October 27, 2005 | Read Time: 3 minutes
Q. I’ve had an extensive career in state and local government, and am looking to move into nonprofit work, specifically with groups that have impact on the lives of people at a local or regional level. I have a lot of experience in program monitoring and planning, grant-proposal writing, and serving as a mentor. Can I transfer these skills, and what direction should I pursue?
A. Certainly your skills are transferable, and your government experience can be a very valuable foundation for success in the nonprofit field, says Neil G. Giuliano, the former four-term mayor of Tempe, Ariz., who in August was appointed president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which has offices in Los Angeles and New York.
“It is great that you have a desire to make a difference in the lives of others,” he says, but because your skills are so broad, you’ll need to first narrow your focus. “Do some thinking about which aspect of nonprofit work appeals to you most: program development, management, or fund raising.”
Your experience in planning and monitoring programs would align especially well with a charity that is in the midst of putting in place new programs or a new strategic plan, says Mr. Giuliano. Also, your experience as a mentor could make you a candidate for a job directing volunteers or working at a charity that has a strong intern or fellowship program. Your grant-proposal writing experience is also very valuable, particularly to nonprofit organizations seeking to expand or diversify their sources of revenue, says Mr. Giuliano.
Once you’ve pinpointed the handful of charities for which you’d like to work, you still need to get your foot in the door, says Mark Boyd, president of Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey, in Maple Shade, who once served as the state’s labor commissioner.
“The best strategy for making the transition from the public sector to the nonprofit sector is to make yourself available to as broad a group of potential employers as possible,” he says. He suggests establishing yourself as a consultant to let potential employers “take a test drive” or volunteer your services to show charities your strengths and commitment.
In the interview phase, focus on how your previous job experiences suit you to the particular nonprofit slot being filled, urges Susan Wyant, executive director of Catalog for Giving of New York City, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for small grass-roots groups that provide support and education to young people from low-income families. A few years ago, she considered a candidate for a fund-raising job whose only previous employment had been working for a legislator.
“Her cover letter clearly presented how her skill set directly related to the needs described in our ad, and she came to the interview well prepared with specific examples demonstrating how her experience directly correlated to the requirements of the position,” says Ms. Wyant. “Because she was successful in proactively making the case for her candidacy, she was also successful in securing the position.”
