4 Traits Of A Major Gifts Officer

Things just seem to go smoother when an organization has the right major gifts officer. Unfortunately, bringing on the right candidate for this job is not as simple as taking the first fundraising expert you find.

When hiring a major gifts officer appearance can be everything. Since the chosen candidate will be in contact with your most influential supporters, you have to be sure you are bringing on someone who will represent your organization well. During the Association For Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) international conference in Boston, Mass., Holly Duncan, president and CEO of the Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation in Clearwater, Fla. outlined her own qualifications for a major gifts officer.

The four traits are:

• Look for candidates in unconventional areas. People with a focus in technology have the ability and inclination to fully leverage information services capacity. Other qualifications they might have are the ability to research, schedule, communicate and document gifts.
• Seek out someone who doesn’t just have traditional book smarts. Problem solvers and strategic thinkers can think quickly — that can help you out of a bind.
• In a position that talks to others frequently, it’s important to have someone who is both skilled verbally and in writing. A major gifts officer should know how to listen, ask open-ended questions and engage on all levels.
• Even though you will want someone who can work independently, a candidate should be able work with a team. There should be transparency and an attempt to engage allies. No one “owns a donor.”

8 Dos And Don'ts After a Job Rejection

Bouncing back after being rejected for a job can be a difficult task. This is especially true if it was a job for which you had really high hopes.

Being rejected for a job is the ultimate bruise to your ego. It can make you rethink your worth as a professional, and you'll probably start to wonder what it is they didn't like about you? Having self-confidence is key to a successful job search, so it's important to tend to your damaged pride before you start your work again.

Of course, you can't take forever tending to your needs. At some point you are going to have to get back to work so it's important to get back in tip-top job searching mode as quickly as possible. With this in mind, here are some dos and dont's to keep in mind after a job rejection:

Do:

• Give yourself enough time to get over the rejection, especially if it's a new experience for you.
• Ask for help from friends, family, or your job search counselor. See if any of these people can give you advice on how to position yourself for the most success in the job market.
• Come up with a written schedule detailing the next steps in your job search.
• Give your efforts the proper time before changing things. Filling out job applications for a week without any success is not necessarily a sign that you need to adjust your job search process.

Don't:

• Spend a lot of time on conversations that focus only on the negatives. This will only make you feel worse.
• Hang around people who have given up on the job search.
• Spend too much time watching the news. The economy is not exactly in the best shape right now, and hearing reports about it could demoralize you.
• Assume you know everything. Searching for a job is an unpredictable process, and things can (and often will) happen that will take you by surprise.

6 Ground Rules For Your Cover Letter

Job applications generally consist of two documents: The resume and the cover letter. While resumes have a set form, cover letters seem to have free reign. Creativity is always a good thing when it comes to cover letter writing, but there are still some guidelines you need to follow.

According to Bruce A. Hurwitz, vice president of New York City-based Joel H. Paul & Associates, Inc., you shouldn't go overboard with creativity when crafting your cover letter. Speaking at a recent Fundraising Day in New York, Hurwitz unveiled his cover letter ground rules checklist. It consisted of six key recommendations:

• Short and sweet. This isn’t your college thesis and potential employers don’t have time to read a novel. Keep your cover letter to the point.
• Use bullets. Bullet points draw the eye to the most important information.
• Credentials. Tell them why you would be the perfect fit for the job. Point out how you’ve solved problems or made decisions at prior jobs.
• Contact information. Papers get separated. Make sure your contact information is on the cover letter. Try not to include any ridiculous e-mail addresses.
• In closing. Hurwitz said to have an appreciative close to the letter. It shows you are grateful to be considered for the position.
• Proofread. Spelling mistakes will put you in the “no” pile fast. Spell check, proofread, give it to someone else to proofread and then repeat. There’s no room for errors.

Why Being An Older Job Seeker Isn't A Liability

Hiring managers will never admit it but when they receive a job application from an older job seeker, they probably look at it with at least some hesitation.

While there is no denying they bring a lot of experience to the table, there is a school of thought that says older employees are not as desirable as younger ones. It's thought that a younger worker will bring more energy to the table and will bring valuable knowledge about new technology to the organization. It's probably true that someone in their 20s will know more about Twitter than someone in their 60s, but that doesn't mean job seekers who are more experienced should be ignored.

If you are an older job seeker who is having trouble finding work in today's market, here are three of the most common myth out there about you, along with strategies to combat them:

• Myth: You are out of touch. You might not know as much about technology as a Millennial, but that doesn't mean you are unable to learn. Consider attending technology workshops so that you can prove to the employer that not only do you have knowledge about new technology, but that you took the initiative to adapt to the changing times. 
• Myth: You'll be unsatisfied with anything but a leadership position. A wealth of experience on your resume naturally will come with the implication that you won't be happy in a non-leadership role. You can fight this assumption by explaining in your cover letter that you are extremely interested in the position and that you look forward to bringing your knowledge to the organization. 
• Myth: You are close to retirement. One of the red flags about older job seekers is that, because of their age, they are probably thinking about retiring soon. This isn't ideal for nonprofits that would like their employees to stay on for a long period of time. Make it clear in your application that since the age of retirement is rising, you're looking at this position as an important part of your career.

I Just Can't Quit You: Is Getting Rehired An Option?

At some point during your job search, this thought will have at least crossed your mind: "Can I get rehired by an organization I left?" The answer to this question is probably yes, though there are some serious points to consider before you go back to the past.

There are some great benefits to returning to an old place of work. For starters, you already know the organizational culture and chances are you still know some of the employees. While the grass might seem greener now that you are gone, you should take some time to consider the reasons you left in the first place. Did you have a difference of opinion in the direction the organization was going or did you not get a long with your supervisor or other employees? If things have not changed much since your departure, it probably isn't a good idea to return.

If you are convinced that all of the problems you previously had are resolved, you should start the process of reconnecting with your former boss. Let him know that you are interested in returning and gauge his level of interest. A good way to do this is to offer to take him out to lunch so you can discuss potential openings in a casual environment.

Of course, the big elephant in the room is that you left the organization before; what's to say you won't leave again? You need to offer proof that things have changed since then, and that you are fully committed to the current direction of the organization. You should also say that, since you know their needs and challenges as well as what resources are available, you are best suited for the job.

Returning to a former employer is possible. It can be a good business decision for the nonprofit and a smart career move for you if you can prove that the relationship will be beneficial for all parties involved.

3 Ways To Land A Job Interview

Landing a job interview is hard work, and sometimes it can seem like it's all luck. The reality is, however, that there is an art to getting the call from an employer. Below are three tips you can follow that will improve your chances.

Show confidence

Everyone knows that being unemployed is not fun, and it can be even worse if you have been out of work for a long period of time. Frustration is a powerful emotion and, when writing your resume and cover letter, it can impact the words you choose. The key to fighting this negativity is to prove to the employer that you are confident, knowledgeable, and that you will be an important addition to the organization.

Prove you are up-to-date

If you are counted among the long-term unemployed, you will have to show hiring managers that you are not rusty. If you want to impress them, review all the tools you used in past jobs, and make sure you're familiar with all the relevant industry language. Another way to prove your worth is to connect with former co-workers on LinkedIn to get endorsements and/or referrals.

Explain long-term unemployment

Whether you like it or not, gaps in employment are a red flag to employers. You can help to ease their concerns by honestly addressing the issue in your cover letter. You should also be sure to mention any volunteer work you have done while looking for jobs as this will show that you have at least been staying busy.

7 Things To Do After Your Job Interview

What do you do after you complete a job interview? Do you go home, relax, and just wait for something to happen? Or, do you take the initiative and continue to make and impression on the hiring manager?

Even though it might seem like your work is done, there are plenty of things you can do to give yourself the best shot at being selected. Below are seven of the best steps you can take:

• Continue to express your interest: Assuming you are legitimately interested in working at the organization by the end of the interview, you should conclude by saying something along the lines of "I am really excited about the opportunity to contribute to your organization." There should be no doubt in the interviewers mind that you are a serious candidate. 
• Don't remain silent: You don't want to be pest but complete radio silence can be a problem, as it can imply that you are indifferent. Find out before you lead the office what the hiring manager prefers in terms of contact. 
• Be punctual: Keeping your word and being reliable will speak volumes about the kind of employee you will be. 
• Be patient: If you are told to wait a week before following up, you should do just that. Calling the day after the interview can come across as pushy or desperate. 
• Send a "thank you" note: There's only one instance where you should send a message to the employer almost immediately: The thank you note. It might not seem like much, but expressing your gratitude can go a long way towards proving you are a quality individual. 
• Personalize your follow-up message: When it comes time to check on your application, make sure that your follow-up message is personalized. It should contain specific references to conversations you had during the interview. This will show that you were paying attention and that you actually took the time to craft a message from scratch. 
• Accept rejection: Keep your emotions in check if you are informed that you were passed over for the position. It's possible the candidate they chose doesn't work out and, if that happens, you don't want to be remembered as someone who burned bridges.

9 Professional Development Ideas

Professional development is one of the best ways to get your to your ultimate career destination. While taking a few nonprofit management courses or getting a mentor are the most popular development strategies, there are many other paths you can take.

During a recent Nonprofit Technology Conference by NTEN, Commongood Careers founder and CEO James Weinberg explained that heading back to school isn't the only way to develop your career. He listed the top nine professional development ideas that he preaches to job seekers:

• Graduate programs. These can be costly. Make sure you are in a high-quality program that fits what you want to learn.
• Workshops. This also is expensive. Some workshops guarantee certificates, but check to see if that piece of paper means anything for your professional career.
• Self-education books. Some times your best teacher would be yourself. Look for books or online courses that can help.
• In-house mentors. Ask a competent colleague or supervisor for guidance.
• Outside mentors. Structure a relationship with someone in the field that works outside of your organization.
• Peer networks. These organize colleagues with similar jobs.
• Management. You can learn a lot by teaching others.
• Try to work with Consulting. Side projects can help you encounter elements of your position that may not come up at your job.
• Volunteering. This offers flexibility to your schedule.

4 Poor Job Search Attitudes

There are a lot of factors that can affect your job search. Most job seekers tend to blame the lagging job market and the highly competitive environment it breeds. But did you know that your attitude can play a role in how successful your job hunt goes?

You have no control over the economy but you do have such power over your attitude. Having a bad attitude -- such as believing you are never going to be hired -- can hinder how hard you work every day. After all, why would you go the extra mile if you don't believe your work is going to pay off anyway?

Below are four of the most common attitudes that can hurt your job search. Make sure that you do your best to avoid them so you can have a happy ending to your search:

• I will never be hired: This attitude can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe with all of your heart that you will not get a job, chances are you won't.
• Poor, poor, pitiful me: It is easy to fall into a cycle of self-pity when you have been searching for work over a long period, but nobody is going to want to help you if you give off this kind of vibe. 
• I'll take anything: It's never a good idea to act with desperation when searching for a job. This will likely land you at an organization that has a poor work environment, which will only make you more unhappy and will likely land you back in the job market before too long.
• I'm not good enough: A lack of confidence is one of those things that a hiring manager will detect easily. Think about it this way: If you got selected for an interview, chances are the employer thinks you are good enough to at least be considered for the position.

Are Your Career Skills Right For A Small Nonprofit?

What type of nonprofits do you usually look for on your job search? If you are like a lot of job seekers, you probably look for big organizations as these are most likely to provide the best opportunities and pay. Depending on your skill set, however, it might be a good idea to expand your search to small nonprofits.

Just like working for a big business is not for everyone, joining a small organization requires a certain mindset. If you are most comfortable working with a larger group of people, you will probably have better success at a more brand-name organization.

In general, you should have the following traits before sending your resume to a small nonprofit:

• Self-Starter: Employees at a small or mid-size nonprofit should be very capable of motivating themselves and have a creative mind when it comes to business solutions.
• Team-Player: While the ability to collaborate with other employees is important at any organizations, it is even more critical in a smaller environment. When you are working with a small group of people every day, all it takes is one negative attitude to bring down the whole team.
• Capable of Wearing Multiple Hats: Unlike big organizations, you are probably going to be asked to handle things you aren't used to doing. You should be comfortable handling tasks big or small and be willing to help co-workers that need assistance.

Will Your Social Networking Profile Help You Get A Job?

You've probably heard a number of horror stories by now about how profiles on social networking sites can end up being one of the main reasons a job seeker was not hired. Whether it's because of inappropriate photos or information inconsistent with the candidate's resume, social media profiles can be dangerous for your job search.

They can also be a huge boon, if handled correctly.

An appropriate social networking profile will portray you as a professional who is ready to take on all challenges. This will make you attractive not only to potential employers, but also networking contacts who can help you land a great nonprofit job. Not sure where to start? Following these five tips will get you on your way to a great online presence:

• Be Consistent: Your persona needs to be consistent across all of the platforms you use. For example, if you are portrayed as a driven fundraiser on LinkedIn, you shouldn't act like an introvert on Google Plus.
• Master the Basics: The first part of your profile that an employer is likely to check is your "About Me" section. This is the most basic part of any social networking site but the first impression is very important. Write a brief paragraph that sums up your work history and goals.
• Build Your Network: Sites like LinkedIn provide a great opportunity to make new contacts. They don't call it "social networking" for nothing. The size of your network will depend on your preferences, but it's a good idea to have at least 50 followers on your page.
• Links: Showcase your skills by including links to your blog and portfolio assuming they are relevant to your career path. 
• Use Keywords: Making use of strategic keywords throughout your profile will help ensure that your profile comes up in search engine results. Examples of keywords include your area of expertise, desired job titles, and industries.

4 Hiring Process Concerns -- And Solutions

There are many emotions you will feel when a hiring manager says they want you to join their organization. The biggest of those is relief. It's good to know you are close to getting the job after countless hours of resume writing, thank you letters, and interviews.

While it  might seem that you are at the end of your long journey, you should be aware that last-minute can and often do emerge. Below are four of the most common hiring process hiccups along with advice on how to best conquer them:

• You were told a formal job offer was coming -- three weeks ago: There are a multitude of reasons for a delay of the job offer: An internal candidate expressed last-minute interest, a hiring freeze was instituted, the position is changing, or the hiring manager went on a business trip. Instead of waiting around for an answer, you should contact the organization to find out the exact reason for the delay.
• The hiring manager wants to ask you follow-up questions about a reference who gave you less than glowing reviews: The worst thing you can do in this situation is to be defensive or combative. You should calmly correct any misinformation the reference gave, and counter his negative recollections with positive anecdotes. You can also offer up additional references to give the hiring manager additional opinions; just be absolutely certain you will get good reviews from them.
• The formal job offer has a description and salary that is significantly different than the initial job description: Seek clarification before assuming you were tricked. It's possible there was a typo in the original job description or that the salary listed was a ballpark estimate rather than a firm number. Pay close attention to the hiring manager's response. Did he seem genuinely sorry about the confusion? Did he offer to adjust the offer or at least give a detailed explanation about why he can't? You should consider rejecting the offer if you think the organization is playing games with you.
• You discovered some details about the organization's work environment that are making you think twice about accepting the job offer: Keep in mind that the information you received is just one person's view. Do some more research to see if there is any merit to the person's claim. If you find legitimate reasons to be concerned, go to the hiring manager and seek clarification. You should always give your boss-to-be an opportunity to explain things.

15 Questions To Ask Before Advancing Your Career

Leading your peers is more than just telling them what to do and expecting them to get in line. If it's one of your career goals to become a successful nonprofit leader, you will need to learn that leading has a lot more to do with bringing out the best in people.

That includes yourself.

Vicki Halsey, in her book "Brilliance By Design," wrote that bringing out the best in people has much to do with being a teacher, and further than teaching involved a dimension of self-awareness. Knowing who you are helps a lot when trying to know about and teach others.

Before you can even think about advancing your career as a nonprofit professional, Halsey recommended asking yourself the following questions at least once a year:

• Who am I?
• What is important to me?
• What are my gifts and strengths?
• What are some areas that need improvement?
• What inspires and motivates me?
• What are my goals/What do I want to achieve?
• What are barriers to my goals?
• What are my passions?
• What is my purpose?
• What energizes me?
• What do I need to sustain my passion, my purpose, my energy?
• What have I done recently that makes me happy?
• How could I do more of that?
• What has become clearer to me after answering that question?
• How do I best learn?

4 Things That Will Hurt Your Job Search

When naming obstacles in the job search, job seekers usually cite the lagging economy as a reason for their troubles. While the unemployment rate currently sits at a hardly ideal 7.6 percent, it is not the only thing that can slow down your search for work.

It's hard enough dealing with the tough job market without doing things (sometimes unknowingly) that end up sabotaging your chances of landing a job. Below are four of the most common job search mistakes; make sure to eliminate all of these practices from your process:

• Neglecting to proofread your documents: A careless typo or grammatical mistake in your résumé or cover letter can be enough to disqualify you from a job, especially when there is a lot of competition.
• Getting discouraged: It's easy to get down when you are rejected by potential employers, but don't spend your time wallowing in your misery. Try joining networking groups or other similar activities to stay engaged.
• Using one strategy: The best way to approach the job hunt is from multiple angles. Instead of solely relying on online job boards, try calling or e-mailing nonprofits that are not actively hiring to see if they have any need for your skills.
• Forgetting to network: These days, it's all about who you know. You will have a much better chance of landing a job if you already have a contact at the organization. Make use of LinkedIn and go to career fairs to build up your list of contacts.

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.

How To Network Without Being Annoying

This article was originally posted on the NPT Jobs Career Center

When it comes to the job search, it’s not so much what you know that is important but who you know. That doesn’t mean your career skills aren’t important — far from it — but it is true that it is much harder to get a job without a good group of networking contacts. Getting these contacts is the easy part; it’s a little harder to find a way to stay in touch with them without getting on their nerves.

Using online tools like Facebook or LinkedIn, job seekers are able to better keep in touch with the contacts they have developed over time. I can be argued that it’s too easy though, when you consider that these people do have lives and don’t necessarily want to be contacted every single day. So how do you find a balance between staying in touch and being a pest? It’s a hard act to pull off but, by following the following four tips, you can rest assured knowing that you are not alienating your best job resources:

• Determine which social media site your contacts are most comfortable receiving messages and use that to your advantage. Occasionally commenting on their statuses or sending a quick message is a good way to remind them you still exist without rubbing them the wrong way.
• Don’t feel pressured to spend hours with your contacts. An occasional coffee meeting or a quick lunch is a good way to keep you fresh in their minds should a good job opportunity come up for you.
• Do you have a connection who could potentially help but you don’t get along? Don’t try to force a connection with this kind of person as not only will it not help you, it will probably make you more annoying to them. Stick to networking with people with whom you have a great relationship.
• Nobody likes a one-sided relationship except for the person who is benefiting from it. Make sure that you are doing things for your contacts and avoid talking only about yourself when you chat. Ask how they are doing or what they are doing with their lives.

4 Space-Wasting Resume Items

Resume editing is a tiresome task but it has to be done if you want to have the best chance of being noticed by employers. Much of this process involves tweaking text but it also involves taking out unnecessary items that ultimately waste valuable space.

It's never easy to determine what is necessary include in a resume. There are a lot of factors that go into this decision: Does it grab the hiring manager's attention? Is it formatted in a way that is pleasing to the eye? Some job seekers think it's best to include too much information rather than too little but, if all of that content is little more than fluff, your application could end up in the rejection pile very quickly.

Next time you are cleaning up your resume, make sure to exclude these four items:

• Objective Statement: Employers already know that you are looking for a job so there's no need to include an objective statement in your resume.
• "References Available Upon Request:" It's already expected that you will provide references if an employer asks for them.
• Irrelevant Information: Don't waste space in your resume with information that is not relevant to the job in question. For instance, if you are applying for a fundraising manager position, you shouldn't list a previous job you had as a baker.
• Personal Information: Employers do not need to know what you look like or what you like to do in your spare time. For the purposes of selecting a new employee, they primarily want to know what you can do to help them. 

10 Roadblocks To Your Career

The lagging job market might seem like the biggest obstacle to your career. In reality, there are many other roadblocks that could be holding you back in your quest for a nonprofit job.

During Nonprofit Technology Network's (NTEN) recent Nonprofit Technology Conference, James Weinberg, founder and CEO of Commongood Careers, said that identifying the potential roadblocks to your career can help you plan alternate routes.

Here are some of the obstacles Weinberg said you are most likely to encounter:

• Planning. You need to identify your goals.
• Confidence. You know those goals you just made? Triple it, according to Weinberg. It’s still possible.
• Skills. You can acquire skills by education or learn by experience.
• Experience. This can be done on-the-job or outside of work.
• Family. Your job shouldn’t be your whole life. Strike a balance that works for you.
• Boss. Tell your boss if you don’t feel you are being cultivated as an employee. If that doesn’t work, try to find another job. It will be the boss’s loss in the long run.
• Money. Education is expensive.
• Networks. Look for quality and quantity. Networks will help you get where you need to be.
• Resolve. Try to keep advancing but stay flexible, according to Weinberg.
• Other. Analyze what you think is holding you back.

5 Things Your Networking Contacts Should Know

Whether it is in-person or online, networking for a job can be a very overwhelming task. Think about it: You're talking to a bunch of people you probably don't know very well with hundreds of thoughts running through your head, all while trying to make the best impression possible.

No wonder so many job seekers prefer to avoid the process altogether.

Networking might not be the most enjoyable thing in the world but it's also one of the most important. To paraphrase a popular saying, it's not what you know that's most important, it's who you know. So the next time you turn down an invite to a network event or avoid LinkedIn like the plague, take a step back and realize the opportunities you are missing. Then, take a deep breath and boldly go into the fray.

The most important part of networking is making sure you are sharing the right information. Here are five things you absolutely must share with your contacts:

• Your contact information and a short statement describing your skills (your "elevator pitch").
• An anecdote that explains why you are a master in your particular field.
• Any projects you on which you are currently working.
• An interest in their field of work. Remember, networking can't be a one-way street.
• Any other information that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Job Interview Dos And Don'ts

Getting a job interview can sometimes make you feel so excited that you would be excused for thinking the next step is a job offer. Unfortunately, your work has just begun.

As Bruce A. Hurwitz, vice president of New York City-based Joel H. Paul & Associates, Inc., explained at a recent Fundraising Day in New York, an interview is merely a step inside the door. You can get kicked out just as quickly as you got in if you put on a poor performance. In order to better prepare job seekers for the interview, Hurwitz made a list of things they should and should not do when preparing for the big day:

Do:

• Research the employer. You better have an answer if the interviewer asks, “So, what do you know about our company?” You don’t have to memorize the mission statement, but at least know key facts about the organization.
• Prepare for multiple interviews. Some employers want to know how you would fit in the organization as a whole.
• Dress professionally. Err on the side of conservative. Don’t wear perfume or aftershave. You want the interviewer to hear you, not smell you.
• Ask for business cards. That will remind you whom you spoke with and make it easier to follow up.
• Make eye contact. Be friendly without forcing chumminess.
• Immediately send a thank-you letter. The letter can get you or cost you the job.
• Be aware of what’s on the Internet about you.

Don't

• Be late.
• Bring coffee. Take care of your java fix before the interview.
• Speak ill of your previous or current employers.
• Bring up salary or benefits. If the employer does, be honest about what you’ve made and what you need to make.
• Be modest. This is your time to shine. Emphasize what you personally have done and what you’ve done in a team setting. Tell them how you would fix their problems.
• Bring notes. Prepare before hand for questions but try not to sound rehearsed.