The really savvy job seeker will conduct some research to learn more about an employer at several stages in her job hunt. When responding to a job ad, you’ll want to know more about the employer so you can tailor your cover letter to that employer and greatly increase the chances that your resume will be read and your application seriously considered.

At the end of the job search, you would be most prudent to know a lot about the organization before you enter the job interview. You will score points with the interviewer if you are reasonably familiar with what the organization does. You should have enough of an idea of what the agency does so you can explain how you can contribute to its success. Having some knowledge of the community and agency will also help you frame pertinent questions to ask at the interview. The questions you ask at the interview are often more important than the answers you give to the interviewer’s questions.

At least try to learn enough so your potential employer won’t feel you are too much of an outsider to learn the vagaries of the organization. Use membership directories to see if you can learn anything about the person or persons who will interview you and who make the hiring decision so you can present the side of you that will appeal the most to their sensibilities. It is possible that other people you know in your profession—perhaps a contact you made while networking—may be able to tell you something about your interviewer and the agency or school for which she works.

If you are conducting the sort of job search where you knock on the door of employers that interest you, whether or not they have any known vacancies, you would be smart to know a lot about an employer before you contact it. Armed with a thorough knowledge of the educational institution or non-profit agency, you will be able to open many more doors than if you walk in clueless about it, its history, and its “corporate” philosophy. Many of the print and online directories listed in the Non-Profits and Education Job Finder give you a wealth of information about thousands of non-profits and schools that will help you decide which ones to approach. The directories included in the state-by-state chapter focus on a single state or metropolitan area.

Resources for Careers with Non-profits

Jobs and Careers with Nonprofit Organizations by Ronald Krannich ($15.95, 244 pages, 1996) helps you determine your aptitude for working in the non-profit world. Revealing the myths, realities, and current trends, Krannich helps you select the type of work in which you can really thrive.

100 Jobs in Social Change by Harley Jebens (414.95, 216 pages, 1996) offers details on 100 entry-levels jobs in social services, advocacy, organizing, education, media, politics, and non-profits in general. It includes insightful profiles of actual workers and lots of real world information.

Making a Living While Making a Difference by Melissa Everett ($10.95, 343 pages, 1995) offers a ten-step program for identifying your personal ethics, job interests, and strengths to help you select your non-profit job.

Tools for using search firms and recruiters

Some search firm specialize in non-profits or education. Three of the directories described in Chapter 3 of Non-Profits and Education Job Finder tell you about them. I’ve included these directories of recruiters for two reasons. First, if you want to use an executive recruiter, these are the most affordable resources for identifying the recruiter that is right for your needs. Second, you can use them to identify recruiting firms that focus on non-profits or education for which you may wish to work.

For complete information about 2,222 tools for finding jobs and getting hired in education and the rest of the non-profit sector, see Non-Profits & Education Job Finder by Daniel Lauber.

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