October 16, 2002 | Read Time: 2 minutes
Q. I’ve been a human-resources professional for 10 years, focusing mostly on staffing and recruiting, and I’m ready to make a career change. I’m interested in working for a charity as a community liaison. What guidance can you give me?
A. Career changers with human-resources experience can expect to find many opportunities in the nonprofit world, especially in the community-liaison area, says Patricia Daniel, community-activity coordinator at Northside Hospital Foundation, in Atlanta. Your experience in staffing and recruiting could easily be applied to your new position, she says. Community-liaison jobs are best suited for people who have outgoing personalities, aren’t put off by rejection they may face when asking for support from the public, and are adept at brainstorming alternative solutions when they face an obstacle, says Ms. Daniels — all skills that you probably have under your belt as a human-resources professional.
To get started, make some contacts with community groups and local government agencies, says Ms. Daniels. “Such networking will lead to relationships that will benefit your work at the organization.”
Most charities, just like other employers, try to determine what kind of impact a job candidate could have on their overall goals, says Adam Coyne, communications director at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, in Santa Monica, Calif.
“In a for-profit company, that justification is obvious: How does this person benefit the bottom line? At a nonprofit organization, it may be, How does this person help us further the goals and mission of the organization?” Mr. Coyne says. You’ll want to be able to make it clear how your skills can aid the charity, he says. And, he adds, don’t forget the emotional component: “People don’t choose to work at a charity solely for money. Don’t be afraid to share why you believe in the mission of the organization and are committed to helping it make a difference.”
