Nonprofit Jobs: Perspectives and advice on where to find them and how to land them

Photo by jenniferrt66

2010 has just begun and already we've seen numerous reports that the job market is still looking, well ... bleak.

It's hard not to describe it this way when the headlines from major news outlets are describing the job outlook in these terms - Economy still bleeding jobs (Wall Street Journal), Job outlook for 2010 grads: still stinks (CNN Money), and Grim job outlook turns bleaker (MSNBC).

But, what does this mean for the nonprofit sector and its 1.8 million nonprofit organizations, or, to look at it another way, 1.8 million employers? There's no doubt that the economic challenges have hit funding to the nonprofit sector hard, thus affecting their operations and resulting in loss of jobs as well. However, the nonprofit sector is one that is known for being scrappy and finding a way to continue forward with advancing their missions in the face of adversity.

It is heartening to see that in spite of the poor economic outlook, the sector continues to express a lot of positivity and hope. In contrast to the headlines above, there are also ones such as Patrick Sallee's article, 5 reasons why NOW is the best time ever to be working in the nonprofit sector, and other messages of turning a seemingly bleak situation into productive progress. For example in an article on the Huffington Post, Put service on steroids, John Bridgeland and Bruce Reed constructively assert that service among millennials is an important part of the solution to our nation's unemployment problems:

As America struggles to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the nation's top priority is finding jobs for the 10 percent of men and women out of work. An even more staggering figure often gets lost in the debate: four million unemployed people between the ages of 16 and 24, and record teen unemployment of 27%. If the U.S. wants to make a real dent in unemployment, young people are the place to start - and a sweeping call to national service may be the answer.

With the private sector short on certainty and Washington short on cash, creating jobs isn't easy these days. That's why targeting young people makes so much sense. Not only are jobless youth in ample supply, but they're cheap to hire, they're eager to serve, and a national network of non-profits and service organizations already exists to put them to work.

As individuals think about their next jobs and careers, whether they are already in the nonprofit sector or looking to make a switch into it, the sector and its 1.8 million employers have much to offer and much to gain from the talent that's out there.  That's why over the next months, we will feature a variety of leadership perspectives on employment in the nonprofit sector, such as that of John Bridgeland and Bruce Reed's above, as well as highlight resources that can help individuals with their nonprofit job search and careers.

To start, here are three resources that we find incredibly helpful:

• Idealist.org
• Bridgestar
• Foundation Center's PND Job Board

What are other nonprofit career resources have you found useful? Look out for an interview with Ami Dar, CEO of Idealist.org, next week!