Changing Careers - Nonprofit to Corporate

19 Comments

1. Yelena SheremetaFebruary 28,2023 at 4:07PM UTC

   Hi! I wanted to suggest looking at accounting firms. I work for FORVIS and I know we’re always hiring project managers + we have an entire service line that serves non profits. That way you can leverage your nonprofit experience but from a corporate environment. I’d also recommend updating your resume to rephrase your experience in the context of what your ideal job is described as. So pull up a job description for a project manager for example and then update your resume to mirror that language based on your experience. You’re already doing this partially because you’re connecting your current job to how your skills would transfer to a project manager role, so now it’s a matter of framing your resume accordingly! Good luck! You can do this! And if you see a position at FORVIS that interests you, let me know :)

2. Anne KrookFebruary 28,2023 at 5:22PM UTC

   Your transition is a good case for a skill-based resume, where the key thing is to abstract what you do (skills) from where you do it (nonprofit). If you focus on, say, the four things you do best and demonstrate where and how you have done them, that will show a for-profit employer how your skills can help meet their challenges.

3. EszterFebruary 28,2023 at 11:04PM UTC

   I don't have any great advice for you - I wanted to commiserate because I am in the SAME position! 16+ years as a stagehand, super burnt out, looking for more flexibility and better pay. I believe we can make this transition!!

4. ChristineMarch 1,2023 at 7:39PM UTC

   I was an exec assist in non profit for many years. I moved into the corporate world and am now back in non profit. I have never really had a problem because I go pretty confidently into interviews telling myself "you got this!" I research all I can about the company I will interview with -- its mission and values, etc. Then I look at the skills I used in non profit that can transfer -- so I am ready to talk about it and make my case!

5. AnonymousMarch 1,2023 at 8:13PM UTC

   You need to shift your resume into 2 buckets, strategic work - what you developed planned and rolled out, to your tactical work - what you actually put your hands on and did yourself. Remove the name of your company or the words non-profit from not only your vocabulary when you interview but your resume. Let them ask you about it when they engage further than resume review. Speak only of the work and quality of it and the transferable skills from one company to another not the place that you worked. When asked why you are looking say I have hit a ceiling in what impact I can make here and am looking to expand and extend what experience I have into another industry.

6. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 5:27PM UTC

   I'm mystified at how it could be possible to craft a resume full of non-profit work without mentioning employers' names or the words non-profit?

   I love the answer you suggest for the "why are you looking" question.

7. AnonymousMarch 1,2023 at 10:30PM UTC

   I had is problem when I first moved from theatre the to corporate world -I’m a stage manager by trade, so I landed and executive assistant role pretty quickly, since those skills are obviously transferable.

   I remember that I made my resume primarily skills-based as opposed to centered around just my positions. Theatre training is exceptionally versatile - it might take a little bit of finagling of language, but it will get you where you want to go :)

8. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 12:55AM UTC

   Is there any reason you are trying to move away from the arts? There are many for-profit arts groups out there that could use your skills. You could look toward news/media companies that could use your arts, customer service skills, or other companies in the entertainment industry. Why move from where you can think creatively and expand rather than being stifled in a corporate environment? I went in the opposite direction. I have no desire to go back.

9. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 1:19PM UTC

   Reframe your resume, and focus on tasks and result based work, leave out jargon and really target positions, networking is important as well. The job market is tough right now though so don't get discouraged. I'd also encourage you to look at larger nonprofits, the arts are notoriously underpaid in the NPO world. I have worked in NPO for the last ten years, I considered making a switch to corporate a few years ago, got 3 offers, and all were barely higher salaries, in exchange for a completely new culture of work. I now work for a statewide NPO, work from home, have six weeks of PTO, and have a six figure salary. I occasionally work 50-55 hours a week, but really enjoy what I do and have a ton of flexibility in exchange. I only share that because there are NPOs that do compensate well, and are better resourced in general.

10. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 1:40PM UTC

    Study LinkedIn and Glassdoor (includes salaries) daily, learn the different industry terminology, and get an understanding of what’s our there. It’s like searching for a house, it takes a lot of research and reviews to get to what you finally want. Save the jobs you like, search for people on LinkedIn who are already doing this role. Set up a coffee chat to ask question and ask what they recommend for someone who is interested in pivoting.

    If you find it difficult to rewrite your resume, work with a professional resume writer, share one or two specific job descriptions you are interested with them, and work with them to help you redo your resume in a the appropriate format.

    Be sure to create a LinkedIn profile to match. Study other LinkedIn profiles to be sure yours is competitive.

    Youtube how to interview for the roles and companies you are interested in.

    Join a professional association where you can start networking with people who are already doing the work you are seeking to pivot into. Make some friends there and ask a lot of questions. You can make this pivot. I did it from higher ed and tripled my income in less than a year. Don’t waste anymore time, each day commit at least one hour to working towards this goal and with consistent work and in turn, it will pay off.

11. Peggie Arvidson * Career Consultant | Adoptee Advocate | RecruiterMarch 2,2023 at 2:03PM UTC

    Pivots are interesting and fun to make - and recruiters are open to people who can show them how they can make our company money or save us money (and you know, do the job)

    I will say that those titles you name can be anything from administrative paper pushing roles to running divisions - so you will want to clarify the TYPE of corporate environment you want to work in and the industry you want to work for -

    And right now, it's super hard to get WFH and flex PTO in many industries - because companies are feeling like they can pick anyone with all the recent layoffs.

    And don't get me started on some company "values"....

    So, first, get clear on your must haves and nice to haves

    then research some industries that you think would align with your values

    and are in your geographic are - because you may need to start at a company where you're more "entry level" to make the leap and that would mean on-site.

    next do some research on those companies - including reviewing their Linkedin pages and the titles and backgrounds of people in the roles with the titles you're interested in (regardless of whether or not there is job posted)

    Update your LI profile and resume to reflect the results you bring and then start applying.

    (obviously - very short list here - but it's a place to start)

12. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 4:17PM UTC

    I'm thinking about doing this as well. Background in the arts, working at a non-profit and probably making the shift in 2023. I have concerns about whether or not I'm going to like a corporate environment but I also don't want to work in non-profits for my entire career. My current environment is mostly friendly and flexible but I have the ability to handle much greater challenges. I could be commanding higher titles and pay. And hey, if we hate it it's always easy to dive back into the job pool. I've noticed that a lot of extroverted, well-spoken theater folks seem to do well in corporate environments. I'm a talker and it definitely doesn't hurt.

13. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 5:33PM UTC

    Me too! I've been trying to figure this out after getting very burned out by that nonprofit culture, which got a lot worse during the pandemic. I firmly believe that theatre and related training and experience is some of the best possible preparation for almost anything you want to do next: Teamwork? Check! Deadlines, tight turnarounds, and hustle? Check! Adaptability and flexibility? Check! Complex projects, juggling multiple elements, and focus on deliverables and results? Check, check, and check.

14. EszterMarch 2,2023 at 8:43PM UTC

    I completely agree with you about theatre and related training being transferrable skills to so many other jobs! i do worry about hiring managers seeing my resume full of theatre experience and tossing it aside, but I tried to emphasize those transferrable skills you mention!

15. Carol BaldwinMarch 2,2023 at 6:39PM UTC

    I moved from more than 20 years nonprofit to corporate. Write your job description as a corporate description. Multitasking, deadlines, conflict resolution etc use the corporate buzz words and sell yourself

16. AnonymousMarch 2,2023 at 7:46PM UTC

    I will just say moving to corporate for profit environment will not prevent you from doing 3 people's jobs or the other stressors you highlighted. I think unfortunately with the way the US and world economies are this is just the norm right now no matter what industry you are in

17. Susan MyersMarch 3,2023 at 3:34AM UTC

    I would agree and be cautious moving on. Moving from non-proft to for profit will not necessarily resolve the issue of doing 3 peoples jobs. Not just with COVID and difficulty in filing jobs, companies are trying to be cost conscious as their costs have risen in benefits, taxes and cost of goods. If you like what you are doing and have reasonable benefits staying put may be the best option. If you have never worked from home, it's not all it's cracked up to be - it's hard building work relationships over the phone and internet, it can be hard to truly feel a part of a team and it can feel like you are missing out, isolated and not a true part of the team.

    Some of the above comes from personal experience as well as others that have been in similar situations. Sadly, I don't know a lot of people who are truly happy in their role or who feel appreciated by the managers or companies.

    You may want to consider putting your resume out and interviewing to see what the real situation is in the workforce. You need to decide what is best for you. Don't worry to much about what your degree is in. There are lots of hiring managers who put degrees over actual experience. Review your resume with the job descriptions of posted positions and align your resume to fit with some of the requirements. Your 13.5 years with one company should also help show the loyal and committed employee you are.

    GOOD LUCK!!

18. EszterMarch 2,2023 at 8:46PM UTC

    It's so comforting to me to see other theatre people here who have experiences and goals similar to mine! Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not alone! :)

19. LizMarch 7,2023 at 5:53PM UTC

    I made this exact jump about a year and a half ago. I would suggest having someone help with your resume to help with the presentation of your transferrable skills. And, unfortunately, it's sometimes about having someone who is looking at your resume for skills. I just started a new job, but my previous supervisor told me that she looked at the job titles and went, "This isn't really in alignment" until she started reading the descriptions of what I was actually doing. Best of luck to you! Despite that first company not working out, I'm still so glad I made the switch.