Everyone offers advice when you are casually looking, or aggressively hunting, for a new job. Recruiters spend a lot of time with candidates, so we talked with the best. We’ve compiled 5 of the best tips we heard that can make a difference to your sanity while job hunting. Talk to people. Break out your rolodex, connect with online peeps, find school friends on Facebook, tweet some Instagram buddies, and see if they can assist you. It won’t matter the person, as long as you have a genuine connection and they will champion you. If you are genuine in your approach and ask for their insight and support, they will most likely be responsive and put you in touch with other contacts or colleagues. People like to help. Just remember to show interest in them too—don’t make it one-sided. Be creative. The adage is true: the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result. Do your research before you start applying online. Find unique lists of good companies to work for, call them up, and ask to speak to HR. Find a good recruitment firm that specializes in your area of work—most…

I ran my first half marathon at the 32nd Annual Kaiser Permanente San Francisco race put on by Pamakids Runners. With 32 years of experience and a good reputation, this event has a clear advantage and it never lacks volunteers. At each corner I rounded, there was a volunteer ready to cheer us on, hand out water, or scream out the mile split times. Although at times unorganized, 90% of the volunteers seemed enthusiastic and glad to be helping – and I sure was thankful! With a new nonprofit event, reaching out to groups and individuals for their time can be exhausting. People are extremely busy and selective about volunteering their time and an average organization loses 35% of their volunteers every year. So what is the trick to gain effective volunteers and ultimately retain commitment for events to come? Here are three factors that matter: Finding your volunteers. It is important to seek out groups and individuals who have an interest in the subject at hand. This type of volunteer is able relate to the participants and support and encourage accordingly. They also are more likely to reach out to friends and associates and ask them to volunteer as well. Groups…

Sometimes there’s a story we tell collectively. When nonprofit colleagues were asked for their candid suggestions on how to avoid burnout, they got right to the core. Having worked in the trenches in some way with each of these pros reconfirmed for me that there’s nothing like the camaraderie and resourcefulness of those who work in this sector. We can’t do it alone, but we can certainly get through the demands and unexpected challenges of this work with dignity, recognition, and zeal. 10 Tricks to Avoid Burnout: Stay on mission. Remind yourself of the organization’s purpose and keep your eye on the prize. A long-time development colleague shares that her team shares “mission moments” at each monthly staff meetings. “With all the complaints, hustle and bustle of the day-to-day work,” she says, “it brings us back around to ‘why we do what we do’. You remember the reason you are here and picked this job.” Protect your private time. It’s inherent–you will work seven days a week sometimes. “You have to be realistic about what kind of work load you can handle, and actually make sure you take time off, away from the job, to focus on friends and family,”…

Every year a crowd of #NPTechies (Twitter speak for Nonprofit Technology Professionals) gather at NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) to learn about the greatest technological advances available to help nonprofits become better at delivering on their mission.  This year’s conference, #16NTC, was held in San Jose and had an attendance of nearly 2,000. Here are four of the greatest takeaways:    Sharing. While much of the nonprofit sector gets criticized for working in silos and being resistant to collaboration, that’s definitely not the case here. This group, more so than any other professional association that I’ve been involved with, or reported on, welcomes collaboration and the opportunity to share their wins, obstacles, and observations. There is a genuine attitude that when one gains an understanding of a particular tech tool, there is a responsibility for that person to help others understand how they can use it for good. Data plays a very important role in an organization’s ability to advance. Gone are the days when your nonprofit could send an email newsletter to your entire database of donors. Donors expect more. If your organization wants to keep individuals donating and truly connect, a generic e-blast is not going to accomplish your…

What are your nonprofit career goals? Are you considering making a career change within the sector? Or do you see yourself advancing in your organization over the next few years? Either way, it is important to set goals. Bridgespan and former Bridgespan partner Wayne Luke discuss the steps to building your career in the nonprofit sector with Building a Nonprofit Career Path. 1. Focus on your current job. Do your best at your current position. If you are thinking about trying to advance within your organization or are thinking about a career change, doing your best now will pay off in the end. 2. Ask yourself questions. Do you work better independently or cooperatively? What skills do you bring to the sector? Are you doing this for you or for what everyone wants? Think about the type of position you would enjoy in the sector. 3. Establish goals. Create a list of 4 or 5 general goals that you would like to accomplish in the future. Avoid salaries and titles but do include what you expect to achieve in the nonprofit sector. Luke suggests goals such as “I need to be in a situation where I am constantly learning” or “I…