to follow nonprofits on Twitter.  It's also so you can start grabbing their attention with your tweets.  In order to get your messages sent to the appropriate targets, you will have to make use of hashtags.  These are represented by the "#" symbol, and are placed before a word that describes the subject of the tweet.  Twitter users will often search for tweets by a specific subject, and making use of multiple hashtags will increase your chances of being seen.  For example, using the hashtag #nonprofitjobs would be appropriate to get noticed by recruiters.

You must always remember that Twitter is a social platform.  You want to build yourself up but you also want to participate in conversations.  It's not easy to say everything you want to say in 140 characters or less but with time, you will get better at it.  Here are some other helpful tips to help you tweet your way to a nonprofit job:

• Try to send out 2-5 tweets (or more) per day.
• Follow the hiring managers at nonprofits.  They will be the ones going through the job applications and, if you are impressive enough, you could be given extra consideration if they recognize your name from Twitter.
• Introduce yourself to people who follow you through a direct message.
• Get to know Twitter lingo.
• Send out links to your LinkedIn or professional Facebook profile (make sure to use link shortening tools like bit.ly).

Don't Let Bad Credit Spoil Your Job Search

You've probably seen tons of commercials on TV for sites that let you check your credit score. These services espouse the benefits of making sure you spot potential inaccuracies in your credit so you aren't blind-sided when you want to purchase, say, a new house.

Maybe you won't be moving to a new home anytime soon, but a bad credit score can also affect your search for a nonprofit job.

Unless you live in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Oregon, or Washington, employers have the right to check your credit score. Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act passed by Congress, you have the ability to check your score for free once every 12 months. So if you haven't already, make sure to take a look and see if you have any bad scores. You should do this before you start your job search so you have enough time to correct any inaccuracies that may have led to the bad credit.

If it turns out your bad credit scores are not the result of error, get to the bottom of what caused it so that you have an explanation should the employer ask about it. Poor scores can often be the result of some bad expenditures in the past, so you can chalk it up to that -- assuming that's the truth. If you tell a sincere story and assure them you have changed your ways, you should be all clear. Don't even consider telling them it was inaccurate if it wasn't; that will put you in more hot water than admitting the truth.

You can see a full list of credit score sites here.

The Job Search Daily

The thought of having to be involved with the job search every single day is pretty overwhelming. Unfortunately, that's what you are going to need to do if you want to be successful.

Job hunting is too often thought of as just sitting at your computer and browsing job boards or building your network via LinkedIn. These are big aspects of it, but you can incorporate job search activities into every part of your daily routine. The worst thing you could do for your psyche is to engage in the same activities every day, so here are some other ways you make progress in your job hunt every day:

• If you live in an apartment, post your resume on the bulletin board in the lobby. You can do the same thing at local stores if they allow it.
• Tell your friends and family about your efforts. These conversations could lead you to a great opportunity.
• Post a status update on Facebook or Google+ about your job search.
• Attend any networking events or career fairs in your area.
• Be on the look-out for opportunities to expand your skill set. You can never have enough knowledge.
• Check in with your college's career center for help. You can do this even after you graduate.
• Visit local nonprofits to see if they are looking for part-time/volunteer work.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Membership Services Associate

Washington, D.C. is the home of many nonprofit jobs, including one of our newest featured positions.

The Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) is looking to hire a Membership Services Associate to provide administrative, programmatic, research, and logistical support for its senior staff. Applicants should be comfortable dealing with potentially high-stress situations, as the position mainly focuses on ACCT's membership activities, awards, events, and programs. Also note that the job requires the handling of sensitive and confidential information (i.e. member names, etc.) and involves working independently and in teams.

Please make sure you meet the following requirements before applying:

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• At least 2 years of professional working experience.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including knowledge of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and Access) and Adobe Acrobat.
• Superior organizational skills and close attention to detail.
• Ability to work on your own and with a group.

Other abilities that are desired, but not required, are:

• Experience working with top-level executives and board members;
• Working knowledge of website content and management systems (i.e., CMS, Drupal, Joomla, etc.);
• Some knowledge of public policy and federal relations; and,
• Experience working with membership databases/CRM (i.e., NetForum).

The requirements here seem to be ideal for those job seekers who don't yet have a ton of experience (say, 5+ years). Apply for this job today via our career center if you think you have what it takes.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Executive Director

Are you an animal lover that also has strong leadership skills? Then the Nonprofit Job Seeker has the perfect job for you.

The Monmouth County SPCA (MCSPCA), based in Eatontown, NJ, is looking to hire an Executive Director to lead the organization to its next phase of growth following the recent completion of its new facility. The chosen applicant will also be in charge of providing animal-related expertise and services to the Monmouth County community. The organization is looking to hire those in the NJ area and around the country.

Animal lovers will be pleased to know that MCSPCA does not euthanize any of its adopted animals, so you can rest assured that the creatures are treated humanely.

Requirements:

• Proven leadership skills in an animal-centered environment.
• A successful track record of directing operations, fundraising, financial oversight, and staff management.
• 7-10 years of progressively responsible management and operational experience.
• A strong passion for the mission of helping animals.
• Strong interpersonal skills needed to interact with the Board of Directors, donors, community members, media, and volunteers.

Interested in this job? Read more and apply via our career center.

Do Your Telephone Skills Need Work?

The telephone can be one of the most powerful tools for your job search if used correctly.  While e-mails are always the easiest way to follow-up with an employer, the telephone presents an opportunity for the individual to connect a name with a voice.

Yet this great opportunity comes with great risk. If you don't communicate properly over the phone, you can do yourself more harm than good.

Hiring managers are very busy. When you make a follow-up call -- whether it's after an interview or a job fair meeting -- you will probably reach the answering machine rather than a real person. If you decide to leave a voicemail, make sure you are ready. Write out what you want to say before the call so you don't stumble while recording your message. You should also follow these tips:

• Make sure to leave both your first and last name (twice).
• Remind the person of your previous interaction. Don't assume you will be remembered.
• Make it short. Nobody likes listening to messages that go on forever, especially people with busy schedules.
• Give your phone number at the beginning and end of your voicemail. Pause between the digits to give the person time to write it down.
• Speak at a steady pace. You need to find a balance between talking neither too slow nor too fast. Practice this until you get the right speed.
• Reiterate your interest in joining the organization, but don't be presumptuous (i.e. "I think you'll agree that I'm a great fit for the job").

Don't expect to hear back immediately after you call. It can take a few days to get a return call. A good rule of thumb is to give the person at least a week to get back to you. After that, you can call again or send a follow-up e-mail.

Human Resources Do's And Don'ts

A nonprofit's greatest asset is its talent. In order to attract this talent, an organization must have a Human Resources (HR) department in place that will implement the necessary policies and best practices.

HR plays a large role in determining an organization's hiring processes. These are the procedures that will determine how candidates will be vetted, which goes a long way toward filling an office with quality employees. James Weinberg, founder and CEO of Commongood Careers, wrote in the book "Nonprofit Management 101" that using a few simple processes will go a long way to improving hiring at your nonprofit. He outlined the following do's and don'ts to get you started:

• DO slow down and plan your hiring process thoughtfully before getting started.
• DO utilize a hiring process that incorporates the four tenets: clarity, consistency, equity, and legality.
• DO develop a competency model to inform all stages of the hiring process.
• DO develop a deep and wide candidate pool through multiple, strategic, and targeted sources, including job boards, listservs, organizational and personal networks, social media sites, and professional associations.
• DO use behaviorally based interview questions.
• DO provide the most competitive compensation package possible.
• DON'T make snap judgments in an in-person interview; give the applicant at least three chances to prove their qualifications for the position.
• DON'T ask interview questions that you do not need to know in order to evaluate whether or not this person can effectively do their job.

These do's and don'ts are only the beginning in guiding your HR procedures. Make sure to continue to monitor all the best practices out there to make sure you attract the best candidates possible.

Sample Questions For Interviewees

Do you want to find out everything there is to know about an interviewee? Here's a hint: Stop asking interview questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no." Making your applicants think will increase the likelihood that you will get a quality answer. As the old saying goes, ask a simple question and you'll get a simple answer.

If you're having a tough time coming up with questions, we have some suggestions from you courtesy of "The Big Book of HR" by Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem. They suggested the following eight questions to get a better idea of the behavioral characteristics of the candidate:

• What kind of communication style do you have?
• How do you stay calm and collected when you have to do an unplanned presentation?
• Describe a situation in which effective interpersonal communication skills contributed to your success.
• Give me an example of a time when you worked on a project with little supervision. How did you get started? Describe the results.
• How would your last employer describe your work habits and ethics?
• As a leader, what do you do when people on your team aren’t pulling their weight?
• What is one of the greatest leadership challenges you have ever faced? What did you do? What was the result?
• How do you handle situations with people who don’t agree with you?

Four Things That Will Disqualify Your Resume

Your resume is likely the first thing an employer will see when you apply for one of its positions. They say that first impressions are everything, so don't be surprised if just one glaring mistake is enough to disqualify you.

The idea that an otherwise great resume could be discarded because of one mistake seems unfair, but it's one of those things with which job seekers have to live. The good news is that a minor mistake is probably enough to bring you down; it's those big errors that will really kill your chances.

Want to know what some of those big no-no's are? Here are four of the worst offenders:

• Bad Formatting: Whatever you do, don't double-space your resume. You should also make sure that your formatting is consistent. If you decide to put two spaces after a sentence, make sure to do it throughout the document. Indentations can also be a problem. Make sure everything is properly aligned by using tab instead of manually indenting with the space bar.
• Pictures: Pictures only serve to waste space on your resume. No matter how pretty your face is, resist the temptation to include a photo. Pictures make a resume look unprofessional.
• Resume Templates: There are tons of resume templates online that in theory will make your life easier.  You should really be customizing your resume each time you apply to a new job. Employers frown upon applicants who appear to have put little effort into their resumes.
• A Lack Of Dates: Make sure you include dates for all your previous positions. If you are concerned about employment gaps, you can explain them in the description of the job. Employers will have more concerns about a candidate that doesn't include dates than gaps in employment that can be easily explained.

Nonprofit Legal Jobs

There are some who claim there are too many lawyers in the world. Yet in the nonprofit sector, that hasn't always been the case.

Lesley Rosenthal, author of Good Counsel, wrote in her latest blog post that nonprofit legal jobs used to be all but non-existent. The legal counsel at NYC-based Lincoln Center consisted of just her and an executive assistant. Keep in mind that this is not some tiny organization; it's one of the largest and most successful performing arts centers in the world.

Times have changed since then, and executive directors have been convinced that it's absolutely necessary to have a sizable legal counsel within the organization. As you might expect, this kind of job is in high demand. Rosenthal suggested the following tips to land one of these coveted positions:

• You need to build up your resume. Accumulate experience drafting and negotiating contracts. Study nonprofit law, governance, and compliance basics. You should also gain an understanding of how business laws and regulations apply in the sector, and how they differ.
• Do volunteer work and/or serve on a board.
• Build your network through social networking, bar associations, and legal education programs. Send your resume to search firms that specialize in nonprofit job searches.
• Request informational interviews and ask your contact for suggestions about others you should meet.
• Show your passion for the cause. For example, get involved with relief work in a troubled area, raise money for the mission, etc.
• Keep up-to-date on the latest news from the sector. The NonProfit Times is a a pretty good source for this (hint, hint). This is also a good way to determine which organizations may be hiring in the future.

You can read the rest of Rosenthal's blog post on her website.

Second Harvest Food Bank Gets New CEO

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Calif., one of the largest food distribution agencies in that county, has found a new CEO.

The OC Metro reported that the organization has named Nicole Suydam as its new Chief Executive Officer. Suydam had previously worked at Second Harvest as a development and public relations manager before leaving for Goodwill Orange County in 2003 to become its vice president of development. She will start her new job on April 30.

Second Harvest is one of Southern California's most successful food banks. The organization partners with more than 470 organizations, churches, senior centers, and shelters. It has many affiliates across the country, including one in St. Joseph, MO which posted a position on our job board last year.

Looking to land a job like the one Suydam got? There a lot of organizations that are looking for new CEOs via NPT Jobs. Before you look, make sure to read the full article about Second Harvest in The OC Metro.

Five Questions To Ask Before Accepting A Job Offer

Hold it right there: Before you accept that job offer, you should be sure that the position is everything you dream it will be.

You should never accept an offer without doing some questioning. It can be tempting to just say "yes," especially if you've been out of work. You don't want to be kicking yourself later for not taking all the proper precautions. Here are five questions you should ask the hiring manager before taking that job:

• What will the typical work day be like for me? Job seekers are often hung up on job titles rather than the actual work. It's important to get an answer straight from the horse's mouth about what your typical day will entail.
• What is the management style of my boss? You should be sure that your personality will fit with your supervisor's style. Know yourself before you take employment under a boss with whom you won't mesh.
• Are there any major changes in the works for the organization? Change isn't always a bad thing. In fact, it can often be the best thing to happen to a nonprofit. Upheaval can create a lot of stress, however, and that isn't something you will necessarily want.
• Will I be able to learn new skills throughout my employment? It's always a good thing to have an opportunity to grow as an employee. Being able to learn new skills will help keep you fresh and make the work day less monotonous.
• How many people have held this position in the past few years? Knowing whether there has been constant turnover in the job you are applying for will give you insight into how stressful it could be. Keep this in mind before accepting the offer.

What Makes You Unique?

One of the best ways to impress an employer is to show them something you can do that separates you from other job seekers.

Your career skills are what makes up the core of your personal brand. They are what make you attractive to an organization, so it's in your best interest to emphasize them whenever possible. When thinking about these skills, you should try to frame them around the following question: What can you do that no one else can? This seems like an unanswerable question. After all, is anybody truly unique in this age of specialization?

The answer to that question is no, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try to paint yourself as someone who can bring unique skills to an organization. It's unlikely that you are the only person in the world who is great at fundraising, but maybe you have a trait in that field that very few others have. Those are the kind of things you need to talk about when you write your cover letter or go in for a job interview.

Here are some other examples of how to make your skills more attractive for specific jobs:

• Marketing: Mention specific a project you have been involved with, and how your efforts led to increased visibility for it.
• Public Relations: A big part of PR is diffusing a crisis as cleanly as possible. Emphasize how you are able to stay cool under difficult circumstances by telling an anecdote from a situation like that.
• Management: Tell your potential employer how you are able to command respect from those that work for you through your actions. You know what they say: Actions speak louder than words.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Foundation Administrator

We've been on a California kick lately, as the last two featured nonprofit jobs we had were from the Golden State. That trend continues with a new job fro the Regional Parks Foundation.

The Oakland, Calif.-based organization is looking to hire a Foundation Administrator to provide assistance to the Foundation Program Manager in the ongoing mission of the Regional Parks Foundation. General responsibilities will include the following activities:

• Maintenance of the Foundation's financial systems;
• Bookkeeping and accounting activities;
• Budgetary analysis;
• Annual audit preparation;
• Tax filing assistance;
• Grants management;
• Quarterly reviews of foundation-funded programs;
• Donor relations; and,
• Community outreach.

This opportunity is a temporary job, lasting 9-10 months. It is the Foundation's intention to hire the candidate full-time after the contract's end. Compared to our last two featured jobs, this position is more inviting to those with less experience. That doesn't mean the requirements aren't strict, however:

• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting and database management (particularly Blackbaud Raiser's Edge);
• Skilled in budgeting, reporting, analysis, and resource management;
• First hand knowledge of fundraising and nonprofit best practices;
• Effective written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience in all aspects of grants management and program oversight;
• Ability to research and write analytical and administrative documents; and,
• Able to make timely and sound decisions, work independently without close supervision, and coordinate multiple tasks and priorities.

Interested in this employment opportunity? Apply today via our career center.

4 Steps To A Successful Job Search

Conventional wisdom tells us that a successful job search ends with the job seeker getting employment. Sounds reasonable enough, but allow me to throw a bit of wrench into that thought: A successful search ends with the candidate getting the right job.

It's very easy to get desperate during the course of the job hunt. The temptation to take work that you are not passionate about just to pay the bills can be great. This is ultimately the wrong choice for the long-term health of your career. It's more important for you to work at a nonprofit that matches your skills and gives you the best chance for your professional development.

How do you give yourself the best chance of having a successful job search? You can start by following these four steps:

• Focus your search on nonprofits on the rise. These are the organizations that will be most interested in hiring new employees and will give you the best chance to advance through the ranks.
• Be ambitious. Don't be afraid to apply for a job for which you are a little bit unqualified. There's a good chance the nonprofit will consider hiring you for, say, a development officer position if they only need to do minimal training.
• Consider volunteering. Take some time to volunteer for an organization you like if you can't get a full time job there. This will add meat to your resume and -- who knows? -- they could end up bringing you on if you do a good enough job.
• Show your expertise. Don't just say you are good at something -- show it. For example, if you just learned how to do HTML, create an online portfolio showing your expertise in that subject. This will give the employer a better idea of how much you know.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Development Director

Two featured nonprofit jobs in one day? That's right. This one's not exactly as prestigious as a chief executive officer but it's still a pretty important role.

Santa Clara, Calif.-based Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE), a special education school for kids with autism, is looking to hire a Development Director to help lead its fundraising team. This position is primarily responsible for aligning fundraising goals with institutional planning and strategy. The role also covers all external marketing and public relations work of the agency.

Other important responsibilities include:

• Development and execution of a fundraising strategy that includes individual donation campaigns, grant writing, corporate foundation, and major gift campaigns.
• Develop and implement a strategy for an annual giving campaign by building a stronger base for donations. Particular importance should be placed upon major donor campaigns.
• Develop an event strategy plan which specifies the events that PACE will execute during the year.
• Supervise donor and gift record-keeping, coordinate development research activities, and oversee the management of all records, files, and gift processing.

Now let's take a look at the requirements for this job:

• Baccalaureate degree required. Advanced degree in relevant field such as Business Administration, Fundraising or Nonprofit Administration preferred.
• Minimum of five to seven years in a director-level job in fundraising or a related field (marketing/sales, communications, public relations).
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, especially Word, Excel, and Power-Point.
• Experience with fundraising software like Salesforce and graphic design software (i.e., Photoshop).

Think you have what it takes to be a great Development Director for PACE? Read more and apply via our career center.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Chief Executive Officer

Most anyone who has been to San Francisco will tell you how gorgeous it is. If you have ever dreamed of working in the home of the Golden Gate Bridge, NPT Jobs has just the position for you.

San Francisco-based Rotaplast International, a nonprofit humanitarian organization founded in 1992, has begun its search for a new chief executive officer. The new CEO will help fulfill three of the organization's main goals as it celebrates its 20th anniversary:

• Meet the changing reconstructive surgery needs of its patients globally;
• Develop new sources of funds; and,
• Direct the establishment of a fundraising system using best practices.

The accepted applicant will also lead the organization in attracting the right staff, board, and donors. He/she will work with the board to implement a strategic fund development and fundraising plan by increasing donor and board capacity, and keep the organization on track for the future.

It goes without saying that CEO candidates will need to have a high level of experience in multiple areas. With that in mind, let's take a look at the qualifications:

• 10+ years of proven fundraising and fund development experience in a nonprofit or business setting.
• 15+ years of successful management of organizations or departments.
• 5+ years working with nonprofit boards of directors.
• Highly skilled leadership in development and implementation of strategic plans and advocacy with proven measurable outcomes.
• The chosen candidate should have proven skills in the following areas: Leadership, fund development, vision management, effectiveness, relationship building, and operations management.

Want to know more about this job or are you ready to apply? Visit our career center to get started.

Advice For The Shy Job Seeker

Being shy isn't exactly a great trait to have as a job seeker. Virtually all of the things you need to do to be successful require you to be very comfortable interacting with new people. This would seem to make getting a job as an introvert nearly impossible. Thankfully, that's far from the case.

The rise of social networking sites like LinkedIn have made things a lot easier for shy job seekers. Speaking as someone who has had troubles with shyness, the hardest thing for us is actually expressing our thoughts in words to people we haven't met before. Online networking makes this a little easier as you have all the time in the world to figure out what you want to say.

Social networking is a real boost for introverts, but not everything can be done online. You will eventually want to call or even meet your networking contacts. It's also unwise to solely rely on the Internet for all of your job search activities. Large career fairs can be overwhelming, so try arranging individual meetings instead. I have always found that it was easier to compose myself in a one-on-one setting rather than a big event.

I was able to get hired by constant practice. I did a lot of mock interviews with people I knew, and leaned on the strength of my experience to help my case. Many people have the mistaken belief that shy people are aloof and unfriendly. If you are able to convince them that's not the case, you will have a lot easier time getting hired.

Have you successfully dealt with shyness as a job seeker? Let us know your strategies for overcoming anxiety in the comments section below.

A Checklist For Nonprofit Managers

The first day at a new job is one of the most nervous moments for any person. That anxiety is usually associated with the new employee, but the manager has equal reasons to be nervous.

Nonprofit managers have a lot on their plate on the first day of a new hire. They have to make sure everything is in order so that the day goes as smoothly as possible. The last thing an already nervous employee wants to deal with is more anxiety and disorganization from the employer, so it's important to get rid of those butterflies.

One of the best ways to do this is to go back to the basics and create a checklist to ensure that you are prepared. In "The Big Book of HR," Barbara Mitchell and Cornelia Gamlem laid out the following nine items to go over before the new employee arrives. If all of these questions are answered in the affirmative, then you will be ready to make sure your employee's first day of work is successful:

• Does security know the new hire is starting?
• Does the employee know when and where to report on Day One?
• Is the work area ready with computer, phone, supplies, and welcoming items?
• Do your staff members know when the new hire is arriving?
• Do you have a plan for the first day and beyond?
• Does your schedule include time for the new hire?
• Does the new hire have a copy of the person’s job description?
• Does the new hire have a copy of the organization’s strategic plan and mission statement?
• Does the new hire know what to do in case of an emergency in the workplace?

One more thing: Make sure you are available on the first. If there's an emergency that requires you to be out of the office, select someone to help the new employee out in your stead.

You can get more hiring tips like these in our upcoming jobs eNewsletter, which will be out Wednesday.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Director Of Learning And Development

Hope everybody had a great Easter/Passover weekend. Now that you are (theoretically) refreshed after days of eating, it's time to get back to the job search; and I can't think of a better way to start off than a new featured nonprofit job!

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is currently looking to hire a Director of Learning and Development for its Phoeniz, Ariz. offices. Since 1980, the organization has made headlines for granting wishes to children with life-threatening diseases, whether it's bringing a famous athlete to visit, or taking them to Disney World.

The Director of Learning and Development is the perfect job for individuals who are great at multitasking. Duties and responsibilities include:

• Building a customer-centered learning and development operation.
• Developing specific initiatives to blend cultural, business, and technical responsibilities.
• Communicate commitment to learning and development strategy to all internal and external customers.
• Articulate how establishing learning and development will benefit the organization.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure conformity to budget.
• Lead the development, planning and execution of nationally based conferences, orientations, national office training sessions and webinars.
• Establish and maintain learning and development dashboard metrics to evaluate effectiveness of learning outcomes and to implement enhancements as needed.

The ideal applicant should meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• 7-12 years of related experience and/or training.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Instructional Design technology.
• Experience with information technology enabled delivery.

Interested in this job? Apply today via our career center.

What's The Buzz On Resume Buzzwords?

It wasn't too long ago that a great resume just included your employment history and various accomplishments. These days it's a little more complicated.  If you send a resume to an employer today, you're going to find yourself in the rejected pile pretty quickly.

Today's modern resume must hit a number points, referred to as "buzzwords," to be considered successful. The first one is quantifying your accomplishments. Drop words like "streamlined," "enhanced" in favor of more specific examples that give a better indication of your impact (i.e., "Increased revenue by X amount in my first year"). This will back up your claims and give the hiring manager a better idea of how you could help the organization.

The next buzzword employers look for is some variation of "outside-the-box thinker." This one is a little tricky because it can lose all meaning if you don't explain what makes your thinking so unique. Anyone can say they are creative, so you have to put some weight behind your words. For example, explain how you define "outside-the-box," and how it has impacted your work.

Including any references to volunteering or community service will greatly help your cause with nonprofits. You should explain what you learned during these activities, and how these experiences will help you in the future. Don't worry if it was some time ago; every little bit of information counts.

Are there any other buzzwords you think are important? Let us know what they are, and why you think they make a difference for resumes.

Featured Nonprofit Job: Development Support Analyst

Remember Marklund? The Geneva, Ill.-based nonprofit has posted a new job to our career center that is sure to excite job seekers interested in fundraising.

This new position is for a Development Support Analyst. The chosen candidate will serve as a member of the Development Team and will be responsible for maximizing the effectiveness of the organization's donor database through data management, analysis, and reporting. You will also be taught best practices for using the data management system and periodically update co-workers on new procedures to efficiently and accurately accomplish tasks within the database to support Marklund's vital fundraising goals.

Other responsibilities include:

• Updating constituent records on an ongoing basis to ensure accurate information.
• Working directly with the Development Team to capture, maintain, and extract detailed data in a timely matter regarding the organization's donors, events, volunteers, and clients through the donor management database.
• Filing gift entry paperwork and implementing the gift acknowledgement process in a timely basis with the highest level of accuracy.
• The identification, removal, resolution, and integration of conflicting duplicate records.
• Maintaining and correcting of all demographic and personal data.

As always, you need to make sure you have the necessary qualifications before you apply. Let's take a look at some of those:

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• At least four years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit database management.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with great attention to detail and data verification.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel and nonprofit database management software, such as Raiser's Edge.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive donor, client, and volunteer information.

Think you have what it takes for this job? Apply today on The Nonprofit Job Seeker. 

The 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For In 2012

There are a lot of factors that go into making a great workplace. Great pay is always nice, but organizational culture plays an important role as well. Have you ever wondered which nonprofit jobs ranked up there with the best in the country? The NonProfit Times has that answer for you.

In the recently released 50 Best Nonprofits To Work For 2012, organizations were ranked based on a survey that was sent to the employers to get information policies and practices. This was followed by a survey sent to the nonprofits' employees, which contained 72 statements to which they responded using a five-point agreement scale. These statements covered topics such as role satisfaction, work environment, pay and benefits, and relationship with supervisor.

Out of all these questions came the final list, headed by the Wounded Warrior Project for the second consecutive year. Other qualifiers included:

• Brighton Center (#2)
• Alzheimer's Association (#5)
• IREX (#13)
• LiveStrong (#26)
• Playworks Los Angeles (#33)

You can read the rest of the list on our website. Have you ever applied to any of these nonprofits?

Featured Job: Manager Of Individual Giving

NPT Jobs has a new opportunity for job seekers looking to play a leadership role in concept and annual fund development. Intrigued? Then read on for more details.

Geneva, Ill.-based Marklund, a nonprofit serving the healthcare needs of disabled Americans, is seeking a Manager of Individual Giving. The chosen candidate should be prepared to work in a fast-paced environment where he/she will oversee all aspects of direct mail fundraising and appeals. Using various mediums including mailings and e-blasts, the Manager will seek to expand the lower-level annual giving program (gifts up to $5,000).

Reporting to Marklund's Chief Development Officer, other responsibilities of this position include:

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit current and prospective donors.
• Thank and recognize donors.
• Enlarge the donor base in terms of number of donors and dollars raised.

Think you have what it takes for this job? Make sure you meet the following requirements before applying:

• Bachelor's Degree in nonprofit management, marketing, business management, communications, or another related field.
• At least six years of progressively responsible experience in annual fund and donor engagement in the nonprofit sector.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and work independently, with a strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong proficiency with donor database function and navigation.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office programs, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience working with direct mail and e-mail vendors and printers.

Read more about this job, including more requirements, on our website. If you think you would be a good fit, don't hesitate to apply!

Should You Wait For The Employer?

Hiring managers will usually conclude a job interview by saying something along the lines of "You should hear back from us within a week or two." This is done to set expectations and to protect them from getting follow up calls too early. What do you do when those two weeks go by without any word from the employer?

The common thought when this happens is you didn't get the job. The reality is that there are many different things that can delay employers from getting back to you. Sometimes a new candidate enters the fold at the last minute, and the nonprofit wants to do its due diligence by setting up an interview. The review process could also take a lot longer if you applied to a particularly large nonprofit.

The first thing you should do if the specified time has passed is to e-mail or call the person who told you the time frame. I recommend calling, as that will give you the best chance of speaking to the person directly. Ask if they have any update on the status of your application. If they tell you it's going to take a little bit longer, ask if they have any specific time in mind. You will hopefully get a better idea of when you should be hearing back and whether you need to intensify your search for other jobs.

If you are in a position where you have received a job offer from another organization, but really want to work for the place you are waiting on, you can try and force the issue by mentioning this. If you're the candidate they really wanted, there's a possibility they may offer you the job immediately. Only use this tactic if you have been waiting a long time and need to get back to the other offer.  Bluffing isn't going to get you anywhere, even if you're the best poker player in the world.