#pbha

Finding a job is never easy. Often stressful and unpredictable, the search poses challenges for any prospective employee. In the non-profit world, this kind of experience is amplified – strapped for cash and support, organizations hire selectively and only when they can, with almost no regularity to the process. Enter the Harvard FAS Office of Career Services, which recently hosted a panel of seasoned professionals to discuss life in the non-profit world and how Harvard students can set themselves up for success.

Now a Campaign Alliance Advisor at Oxfam America, Sarah Kalloch always knew she would work in the non-profit world. “I never considered another career path, though my parents wish I did!” she recalled with a chuckle, inspiring laughs from the audience. As a Harvard undergraduate, Kalloch spent most of her time with the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) volunteering for education-related programs. When she spent a year abroad in Uganda after graduation courtesy of an OCS fellowship, her perspective changed. “The world opened up to me,” Kalloch explained. “I opened a Pandora’s box of opportunities.” A job opportunity for her husband changed her plans for a brief period, in which she and he worked “6.5 days a week” for wealthy clientele in the Bahamas. Quickly realizing she wasn’t interested in that kind of work, Kalloch then spent seven years with Physicians for Human Rights before shifting to her current position with Oxfam. “Very few sectors are determined by their tax status,” she explained. “My path has been human rights and advocacy, but there are many paths – non-profits are all over the map.”

Jennifer Phillips – now a Development Consultant at Strong Women, Strong Girls – was involved early and often in the non-profit world thanks to her family background. Her mother’s involvement in politics led to her first job as a secretary for the Dukakis campaign. “I got excited by what you could do in the public sector,” she recalled. “It offered places where I could make a difference.” Indeed, Phillips made a difference across a range of opportunities, from helping The New Kids on the Block establish a non-profit foundation to managing a journalism award from the John F. Kennedy Memorial in Washington, DC. Her most formative experience came during work on juvenile justice reform; while overseeing a researcher, she learned “pretty horrific things” and became inspired to return to school at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government before working on juvenile issues in Massachusetts. After working at the HKS Institute of Politics for seven years, in addition to marriage and a child, Phillips is now working her way back into the non-profit world through consulting. “For me, my path has been about taking one issue and diving deep,” she explained. “Think about who you are and what motivates you, and then match an area of work with your motivation.”

While not technically in the non-profit world, Liam Abramson knows the landscape backwards and forwards. As the founder and CEO of Highgate Global, his work in consulting specializes in helping non-profits plan for the future, even as he admits his own future was never certain. Raised in South Africa and a resident of the U.K. for a brief spell, Abramson came to the United States in 2005, where he met his wife and decided to settle down. Originally a cellist, he quickly realized he didn’t want to restrict himself. So Abramson earned an MBA in order to pursue a long-time secondary interest: aviation. “Nobody sets out to do any one thing,” he admitted, detailing a long career weaving in and out of work in music and aviation before founding Highgate. “There is no wasted experience,” he assured the audience. “Just look for opportunities that will fulfill you the best.”

Indeed, the panelists agreed that they struggled to determine exactly what they wanted to do. “It’s totally normally to have lots of different interests, especially just coming out of college,” Kalloch said. Admitting the job search was a “difficult, soul-sucking process,” Kalloch recommended that applicants get to know ten organizations very well – instead of one hundred organizations only superficially – in order to maximize opportunity for success. Phillips agreed, suggesting that taking note of your Google searches might help give you direction on what organizations or opportunities to follow. Abramson reminded the audience that the non-profit job search is much like the for-profit job search – a prospective employee needs to network and find the people that can help you. “Remember, not every non-profit is a social change organization,” he explained. “Know what you want to do, choose a broad sector – art, social change, what have you – and pursue it.”

But how do you earn an entry-level job at an organization where you don’t have a great deal of experience? “Learn the buzzwords of your field,” suggested Kalloch. “Figure out ways to pitch your skills and experience to a particular employer.” International organizations, for example, will be looking for experience living abroad for a significant amount of time. And given that most applicants will have a great list of experiences, your cover letter can make a huge difference. “Let people know what you want to do and what you’re trying to do,” Phillips said. “You never know how people can help or what they are looking for!” Echoing the importance of networking, Abramson recommended Harvard students join the Young Nonprofit Network (YNPN) of Boston, as well as taking advantage of LinkedIn groups and connections.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 @ 9:00pm, Philips Brooks House