Planning Your Next Career Move Dont Forget To Join A Nonprofit Board

Planning Your Next Career Move? Don’t Forget to Join a Nonprofit Board As the Executive Director of BoardAssist, New York’s leading customized board recruiting service, I obtain a gradual stream of inquiries and referrals from job coaches practically every day. Why? Because it’s their job that can assist you find yours, and nonprofit board service provides you an edge. Board Membership Benefits There are a number of advantages to joining a board, however one of the main advantages turns into obvious the moment the choice course of begins and well earlier than a last choice is made. Think about it. What occurs when you put your resume forward for consideration? If your CV is enticing, you’ll have the chance to satisfy and network with plenty of high-influence of us, since they’re the ones who comprise nearly all of nonprofit board membership. On common, our candidates are usually launched to no less than three different organizations and meet at least three people on each board. That’s 9 new, excessive-impact people you’ve added to your little black networking book on the outset of the processâ€"with no strings attached. As someone who works with tons of of boards on a yearly basis, I’d argue that these contacts are significantly outstanding and especially worthwhile, with few exceptions. Individuals who donate their time to nonprofits in this capability are usuall y just as beneficiant about serving to others, be they fellow board members or those who profit instantly from the companies the group provides. These new connections symbolize a win-win state of affairs: great individuals with nice networks, who will gladly use their network that will help you. Another terrific bonus of board service is that it usually creates a possibility for members to learn a brand new skill or hone an old one. A job seeker who’s quick on substantive leadership expertise might soon discover he’s able to replace his resume with a description of the committee he ran, together with an in depth account of its aims, goals and achievements. Interestingly enough, we’ve labored with many candidates over the years whose choice to modify careers was the direct results of their board service; they were challenged in ways in which were wholly completely different from the calls for of their “day jobs” and ultimately realized this newer role was the one which reso nated extra. Ready to Join a Board? Keep These Things in Mind An estimated 1.8 million nonprofit board seats open up on this country every yearâ€"there’s little difficulty to find a board to hitch and no shortage of nonprofits in need. The question that matters most is: “What’s one of the best match for you?” I spend nearly all of my day attempting to assist our candidates find that excellent match, on a no-payment foundation since BoardAssist too is a nonprofit group. If you intend to navigate this process soloâ€"and like it that meansâ€"please go to BoardAssist’s web site for an overview of the board matching course of and download our primer, Giving Back, to read up on what to contemplate before becoming a member of a board. If you’re pursuing board service as a way of broadening your skilled network, bear the next things in mind: 1. Most nonprofit boards require board members to decide to a certain degree of annual financial contributions. (See Giving Back for a full discussion of this.) If, after three interviews, you discover a board’s expectations do not fit your budget, you will have wasted both their time and yours. Be certain you could have an understanding of the total quantity you might be expected to give personally and lift from others (the “give/get”) before getting into into critical discussions with a particular board. 2. There is great temptation to affix a board under the belief you’ll be able to meet its financial commitment by the time the gift is due. However, there’s no higher approach to create battle than by becoming a member of a board and falling brief quickly thereafter. Don’t commit to a give/get you’re not 100% sure you can meet. three. Many candidates are concerned that their contributions of time and intellectual capital will at all times be overshadowed by cash. If you’ve carried out a good job of finding the right board, that ought to not occur. Do your research: Why is the board adding now? Has there been frequent turnover? If so, an absence of balance between financial and personal contributions is usually the culprit. At a minimum, find out what current and former board members have done in addition to generating capital. 4. Candidates who're keen to affix a board for networking purposes mistakenly assume that organizations with recognizable names and huge budgets are a sure thing and their greatest bet. In reality, the other is often true. BoardAssist labored with a tiny education reform nonprofit a number of years in the past with no model name, yet the board was comprised of a “who’s who” of Fortune a hundred C-suite executives. The opportunity to work carefully with an intimate group of enterprise leaders presents significantly better networking potential than simply signing on to an infinite board with a household name. 5. Make certain you’re passionate about the board’s mission before you commit. While this seems elementary, it’s a criterion that's often missed by too many candidates we meet. If the nonprofit’s purp ose doesn’t inspire you, your lack of enthusiasm will inevitably present through and also you’ll find it challenging to garner support among new associates. You should be impressed by, and feel linked to, the group’s objective to be able to be successful. 6. Many of the boards we associate with have super networking potential, yet they’re not loaded with major New York energy brokers. Look past the obvious and, likelihood is, you’ll find their spousesâ€"joining a board with someone who has the ear of an influencer could get you farther than you understand. Be sure to thoroughly examine everybody on the board you’re exploring, whether or not or not their names are immediately recognizable to you. 7. Last, but definitely not least: once you be a part of, make it count. You’ll get pleasure from your service the most as an engaged, dependable advocate of change. Fellow board members will seek out your opinions, and they'll matter. Be a superstar. It’s not an easy time fo r these within the job market proper now. I wish all job hunters the best of luck and hope you’ll reach out to BoardAssist if you’re involved in the nonprofit world and discovering that perfect match. Joining a board can very properly provide the edge you wantâ€"but the delight gained from serving to others actually can’t be quantified. Cynthia Remec is the Executive Director and founding father of BoardAssist, New York’s leading personalised nonprofit board matching service. An internationally acknowledged authority on nonprofit governance points and extremely sought-after speaker, Ms. Remec has lectured on nonprofit governance at occasions for the enterprise colleges of Columbia, Harvard, Stanford and Wharton, as well as at boards for presidency companies, leading monetary service institutions and Fortune 100 firms. Since founding BoardAssist, Ms. Remec has been liable for bringing over $50 million into the nonprofit community via the board placements she has effected. Ms. Remec has been quoted or profiled in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Crain’s New York Business and Conde Nast Portfolio, among different publications, and is the writer of Giving Back, a guide to nonprofit board service. Before founding BoardAssist, Ms. Remec practiced corporate regulation with Pillsbury Winthrop, Weil Gotshal and JP Morgan. She presently serves on the board of Platinum Pals and Artadia and formerly served on the boards of The After School Corporation and Resources for Children with Special Needs. For more FREE recommendation like this, enter your name and e-mail address under to obtain your Complimentary copy of “70+ Tips to Perfect the Interview.” Image:Ken Colwell