NPT Jobs Recommends: 7/8/2011

Here's some reading for you on this hot, summer day:

• Job Interview Comic-This might not be exactly informative, but we all need a little humor to lighten up our day.  This is a pretty funny comic about job interviews gone wrong from Mashable.com.  I love the pun...
• '5 Online Habits That Can Hurt Your Career'-The Internet can be both helpful and harmful to your career.  ResumeBear lists some online habits you should avoid.  Stay away from these and you should get through the background check just fine.
• 'More Boomers Do Gen Y's Jobs'-A pretty fascinating article from MSNBC about the type of work Baby Boomers are doing.  It might surprise you.

Nonprofit Career Round-Up: 7/8/2011

The June jobs report certainly looks bleak.  Only 18,000 jobs were added last month, much worse than what was expected.  We can only hope that things will rebound soon.  Until then, it's important not to lose faith and give up on your search.  The situation may seem hopeless, but there are still jobs out there.

• Executive Director at New Directions, Inc: New Directions is seeking an Executive Director to serve as the most visible and effective advocate for New Directions and the veterans it serves. The Executive Director is responsible for vision and leadership of the organization. Working with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director implements the organization's strategic plan and is responsible for overseeing all operations.
• CEO at Winn Feline Foundation:  The Chief Executive Officer’s primary responsibility is development and fundraising. This individual will be responsible for creating the strategy and associated business plans of the Foundation necessary to meet mutually agreed upon annual and five-year revenue goals derived from selected sources. The Chief Executive Officer effectively and completely communicates all important issues materially affecting the condition and operation of the Foundation to the Officers and the Board of Directors.
• Development Associate at Boca Raton Reigonal Hospital:  The Development Associate II (DA) will assist in the development and implementation of the Foundation strategic philanthropic plan/goals as set by the President and Foundation Board of Trustees. The DA will achieve these goals by developing and executing personalized cultivation plans in the following areas: major, annual and planned gifts, event sponsorships and other Foundation initiatives.

NPT Jobs Recommends: 7/7/2011

We have a pretty nasty heat wave hitting the East Coast this week, but at least it feels like summer!  I'm here to deliver the latest and greatest job search articles to you.  So sit back, relax, grab a cool drink, and enjoy the reading:

• 'New Grads and Recruiters'-Recruiters are tough cookies.  They are especially tough when you are new to the game.  Here are some helpful tips for college grads on how to work effectively with them (and not lose your mind in the process).
• 'Are You Being Lazy On LinkedIn?'-I LOVE this article.  This is the whole package: It's funny, informative, and well written.  I really enjoyed the acronym created for lazy LinkedIn users.  This is a must read.
• 'How to Write an Awesome Nonprofit Job Description'-This one's for all you hiring managers out there.  You can't afford to scare off potential candidates with poorly written job descriptions.  Rosetta Thurman gives some great tips---with step by step instructions for each section of the description.  Put a star next to this one.

Nonprofit Career Round-Up: 7/7/2011

It's that time again: Time to take a look at some of the new jobs posted on the Nonprofit Jobseeker:

• Development Director, Foundations and Corporate Giving at Planet Aid: The Director for Foundations and Corporate Giving works under the direction of the organizations President and the Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Program Development and is part of a team of US Government Specialists, writers and designers.
• Senior Director of Programs and External Relations at GLSEN: GLSEN seeks an experienced senior leader to be part of the organization’s upcoming growth and continued national impact. The Senior Director of Programs and External Relations is responsible for the leadership, marketing and management of GLSEN’s core program areas.
• VP of Development and Communications at Rails to Trails Conservancy: An integral part of the four person management team of RTC, the Vice President, Development and Communications (VP) reports to the President and works in collaboration with the executive staff and the Board of Directors to lead RTC’s fundraising and communications programs, including a $7 million development program, online and offline marketing campaigns and initiatives, and public and media relations.

When NOT to Turn Down a Job Offer

Sometimes, there are good reason to turn down a job offer. While getting offered a job is always a good thing, there are legitimate reasons to say "no thanks." As a general rule, there should be a major incompatibility with you and the organization for you to turn down the job. For instance, perhaps the commute is so great that it would be unreasonable for you to get in on time everyday. Or, maybe the salary is unreasonable for the amount of work you are expected to do. Minor complaints about the organization, however, are not good reasons to reject a job offer. Here are some common reasons I have heard that just don't make sense to me:

1. I'd prefer to work at a bigger company: Being comfortable at your place of employment is really important, but to me it makes no sense to turn down a potentially good situation just because the company is "too small" or "too big." If everything else is reasonable, why make this a sticking point?
2. I met the boss, and I don't really like him/her: Let's face it: you are never going to get along with everyone you work with, and this is true with bosses or supervisors, as well. Talk to anybody and you will probably find a majority of people don't like their bosses. If you are to be a successful employee, you have to learn to deal with people you don't like.
3. This isn't really the job of my dreams: It is unreasonable to expect to get your dream job right away. This is especially true if you are just out of college or don't have a lot of experience in the field to which you are applying. It might not be what you want to hear, but to get the position you really want, you are going to have to build up your credentials.
4. I don't like the area the job is in: Believe it or not, I have actually heard someone say this. I have even heard people complain about the selection of lunch options near the job! Obviously it would be ideal if you worked in a town or city that had everyone you wanted, but we don't live in an ideal world. Of all the reasons to turn down a job, this is probably one of the worst. Would you really turn down a job just because there isn't a McDonald's nearby?

In these tough times, it is important to make sure that the reason you turn down a job offer makes sense. After all, you never know when that next non profit job is going to come around.

NPT Jobs Recommends: 7/6/2011

Have a nonprofit job search success story you want to share?  Feel free to send me an e-mail at zach@nptimes.com and I'll consider posting it.  I'm really looking forward to hearing some of your stories!  Anyway, here are today's recommendations...

• 'Dressing For Summer in the Office Can Be Tough'-You always want to look your best for a job interview, but at what price?  Now that it's the summer, it might be a bit uncomfortable to wear some of the standard interview clothes.  ResumeBear gives some tips on how you can look good and be comfortable.
• 'How to Make Your Cover Letter a Perfect Fit For Any Opening'-The opening of a cover letter can be the hardest part.  Here are some tips on how to write a great one that will be appropriate for whatever job you apply to.  I'd still recommend some minor customization in each opening, but having a standard opening isn't the worst thing in the world.
• 'Required: Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone'-In order to best market ourselves, we need to take risks.  Sticking with a comfortable routine might be nice, but the best results are often seen when we try something new.

Nonprofit Career Round-Up: 7/06/2011

Here are some of the top nonprofit jobs for the day:

• Development Associate at Los Angeles Neighborhood Services, Inc: Non profit affordable housing agency seeks experienced grant writer to prepare proposals for submission to potential funding sources to obtain funds for ongoing or special institutional projects. Identify and research corporate, foundation, and government sources of funding, including funding source proposal requirements and submission deadlines.
• Operations Director at Naval Submarine League:  Plan, direct and coordinate administrative support services of the organization including information technology (IT) support, network maintenance, printer maintenance and related software support services. Provide onsite support services at League events, including setting up and removing onsite IT services and providing exhibitor support services in coordination with the host site service provider.
• Director, Membership at American Council on Education: The Communications Department of the American Council on Education currently has an opening for a Director of Membership. The Director of Membership oversees ACE’s membership operations, including all activities to recruit and/or retain members; efforts to improve, maintain and utilize membership data; and efforts to enhance and expand ACE membership value overall.