Finding the best non-profits to work for
For job seekers interested in working for a non-profit, it can seem like a tough road. You wonder if a non-profit will pay the bills. How many people really work at a particular non-profit? What do the non-profit’s employees think about their jobs?
When you ask around, you hear mixed reviews. One person talks about how they love helping children. Another talks about their disastrous Executive Director. Many talk about sacrificing their salaries for their job. Some talk about their great work life balance. Others talk about working all weekend at events.
This is a lot to think about. Below are three resources to help you narrow your choice down.
- Book of Lists – If you aren’t sure where to begin, pick up a copy of your local Book of Lists. The Business Journal in your city produces these books annually. They contain a list of the top non-profits in your region. You can easily scan their annual revenue, number of employees, and other pertinent information.
- GuideStar.com – GuideStar.com is a website that provides data about non-profits. If you sign-up for a free account, you can download copies of most non-profits’ 990 Forms. These tax reporting documents often allow you to view the company’s revenue and expenses. It also allows you to learn the highest paid employee’s salary. That salary can vary from $30K per year to $300K per year, so pay close attention to this important piece of information. It will give you a sense for how much other funding the organization has available.
- Glassdoor.com – Glassdoor.com allows employees to anonymously provide information about their employer. You can often find the number of employees at an organization, reviews of the environment, and salary ranges for various positions.
If you take the time to go through these three simple steps, you’ll have a better idea of where to begin. In fact, you may find that a few of your favorite non-profits actually pay just as well as your current for-profit job.
Once you have a list of your top 5 non-profits, start reaching out to find out more. Talk to your friends who work there. Setup informational interviews. Volunteer your time. Look for ways to get the truly inside scoop. This information, paired up with the data you’ve gathered will give you the best idea of where to begin.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
From researcher to corporate employee – and what you can learn
Over the past few months, I’ve received multiple thoughtful letters from those working in the scientific research community. I (like you may be) was very surprised to be receiving questions from this group of extremely smart professionals.
Most likely, it’s because I’m located in Memphis, near St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other medical research institutions. Scientists and engineers here are learning about (and developing cutting edge technology for) everything from orthopedic implants to new vaccines to cancer cures.
I debated about whether or not to share this feedback with the broad audience of my newsletter, but it applies to more than just researchers. Regardless of which industry you start in, and which one you transition into, the challenges are very similar.
Before I jump into my thoughts, lets start with the issue. Many PhD scientists have 3-5 year research contracts with their research institution (like St. Jude). At the end of the contract, they have to decide what they want to do next. They could either stay in research or transition to corporate. Or, some even consider starting their own business.
Often times, when a researcher gets to this crossroad, they are in their late 30s or early 40s. Although they have a lot of scientific knowledge, they have never worked in a corporate environment. That challenge would be intimidating to anyone!
In part because of this, and few resources available for making a career transition to corporate, many choose to stay in research. I’m sure you can relate to this in your own career. You may choose to stay in your current field because you’re unsure of how to begin a transition to a new field.
If you are in a similar situation, here’s a little advice to help you get started.
- Don’t focus too much on minimum requirements – Job descriptions are often packed full of minimum requirements. “Must have 3 years of experience managing employees.” “Must have 2 years of experience managing vendor relationships.” Whatever the requirements, don’t let them keep you from applying. If you’re confident that you can perform the role, apply. Companies rarely find the perfect candidate who meets all the requirements.
- Network – Get out in the field you want to work in, and meet new people. Ask for one-on-one meetings to learn more about what they do. Find out how they made the transition from research to corporate.
- Use LinkedIn – Connect to your school colleagues, professors, fellow researchers, and corporate contacts through LinkedIn. Use the site to showcase your skills, expertise, and accomplishments.
- Practice and be persistent – Even if you find interviews difficult, keep applying and keep interviewing. Every interview you don’t land is practice for the next one. You will get better!
- Don’t give up – You just need one hiring manager to take a chance on you. Once you’ve made the transition, you’re a corporate employee – and getting future corporate jobs will be easier.
And at the end of the day, it’s okay to ask for help. If your university has a career resources department, call them. Ask friends and colleagues to help you. And, if I can be of assistance during your transition, please feel free to reach out to me. I would love to help you with your career change.
As a reminder, the Copeland Coaching Podcast launched three weeks ago! This Tuesday and every Tuesday, I will interview an expert in the field of job searching – including coaches, recruiters, financial experts, and more!
You can listen to the podcast in two ways. First, it’s available for free download on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on SoundCloud.com. So, whether you want to listen on your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet, you’re covered. Listen from wherever, whenever!
At a minimum, they should have experience personally using social media. But, it’s not critical that they’ve used social media in business before. This will be a great learning opportunity for the right candidate.
This is a paid internship, and the intern may be located in Memphis or may work virtually.
The full job description is located here (note: this is a PDF document). Interested candidates are asked to send their resume, cover letter, and social media links to intern@CopelandCoaching.com.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
When settling just won’t work
So often, I speak with people who tell me about their plan to just get their ‘foot in the door’ somewhere. They’ve decided that their skills are just not good enough to get them the job they want.
Sometimes, the person has decided to settle for a lower level position than they really want. They may be qualified to be a manager, but they’ve decided that taking an analyst position could possibly lead to a manager position in time.
Other times, they’ve decided to take less money than what’s normally paid or what’s fair. They think that if they can just get in to a company, they can show their value and the company will give them a raise.
Both of these misconceptions are just that – misconceptions. If you take a lower level position than what you’re qualified to do, you will in fact be performing a lower level position for the foreseeable future. A company is not interested to hire you at one level and turn around a few months later to give you a big promotion.
Even if your hiring manager has all the faith in the world in you, you never know how long they may be your manager. Re-organizations happen all the time, and bosses come and go.
Years ago, I accepted a great position within a large organization. On my second day, the manager who hired me (and who I had built a relationship with for over a year) announced his departure. He had received a great opportunity with another organization. It was a big shock for everyone, as he’d been with the company for years and was very well respected. I’ve always been thankful for that job – and that I didn’t plan to just ‘get my foot in the door’ when I took it.
Similarly, companies aren’t in the business of giving big raises these days. When you start out at one pay level, don’t expect to see your compensation dramatically change. Annually, even great employees only see a few percentage points added to their pay each year.
If you get promoted to a higher level position, or to a different department, you may have an opportunity to negotiate some. Unfortunately, it will be far less than an external candidate could do. You can typically expect just a slight bump for each promotion. Companies often consider internal promotions cheaper than finding an external candidate.
Think about it. When you take a job, you’re expected to stay at least 2-3 years. If you settle and just get your foot in the door, you’ve now signed up for 2-3 years of waiting for something that’s not a guarantee.
If you chose to wait a little longer to find the right opportunity now, chances are that it will take less than 2-3 years. And, when you do accept that right opportunity, you will KNOW what you’re getting into. It will be the job you want, at the pay you want. And, it will be an opportunity that you didn’t have to settle for.
As a reminder, the Copeland Coaching Podcast launched two weeks ago! This Tuesday and every Tuesday, I will interview an expert in the field of job searching – including coaches, recruiters, financial experts, and more!
You can listen to the podcast in two ways. First, it’s available for free download on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on SoundCloud.com. So, whether you want to listen on your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet, you’re covered. Listen from wherever, whenever!
And speaking of finding a job, I’m searching for a Social Media Intern for Copeland Coaching.
This person should have extremely strong organization and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines. They should have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
At a minimum, they should have experience personally using social media. But, it’s not critical that they’ve used social media in business before. This will be a great learning opportunity for the right candidate.
This is a paid internship, and the intern may be located in Memphis or may work virtually.
The full job description is located here (note: this is a PDF document). Interested candidates are asked to send their resume, cover letter, and social media links to intern@CopelandCoaching.com.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
How much are you worth on the job market?
You would be surprised at just how quickly negotiation begins. Often, the very first phone call you receive from human resources will be to get an understanding of where you are today, and where you want to be.
It’s important to be prepared for this question. So before you embark on switching jobs, cities, or career fields all together, you need to do some research.
There are a number of places you can look for information. Here are a few ideas:
- Salary.com – Salary.com is a website that provides salary industry averages by city. It provides data points on the lowest 25%, what the middle 50% are making, and what the upper 75% are making for a particular job in a certain area. The site gives you the option to pay for extra information, but I always stick with the free report. It’s not exact, but it will get you in the ballpark. One note on this site: more than one person has told me they think the site provides over inflated salaries. I haven’t found that to be the case. If you’re finding it to the be the case, you may want to brush up on your overall negotiation skills.
- Glassdoor.com – Glassdoor is one of my favorite sites for salary research, and I’ve mentioned it in my writing before. The site allows employees to anonymously report their salary by position. So, you can search for a particular company and a certain job. For example, if you search for FedEx jobs in Memphis, you’ll find that 144 people have reported their salary for the Senior Programmer Analyst role. On average, people in this role make about $85K. They range anywhere from $69K to $96K. That’s pretty helpful information, right?
- GuideStar.com – GuideStar is a website that allows you to search for information about your favorite non-profits. If you create a free account on their site, you can download the Form 990 for most non-profit organizations. Form 990 is the annual reporting return that most non-profits must file with the IRS. It provides information about their mission, programs, and finances. In addition, it typically lists their highest paid employee’s salary. Unless you’re applying to be the CEO of a non-profit, you won’t find your salary listed. But, the CEO’s salary is still a guide. If you know that one non-profit’s top paid employee is making $40K, and another non-profit’s top paid employee is making $200K, it should give you an understanding of how lower level employees may also be compensated.
- The Company Website – Some companies list the pay grades on posted jobs for internal employees. If you’re switching jobs within the same company, be sure to check this out.
- The Recruiter – Very often, if you ask the recruiter for a salary range, they will give it to you. This is another great, and very accurate, source of information.
- Friends and Colleagues – This is probably the toughest place to look for this information. But occasionally, there’s an opportunity to share information with those who work in a similar industry or role as you. Sometimes, they can be friends who work in different cities — or at different companies. Use your best judgement but, at least consider this conversation if the opportunity arises.
When you start your job search, you want to be armed with information. For example, don’t expect that if you move to a more expensive city to work for a new company that you’ll be given a cost of living raise. You will be paid market value for that particular job in that city – and the only way to know the market value is to research it.
Once you have an idea of your value, you will want to decide what your target range is. What’s the lowest you would go? And, where would you like to be ideally? From there, you’re ready to negotiate. Check out my previous articles for tips on starting a successful negotiation, and best of luck!
As a reminder, the Copeland Coaching Podcast launched last week! This Tuesday and every Tuesday, I will interview an expert in the field of job searching – including coaches, recruiters, financial experts, and more!
You can listen to the podcast in two ways. First, it’s available for free download on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on SoundCloud.com. So, whether you want to listen on your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet, you’re covered. Listen from wherever, whenever!
At a minimum, they should have experience personally using social media. But, it’s not critical that they’ve used social media in business before. This will be a great learning opportunity for the right candidate.
This is a paid internship, and the intern may be located in Memphis or may work virtually.
The full job description is located here (note: this is a PDF document). Interested candidates are asked to send their resume, cover letter, and social media links to intern@CopelandCoaching.com.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
Copeland Coaching Launches Podcast: Listen Now!
I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! The important holiday honoring our veterans is always a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones.
As you continue your job search, keep those close to you in mind. They can be a great resource for learning.
Of your friends, think of the one with the most interesting job. You know, the friend whose job you secretly wish you could have.
Have you ever thought about calling that friend and asking them to have an informational interview with you? An informational interview is when you sit down with another professional to learn about their career.
It’s not a job interview, but it is an excellent learning and networking opportunity. It can often help you to identify jobs you don’t want, and can open your eyes to jobs you hadn’t considered.
You might be surprised at just how easy it is to ask someone for an informational interview. Most people love to talk about what they do, and are more than happy to share with you.
I have found this to be true in both my personal job searches, and with my new podcast. As the title of this blog suggests, this is an exciting day. Today, I’m launching the first episode of the Copeland Coaching Podcast!
I sat down and interviewed my friend, Amy Ware, to get her perspective on the job search process. Amy is a long time career coach and Director of Career Services at Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee.
You can listen to the podcast in two ways. First, it’s available for download on Apple Podcasts. You can also listen on SoundCloud.com. So, whether you want to listen on your desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet, you’re covered! Listen from wherever, whenever.
I hope you will enjoy this first episode of the Copeland Coaching Podcast. Tune in each Tuesday for a new podcast and expert guest. We will be discussing everything from getting an interview, switching career fields, offer negotiation, and finding happiness at work.
And speaking of switching fields and findings happiness, I’m searching for a Social Media Intern for Copeland Coaching.
This person should have extremely strong organization and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and meet deadlines. They should have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
At a minimum, they should have experience personally using social media. But, it’s not critical that they’ve used social media in business before. This will be a great learning opportunity for the right candidate.
This is a paid internship, and the intern may be located in Memphis or may work virtually.
The full job description is located here (note: this is a PDF document). Interested candidates are asked to send their resume, cover letter, and social media links to intern@CopelandCoaching.com.
I hope these tips have helped you. Visit CopelandCoaching.com to find more tips to improve your job search.
Happy hunting!
Angela Copeland
Copeland Coaching Podcast
