How can  I break into the non-profit sector? I am an amazing sales person and I want to use my skills for a non-profit.  All the non-profit companies keep going with another candidate with more experience.  How do I get in front of them to showcase my talents?

Dear Sales Expert:

Your best bet might be to focus on organization within your networks and then volunteer or to deliver your talents via board involvement. This will expand your experience and your networking.  Consider updating your social media presence and resume to reflect your new focus.  

Often, non-profits and other organizations want you to “prove” your skills before hiring you.  This gets tricky for candidates in transition.  You need to develop a live connection (with or without pay) that demonstrates your talents and your commitment to the sector.   

You can start by identifying the Top 10 Not-for-Profit organizations in your area.  Figure out where you know persons at the management or senior levels.  Reach out to them expressing your interest in volunteering for a significant project and/or serving on the board.  Then, focus on being productive in that role.  As part of this process, you may want to consider updating your resume and materials to reflect your interest in serving the NFP community.  For example, you can state this directly on your LinkedIn profile.  This will probably open a few more doors.   Document your achievements and include them on your resume.  Nothing sells better than success.  In the meantime, as you volunteer and conduct board activities, deliberately build your connections within the NFP sector.  Attend relevant conferences, events and social gatherings so you can make your NFP network robust and relevant.  

The kinds of projects that involve sales may include development and fundraising.  These are urgent needs for many organizations.  You did not state if you have marketing experience.  However, many expert sales professionals also do well at marketing.  This can be a valuable skillset to develop and mention in your materials.  Once you have a relevant, recent experience to report,  consider writing a blog about the challenges you must have faced and overcome.  Post on Facebook and social media.  The point is to get your name associated with solid, NFP initiatives that yield results. If you consistently build your connections, you will start to see more opportunities and more interest in your background.  

We provide transition candidates customized assistance in getting the attention of sector leaders.  Please contact us for more details on how to make this transition successfully.    

Last updated on March 9th, 2021 at 12:47 am