9/10/07: Improve Your Job Seeking Skills

So you want to improve your nonprofit jobseeking skills? Good news: You’ve come to the right place!

Check out almost any nonprofit job description and you’ll see at least a passing reference to the need for good communication and/or writing skills. Clearly, writing well is a core skill. When you develop that skill, it will serve you well anywhere you go in the nonprofit sector (and beyond).

Does This Sound Like You?

• You’re great at carrying out crucial community programs or services, but feel you can improve the way you write about your important work.
• You sometimes view writing as a big headache and want to do something about it.
• You’re anxious about your writing or worried about not having enough time…so you procrastinate.
• You wish you had more appropriate training or someone to guide you through the process.

Well, I’m here to help!

In my 15+ years in the nonprofit sector, I’ve learned a lot about how we use (or misuse) the written word. Now I want to share that knowledge with you.

The Writer’s Block offers ideas on how to tune up your writing for the nonprofit sector, beginning with the two most essential documents of your job search: an intriguing cover letter and a winning resume. Remember that these two pieces go together in a package and should reinforce each other.

In this first column, I discuss the purposes of both your cover letter and your resume. Yes, your overall goal is to land a great job. But what, specifically, do your cover letter and resume need to accomplish to make that happen?

Purposes of Your Cover Letter

• Pique your readers interest: Your cover letter is the wrapping around your resume. Entice the employer to take the next steps: read your resume and invite you to an interview. If the wrapping attractive enough, the employer will never get to the goodies inside.
• Clarify what you bring to the table: You want to make sure to emphasize the unique skillset you are offering.
• Show that youve done your homework: Anyone can send a form letter. But a customized cover letter stands out.
• Briefly introduce yourself: This is your written equivalent of a firm handshake. Present yourself as a qualified, professional applicant.
• Encourage a wise investment: you! You want to position yourself as one of your readers best options that will yield a very high return. Be clear about what makes you especially promising.
• Relate: Show that you share values and concerns with your reader. After all, youre applying for the nonprofit job not just to have an income but to contribute something meaningful to the world.
• Demonstrate your proficiency in business writing: Even if the employer doesnt ask for a writing sample, your cover letter serves that purpose.

Purposes of Your Resume

• Summarize your work experience: Remember that in the nonprofit sector, both professional experience AND volunteer experience are important. You also may have transferable skills from your work in a corporate job or academia.
• Show increasing levels of responsibility: This can be within a single organization (e.g., from part-time intern to assistant to program director) or across several organizations.
• Show results and impact: Just listing job titles doesnt cut it. You have to show what difference you made!
• Show potential: Success breeds success. Even if you dont have experience in the specific area, are there parallels you can draw to related work youve done?
• Impress your reader!

The next two installments of The Writers Block will cover: the essential priority information you need to focus on; what your readers are looking for; and how to refine your cover letter and resume package so that it gets noticed. Ill even share a tip about how to approach employers who are not currently advertising to fill a job opening.

Until then, Happy Writing!

PS: I love reader mail! Let me know whats on your mind and lets discuss it!



Dalya F. Massachi specializes in helping nonprofit professionals advance their missions through outstanding written materials. She has worked with community-minded organizations for more than 15 years: authoring countless successful marketing pieces, articles, and grant proposals; teaching popular writing workshops; and coaching professionals one-on-one.

Download her free tip sheets and subscribe to her free e-newsletter at:
http://www.dfmassachi.net
dalya@dfmassachi.net

NOTE:For many more writing tips, check out my forthcoming book, Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact. If you pre-order right now, you will get a pre-publication discount of 15% at:http://www.dfmassachi.net/wmd.html