Nonprofit Organizations
Social Service and Nonprofit Career Interest Day
2006 Date TBA
Meet representatives from local nonprofit organizations to discuss internships, jobs, and volunteer positions.
Click here to see a list of participating organizations from the 2005 event and the majors they recruited.
Many students are unaware of the numerous job possibilities that exist within nonprofit organizations (NPO's). Here are some
important facts about this sector:
- Approximately 11 million people work for the 1.2 million nonprofit organizations in the United States.
- Nonprofits are organizations that do not declare profit but instead use revenue in service to a public interest. They
exist to serve a cause or purpose and include social service and charitable agencies, private schools, professional
associations, religious organizations, political and advocacy groups, or cultural programs to name a few. Examples of
nonprofits include The American Heart Association, The Boys and Girls Club, United Way, The Knoxville Museum of Art, and the
National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Some of the myths people hold about working in Nonprofits are:
Myth: No or low salaries
Fact: While nonprofits typically offer starting salaries less than for-profit businesses, some starting salaries compare
favorably. Additionally, many NPO's offer benefits comparable to or better than other organizations.
Myth: No upward mobility
Fact: Smaller NPO's may not have as much room for advancement, but larger organizations may have clearly defined career
paths. Often employees in NPO's wear many hats, gain more experience, and accept a greater degree of responsibility more
quickly than employees in the for-profit sector.
Myth: Opportunities exist only for Social Work majors
Fact: NPO's have opportunities in a wide array of fields. They need students with degrees in a range of fields from accounting to computer science to psychology. Nearly any major can find a place in NPO's.
Myth: People who work at NPO's have outdated technology, insufficient facilities, or dress poorly.
Fact: Many NPO's have updated technology including computers, fax machines, and well-designed Internet sites. Like all
businesses, NPO's vary in their facilities. While they probably won't be as plush as a large law firm, they're not
necessarily decrepit environments.
Myth: NPO's are only for liberals.
Fact: NPOs cover a broad range of health, political and religious organizations and, as a collective group, do not reflect
a single political point of view.
How do you find a job in a nonprofit organization?
In some ways recruitment and hiring for NPO's differs from for-profit organizations. Typically NPO's hire only as a need
arises so there isn't a "season" for recruitment. Many times NPO's only hire one person at a time rather than recruiting a
whole "class" of new employees. Because NPO's usually don't have a large budget for recruiting activities, they may hire more
by word of mouth or by people they know from internships, field experiences or volunteering. However, many of the same rules
apply for finding positions in this sector. Consider each of the following methods when conducting a job search.
Online job postings - there are numerous websites that relate specifically to NPO's and contain job openings.
Get involved - find an internship or volunteer opportunity with organizations that work toward an issue or
cause that is important to you. Many organizations will hire from within.
Conduct informational interviews - meet with professionals and ask them about their work and their insights
on the field.
Network - use your personal contacts to learn about job leads.
Job Fairs - attend the Social Service and Nonprofit Career Fair at UT and look for some NPO's to attend
campus-wide career fairs throughout the year.
Directly Contact local NPO's in your community.
Register with Career Services - some NPO's will recruit on campus or search the resume database for
acceptable candidates.
Nonprofit Websites
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