Whether a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, working for a nonprofit offers many benefits. While it most likely won’t catapult you into a rich and famous life, if you’re seeking a way to contribute to the greater good or find a deeper purpose in life, a career in the nonprofit sector might be the perfect fit.
Unfortunately, some people may believe that working for a nonprofit limits their options and doesn’t help elevate their careers. That assumption is incorrect on both counts. Working for a nonprofit frequently provides an equal number of options as the for-profit sector, if not more, and can be an excellent opportunity to expand your skills.
Competitive Advantages of Working for a Nonprofit
Nonprofits rely on employees with savvy business skills to help them make the most significant impact. So whether you’re attracted to a renewed sense of purpose or job flexibility, there are endless ways that nonprofits offer competitive advantages.
- Incredible People Will Be Part of Your Work Environment
Most people working in the nonprofit arena are there because they’re passionate about the goal and purpose of the organization. In addition, it creates an environment in which you feel strongly connected to your coworkers. You’ll work with people who share similar values.
- Your Skill Set May Skyrocket
Unless you work for a large nonprofit, you’ll be part of a smaller staff likely to be responsible for many things. As a result, there are increased opportunities for collaboration, learning new things, and taking on different tasks.
- You Can Truly Feel Great About Your Work
The day-to-day tasks of a nonprofit job might not seem drastically different from others; however, working for an organization where everyone is working toward a common goal to make the world a better place is unique. Genuine people surround you with a shared goal.
- Nonprofit Work Offers Diversity
Regardless of your interests or skill set, nonprofit work offers something for everyone. Depending on your organization’s size, you can focus on a specific skill set or opt for endless learning opportunities.
- Nonprofit Work Is a Great Resume Builder
Having a nonprofit on your resume signals recruiters that you are adaptable, have incredible soft skills, and are willing to think outside the box.
One Family Illinois employees agree that nonprofit work has many benefits and two shared the story of their journey to the organization.
Healthcare Administration to One Family Illinois Professional Foster Parent
Wendy Anleu has always been committed to helping others, focusing on helping women and children in need. She incorporated her passion into her career path, working as a healthcare administrator. Because she is bilingual (English/Spanish), Wendy found herself helping the Hispanic community navigate the medical system.
Anleu’s faith also steered her toward fulfilling her calling to keep children safe, but it was discovering One Family Illinois on Facebook that directed her to learn more about the organization and its mission and eventually to undertake the process of becoming an One Family Illinois Professional Foster Parent.
She explained the impact learning about One Family Illinois had on her saying, “I saw that One Family Illinois shared my passion for keeping families together, which is the ideal situation for me. And, I knew my son would benefit from having siblings in his life.”
Corporate Financial Services to One Family Illinois Nonprofit Workforce Development
Kelly Walsh started her career at a large financial services corporation in 2007. Although she found it interesting work, and it provided opportunities to grow professionally, she sensed something was missing from her career path. That feeling continued to grow and in 2019, she started looking for opportunities in government and nonprofit organizations.
She landed a fantastic opportunity at the Housing Authority of Salt Lake City as a grant program manager. She was able to leverage the skills she gained in the corporate world, acquire new skills, and collaborate with various community partners. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, she decided to leave Utah to be closer to family in Chicago, where her job search led her to One Family Illinois.
“The more I learned about the organization, the more I wanted to join the team and help build new programming for the Roosevelt Square Community Center. So, I started in September 2021 as Workforce Development Program Manager and am looking forward to seeing everything we will accomplish in the future.”
Is a Nonprofit Job Right For You?
Although there are many excellent benefits to working for a nonprofit, just because it’s mission-driven doesn’t mean it will be perfect. However, if you’re motivated to help people, it might be an excellent fit. If you’re wondering if working in the nonprofit world is right for you, an article in the Harvard Business Review might help you answer some of those questions.
Is a Career at One Family Illinois Right for You?
If you’re interested in providing hope and security for abused and neglected children, you may be an excellent candidate to become part of the One Family Illinois team. We would love to hear from you! We need you, and our children need you!