How to Write a Resume for Non-Profit Sector Jobs
Resume Writing Tips to Present Experience and Education
Aug 12, 2009
A resume is not only a collection of skills and experience, but a way to quickly present the candidate's qualifications to the employer in a way that makes that person "stand out." Non profits are looking for individuals who care about the goals of the organization and who can perform the specific skills needed in an often busy and understaffed workplace. The resume should present the candidate as someone up for the task.
Tailoring the Resume to Nonprofit Jobs
Most candidates use a single resume when applying for jobs. This is fine, but when applying to jobs in the non-profit sector, a candidate should still check the resume each time to make sure that the skills requested in the job posting are clearly reflected in the resume, with details to back up the candidate's claims. For example, a candidate who claims to be proficient in HTML might provide details of any personal or professional websites she designed.
In addition to specialized skills, certain skills are going to be useful across the board – for example, experience in research, writing, fundraising, leadership, grant writing, organization, managing large databases, or working in a busy office. Many jobs will ask for candidates who have office experience or are organized, looking for someone who can function in a very busy environment. This can be reflected in the resume by listing details of previous positions, highlighting leadership roles, projects run or supervised, and large organizational tasks.
Candidates with limited work experience, such as those recently finished with graduate school, can be more creative in showing potential. Volunteer positions, student leadership, and personal activities may be useful to demonstrate the same skills, as long as details are provided. Candidates with limited experience can also try to improve the resume by volunteering or taking classes while looking for a job.
Using Resume Layout to Maximize Nonprofit Job Potential
Especially in a small non profit, the person reading resumes may be extremely busy and have a lot of potential candidates to sort through. This means that a candidate needs to make every line of the resume count and demonstrate the most important experience first. For example, a candidate for a research, writing, or editorial position might list publications or graduate research high up on the resume to make it stand out. Someone applying as a web designer would be more likely to list computer skills high on the page.
If a candidate's experience varies greatly, it might make sense to find a way to distinguish between more and less applicable experience, putting the former first. For example, a candidate with an international organization might have a section entitled "International Experience" with study abroad experience, work with international organizations or causes, and language skills included. Other experience can then fall further down on the page, or on the second page. The resume should be as concise as possible to display a candidate's qualifications.
Above all, when writing a resume the candidate must consider what the potential employers are looking for. If this means writing multiple resumes, or tweaking a resume before sending, then it is worth the extra time and effort to demonstrate qualifications. The resume should be concise, laid out on the page in a way that makes it easy to understand and find the qualifications the employer is skimming for, and include details that clearly match the candidate to the position.
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