The Nonprofit Career Guide: How to Land a Job That Makes a Difference (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: representative work day, nonprofit sector career, first job hunting, United States, Key Nonprofit Subsectors, Job Description (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exceptionally clear and engaging tour of the nonprofit sector. The Nonprofit Career Guide explains the types of jobs available, how to prepare for them, and how to land the job you want. Interviews featuring nonprofit staff and leaders add the touch of reality that makes this book such a valuable tool." -- Russell A. Cargo, PhD, Director, Nonprofit and Civil Society Program, Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance

"I highly recommend Shelly Cryer's book to any student or young grad who wants to make a difference in the world. If you're looking for resources, insight, or advice, you can find everything you need in The Nonprofit Career Guide." -- Sheila J. Curran, Executive Director, Duke University Career Center, and coauthor of Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads: Finding a Path to Your Perfect Career

"This book is a gem and an absolutely essential resource for anyone considering a career in the not-for-profit sector! It offers keen insights into the community and the myriad of exciting and interesting career opportunities to be found. Anyone interested in challenging work, professional growth, and making a difference will be even more inspired after consulting this guide." -- Carole Dickert-Scherr, Vice President, Human Resources, PBS

"The candid advice from Shelly Cryer and other experts make this book an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to land a job that makes a difference." -- Kimberly Hendler, Executive Director, Princeton Project 55, and Young Nonprofit Professionals Network National Board Member

"What a tremendous resource a must read for new students! The Nonprofit Career Guide is a thoughtful and insightful journey into the exciting and personally rewarding career opportunities in the nonprofit sector." -- William L. Pollard, PhD, Vice President, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC)

"Finding a job in the nonprofit sector just got easier. This book is a comprehensive tool for anyone seeking a job in the nonprofit sector and for those of us who advise others on how to obtain one. It has important information about key trends, an overview of the subsectors and job opportunities of the sector, and a summary of research that will dispel the myths about these jobs. It is a must for any career counselor or life coach's office." -- Terri Barreiro, Director, Donald McNeely Center for Entrepreneurship, Saint Johns University and the College of Saint Benedict in central Minnesota

"Whether you are 22 or 62, if you are looking for work in a nonprofit, this book is a useful tool. Shelly Cryer not only gives you a step-by-step guide to matching your skills with the nonprofit of your dreams, but along the way she is a terrific salesperson for the value and meaning of working in the nonprofit sector. I'll recommend this book to all my students." --Peter Brinckerhoff, nonprofit consultant and author of Generations: The Challenge of a Lifetime for Your Nonprofit

"What a useful overview of career opportunities in the nonprofit sector and of the sector itself !" Irv Katz, President & CEO, National Human Services Assembly

"Thanks to Shelly Cryer, we have the perfect road map for the future leaders of the nonprofit sector, who will benefit from the map and the quality counsel she offers." -- Robert F. Long, Director, Greater Battle Creek Programming and Senior Program Officer, W. K. Kellogg Foundation<br /><br />"This bo -- John D. Welty, President, California State University, Fresno

"This book is the most comprehensive piece yet on the nonprofit sector. It is a must for the neophyte job seeker to the most experienced nonprofit professional." -- John D. Welty, President, California State University, Fresno

Product Description

FINALIST 2008 Book of the Year Awards, Career Category, ForeWord Magazine

A must read for anyone hoping to launch a nonprofit career! Nonprofits need talented, creative people with all types of skills and experiences. The Nonprofit Career Guide will help you find the best opportunity for you and your interests.

This hands-on guide is filled with practical advice from real people working at all levels of diverse nonprofits. In detailed profiles, you'll find out what their work is like, the career paths they followed, and what they look for when hiring new staff.

Besides getting a sense of the scope and range of work opportunities, you'll find the most up-to-date information on how to:
- Prepare for a nonprofit career
- Conduct targeted job searches and network effectively
- Handle interviews with aplomb
- Write persuasive cover letters and stellar resumes
- Negotiate a competitive compensation package.

With The Nonprofit Career Guide, you'll get the competitive edge you need to land a great first job and build a rewarding career in the nonprofit sector.

Published by Fieldstone Alliance in collaboration with American Humanics.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Fieldstone Alliance (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0940069598
• ISBN-13: 978-0940069596
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #73 in	Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Nonprofit Organizations & Charities
  #96 in	Books > Reference > Job Hunting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I Hate All Career Guide Books, June 10, 2008

By	Bruce Miller (Connecticut, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I do hate all career guide books.

Except this one. Short. Focused. Keeping it real. And no worksheets.

As an executive working for top Human Resources management in a Fortune 100 company, I have read many career guides. And I have been asked to recommend career guides by concerned friends, usually for their kids. And they are all padded, boring, time-wasting books. Especially the ones with tests and worksheets. Did I mention I hate worksheets?

Here is a book based on a special perspective -- Shelly Cryer is a professional who is in the streets 24/7 with the real people who really know what it takes to work in the nonprofit sector. She is an expert communicator, and impatient to get her ideas across to you -- you'll feel like she is talking to you as a best friend with inside information as you read. And it is a pleasure to finally read a book not filled with true, but tired tropes about networking and how to inflate your resume.

This book is down in the trenches where a good first impression counts, but communicating accurately and tersely gets you noticed. Nonprofits after all have to do more with less, and that includes less time for fluff. Here are two examples which I know to be true from experience, and have never seen in another career book: Do not use the static-ridden, dead-voice cell phone for outreach, stick with a conventional land-line for important calls to get your human nuances across. And here is a big clue, email is a great way to communicate instantly, but do not take any less time crafting your email than you would a serious business letter. How true; email's spontaneous nature seems to sap politeness and logical structure from so many communications I get.

The index. This book has an index. Why should a slim volume like this (less than 300 pages) need an index? Well you can not live without Google can you? Think of this intelligently indexed book as having a built in search engine. So many books skimp and think they can get by with a table of contents with cute chapter titles.

This book is hard-hitting, with career profiles and interviews with true leaders in the nonprofit sector about their own careers. As proof that Shelly Cryer is saying "yo listen up my peeps!", each chapter has a quick review at the end which makes you really think about what you have just read. Not just the usual warmed-over summary, but a superb safety net to make sure you have caught on.

Want to do good in the world?

Want to wake up happy to go to work every day?

Buy this book; you may find your life's calling here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best career guides out there, July 20, 2008

By	Courtney (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

I never thought I would review a career guide, but this one deserves it. As a student, I found this guide to be indispensable. Not only does it thoroughly cover the non-profit sector, but it also offers advice and insights that can be applied to any sector.

Cryer begins by profiling the sector and highlighting future trends. Notable is the observation that salary in the nonprofit sector depends on field of work and size of organization--in certain fields, nonprofit pay is higher on average than that of their private or public sector counterparts. Furthermore, as the sector grows in prominence, more attention is being paid to salary as a means of recruiting talent. Other trends include a growing need for leadership and increased diversity. The meat of the book is in lively chapters covering sector subsections (arts, education, health international, etc.) and job functions (management, communications, development, consulting, etc.). Its snapshots of different people working in the industry provide a good sense of what to expect from the different avenues the sector has to offer.

This book made me see my career options in a new (and organized!) light.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must have Career Guide Reference, August 6, 2008

By	Gabriela Cipollone (New Rochelle, NY) - See all my reviews

Shelly Cryer has compiled a useful tool for college students who are examining their options following graduation. The Non-Profit Career Guide - how to land a job that makes a difference, serves as a nuts and bolts directory that can prove useful for entry into the world of Not for Profit organizations. This manual is laid out logically and is easy to use. The appendix and endnotes are of particular help to first-time job-seekers or even those making a career change. A must have for your Career Guide Reference Collection!

Gabriela A. Cipollone
Reference Librarian, Iona College