6 Steps To Find A Career Mentor

Whether you are still looking for a job or just starting your career, finding a great mentor is an important first step to take. Getting the best possible mentors is important not only because of the possibility of disaster with a bad choice but also to provide the best possible experience for those being guided.

Finding a good mentor isn't just a matter of throwing darts at a board and hoping one sticks; there are a set of principles that, if you adhere to them, will make the process easier. In their book “The Mentor’s Field Guide” Gail Manza and Susan K. Patrick offer standards for effective mentoring, which they obtained from MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership. The standards include:

• Recruitment. Recruit appropriate mentors and mentees by realistically describing the program’s aim and expected outcomes.
• Screening. Screen prospective mentors to determine whether they have the time, commitment and personal qualities to be effective mentors.
• Training. Train prospective mentors in the basic knowledge and skills needed to build an effective mentoring relationship.
• Matching. Match mentors and mentees along dimensions likely to increase the odds that mentoring relationships will endure.
• Monitoring and support. Monitor mentoring relationship milestones and support mentors with ongoing advice, problem-solving support and training opportunities for the duration of the relationship.
• Closure. Facilitate bringing the match to closure in a way that affirms the contributions of both the mentor and the mentee and offers both individuals the opportunity to assess the experience.

4 Steps To Advance Your Career

Career turnover is a frequent occurrence these days. As the nation's economy improves and nonprofits are hiring again, professionals who were forced to stay put are now looking for new gigs. With more people changing careers though, how can you distinguish yourself from the past?

William F. Bartolini, associate vice president for development at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., spoke during the recent Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits in National Harbor, Md., about the challenges of distinguishing yourself even as you transition between multiple career paths. He offered four steps that will ensure you will looks unique to employers:

• Find Your Passion: Sit down and figure out what your best attributes are. Test your list with a trusted friend along with a trusted co-worker.
• Create A List: Use the list to describe your accomplishments, challenges you’ve faced and experiences you want to have.
• Elevator Speech: Prepare a short speech that encapsulates your experiences and advantages. These types of speeches should last 30 seconds. Make them brief.
• Where Will You Go?: Outline what the ins and outs to your work are. Do you want to be involved in fundraising or do a little of everything? Do you want to work in a small shop or big shop? These are all questions you should be asking yourself.

8 Simple Career Tips For Young Job Seekers

The next generation of job seekers will be entering the job market in just a few short months. With college graduations just around the corner, it's important that these young job hunters get sound career tips so they have the best chance of not only getting their dream job, but building a sustainable career path.

College graduates have probably gotten a lot of advice already, to the point where it might even be a little overwhelming. There's a tendency to give job seekers very complicated tips but sometimes, the simple suggestions are the most helpful

Here are eight such tips to help these new job seekers begin their journey:

• Know the difference between a job and a career. You should always pursue jobs that mesh with your ultimate career goals; only take a job when you have to.
• With that in mind, you have to be realistic about your goals. If you want to be a fundraising professional, for instance, know that you are going to have to put some work in before you reach that goal.
• Make sure you pick a job you think you will enjoy. Nothing is worse than working a job you hate.
• Look your co-workers in the eye when they talk to you. Avoid texting all the time when you should be paying attention.
• Network, network, network. It's your best tool to getting work.
• Don't get frustrated. The job market is still tough, and it's possible it will take some time to get a job.
• Show up early and be willing to stay late.
• It's easier to change jobs while you are young, so do it as often as you have to until you find a line of work that is right for you.

5 Aspects Of A Good Career Coach

There are many different options that make the job search a little easier. Whether it's this site or other resources on the Internet, job seekers can get a lot of help for their career these days.

One option that is not discussed as much are career coaches. The fact that they cost money is probably one of the reasons but, if you are able find an affordable one, they can be very helpful. If you have been thinking about hiring a coach, the best place to start is word-of-mouth.

Make use of your networking contacts or other people you know to find out if there are any fairly priced and quality career coaches in your area. As a rule of thumb, you should look for the following five aspects when picking a coach:

• All coaches should undergo a comprehensive assessment of your skills before you start. How else will they know your strengths and weaknesses?
• You should never get the impression that the individual is focused more on their issues than figuring out how to best improve your career skills.
• Psychology plays a big role in getting a job, and many coaches do have backgrounds in this practice. It shouldn't dominate your time together, however, so don't stick with a coach who is only interested in discussing your psychological issues.
• Boundaries are important in any professional relationship. Your discussions together should never spill into anything more personal than your job search.
• Arguably the most important factor in deciding on a career coach is your comfort level with him. If it doesn't feel right, you aren't going to get the most out of your lessons, which is a waste of time for both you and the coach. 

6 Ways To Lose A Job

Originally posted on Nonprofit Job Seeker

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Your goal as a job seeker is to make employers like you to the extent that you are chosen instead of other qualified candidates. The idea that you would intentionally try and make a recruiter hate you seems farfetched, but that doesn't mean you don't have any habits that are unintentionally rubbing employers the wrong way.

Hiring managers have plenty of pet peeves, but below are the six that will hurt your chances the most:

• Asking Personal Questions: It's one thing to ask how long the interviewer has worked at the organization, it's another to ask personal questions about her family or life.
• Using Slang: Whether it's in your resume or cover letter, slang has no place in a professional environment. You should also avoid any abbreviations that are not well known within the industry.
• Being Overly Aggressive: Employers like to see candidates who are go-getters, but there is a line you need to be careful not to cross. For example, it's not OK to send an e-mail written in all caps just because you are frustrated over to wait to her back about your application.
• Making Up Achievements: It's never a good idea to lie about your skills or an achievement at a previous job. Even if you aren't discovered immediately, it will soon become apparent when you aren't able to do the work you claimed you could.
• Being A Pest: It's very important to follow up shortly after you submitted your job application, but be wary of how many times you contact the employer. Here's a rule of thumb: Wait at least a week before your next message.
• Being Careless: Submitting stock resumes and cover letters is a good way to make the employer believe you aren't serious about the job. Continually writing customized applications for each new job is the only way you will get noticed.

4 Networking Pitfalls

Networking is one of the best ways to improve your chances of finding a job. If done successfully, you will have a wide range of contacts who will do what they can to find opportunities for you. There is such a thing as bad networking -- and it can do more harm to your chances than if you didn't network at all.

On the surface, it makes sense to interact only with those individuals who have the same interests and skills as you. In reality, however, these contacts are unlikely to get you to the next level. In fact, they may view you as competition. This is not to say you shouldn't have anybody in your network like this; you should just make sure to have a more diversified contact list.

Another bad networking habit is only beginning the process when you don't have a job. You should really be working to make new contacts even when you are employed. Desperation is no way to conduct a job search, and having ready-made contacts to turn to if you become unemployed will be useful. Start developing relationships today but remember, don't ask for favors right away.

Job seekers sometimes make the mistake of choosing quantity over quality. In other words, they have hundreds of contacts, but have neglected to cultivate real relationships with most of them. It's much more effective to have a handful of really good networking contacts than to have hundreds with whom you have no connection.

Finally, you should know exactly what you want when you begin your networking. You obviously want a nonprofit job, but what kind? What position are you specifically looking to obtain? If you don't know what you are looking for, how can someone else help you?

At the end of the day, networking is what you make of it. If you put a lot of time and effort into it, you will get great results. But if you don't take it seriously and make mistakes like the ones listed above, it's not likely to help you much.

Increasing Your Career Luck

The word "lucky" has gotten a negative connotation these days. Anything gotten by luck is seen to have been earned not by actual skill, but some form of divine intervention.

Thankfully, this isn't entirely true.

There are many different ways to increase your career luck without having to bargain with a leprechaun. All it takes is a little bit of good timing and a good attitude. Here are some helpful hints to help maximize your good fortune during the job search:

• Focus only on the aspects of the job search that you can control. This includes building your networking contacts, keeping your career skills up-to-date, and filling out your job applications to the best of your ability.
• Attend as many networking events as you can. The more contacts you have, the better chance you will have when applying for jobs.
• Keep a positive attitude. It's understandable that you would be upset if you were passed over for a job you really wanted, but don't linger on it too long. If you expect to fail, chance are you will.
• Build effective relationships. Helping out other job seekers will make them more likely to help you. There's a good chance they will be able to help you get a job if your efforts led to them getting employed.

Tips For Changing Careers From The Buddha

Most people change careers at least once in their lives.  Heck, even the Buddha did it.

As Franz Metcalf and BJ Gallagher explain in their book "Being Buddha at Work," the man who would become the Buddha, Siddhartha, made a stunning career change early in his life.  He walked away from what was the equivalent of a CEO job to live the life of a beggar.  Why?  Because he discovered he wasn't happy with the sheltered life he was living, and wanted to find a solution to human suffering.  And even when he was a success in his second career, he quit that because he still couldn't find the answer to suffering.

We're not suggesting you quit your job to become a beggar, but if you're not happy at your current job you should look into a career change.  One of the many reasons people move to a nonprofit job is the opportunity to do work for a cause that really matters to them.  So do you think it's time to switch careers?  Metcalf and Gallagher have some tips inspired by the Buddha to help you make your decision:

• Drop a career that makes you miserable.  Move on and try something new, and keep trying new things until you find what works for you.
• Listen to the advice of people who care about you and to experts, but don't obey them blindly.  Test what they say against your own intuitions before deciding which path is right for you.
• Take time to know yourself.  Discover what makes you truly happy, not superficially but deeply.  This can take a while to discover so resist the urge to skimp.
• Once you know what you want, take action.  Do everything you can to make your new career a reality and, above all else, don't linger in situations that make you unhappy just because you don't think it can get any better.

Love And Marriage: Choosing The Right Career

Although we are a week removed from Valentine's Day, February is still a month filled with love.  Why not spend the rest of the month looking for the right match for your career?

The job search really does have a lot in common with dating.  Both require a lot of hard work and commitment and are increasingly being done via the Internet.  Both can also go south quickly if you make a decision based solely on superficial desires.  In the case of your career, choosing a job because it has the best salary and benefits is likely to leave you unhappy.

Here are four things to consider before making a long-term commitment with a career:

• Make sure it's something you love doing.  Without passion, you'll find yourself burning out very quickly.  This is not to say you need to hold out for your dream job.  Just make sure that there are elements within the position that get you excited.
• Consider the commute.  Long-distance relationships can sometimes work out, but they often cause a lot of stress.  If you think the drive is going to be too much of a problem, look elsewhere.
• Although money isn't everything, make sure you aren't being underpaid for your services either.  In other words: Don't settle!
• Ensure that there is room for you to grow.  Being stuck in a position for years is not a great way to ensure happiness with your job, so ask during your job interview whether there are ample opportunities to advance within the organization.

Moving Your Career To The Next Level

Career paths are a lot different now than they were in the past.  Gone are the days of staying at a job long-term.  These days, it's more common for an employee to find a new job after just a few years.

If you have been in the job market for a while, you have likely experienced a lot of turnover in your career.  This can make it difficult to appear unique to prospective employers.  Not to worry, though, there are plenty of tips on how to continue to advance your career.

During the Blackbaud Conference for Nonprofits in National Harbor, Md., William F. Bartolini, associate vice president for development at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., discussed some ways to highlight your uniqueness to employers:

• Find out what you are most passionate about.  Start by making a list of your best attributes.  Once you are done, share it with a trusted friend and a trusted co-worker to see what feedback they have.
• We all like lists, so why not make another?  This time jot down all of the accomplishments you've earned, the challenges you've faced, and the experiences you want to have.  This will help you paint a better picture of yourself when it comes time for a job interview.
• Create a short speech to use when at a networking event.  This is called an "elevator speech," and it should describe your experiences and advantages.  It should be no more than 30 seconds in length.
• Finally, figure out where you want to go with your career.  Do you want to just be involved with fundraising or do you want to do a little bit of everything?  Do you want to work for a small or big organization?  These are all questions you need to ask to get your career on the right track.

NPT Jobs Recommends: 7/12/2011

Did anybody catch the MLB Home Run Derby last night?  It was a pretty fun display of power.  I don't even think you needed to be a baseball fan to enjoy it.  We all need distractions from the problems of everyday life, and that was certainly a good one.  But now it's back to reality, so here are today's links:

• Career Advice for the Nonprofit Sector-This is a YouTube video that features Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) managing director Paul Bernstein.  He gives a rundown of his experience breaking into the nonprofit sector, as well as what he looks for in job candidates.  This is a must-watch video.
• 'Ignore These 10 Outdated Pieces of Career Advice'-Sometimes we receive career advice that seems good in theory, but are actually relics from a past time.  That is the case with these tips that USA News urges you to avoid.  I think some of them still have value (I still believe resumes should be no more than a page) but most I agree you should ignore.
• 'Saying No Could Give Your Career Life Right Now'-This is an interesting and unique piece by Mark Dyson, who writes a blog called Voice of the Job Seekers.  His main point is that sometimes saying "no" to a job opportunity could be the best thing for your career, if it's a job that you don't think you can do well.