Kansas City Job Club Aims to Help Laid-Off Workers Switch Into the Nonprofit World

Michelle Davis is the Executive Director of Nonprofit Connect (NP Connect), a membership organization and source for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, students, funders and businesses seeking opportunities to network, learn and grow. I interviewed Ms. Davis virtually to find out more about NP Connect’s new Job Club and why the organization is supporting potential sector switchers in Kansas City.

Rosetta Thurman: When and why did NP Connect start the Job Club? What was the catalyst?

Michelle Davis: There are about 30 job clubs in the metropolitan Kansas City area. I was receiving requests to speak at multiple clubs about working in the nonprofit sector, which spurred me to question whether or not job seekers would come to a job club dedicated solely to the nonprofit sector. Our staff was also getting lots of calls from job seekers who wanted to meet with us individually for career advice. We felt the Job Club would also allow us to tackle multiple appointments in one setting. We had 85 in attendance at our first meeting last August. We now hold our meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month and have 20 to 40 attendees at each meeting.

RT: What happens in the Job Club meetings? Do people share job openings, experiences, etc.? How long do the meetings last?

MD: We meet for 90 minutes. We spend about 10 minutes talking about Nonprofit Connect programs and services that could help them build skills and network. The next 40 minutes is spent in a “program.” A program is either someone speaking on a job-seeking skill (e.g., interviewing, resumes, etc) or a motivational topic (e.g., emotional resiliency during the job search) or we have nonprofit professionals talking about their position, career path, and advice to job seekers. In the last scenario, these nonprofit professionals are at four or five stations around the room and attendees get to spend 30 minutes with two professionals. We try and have professionals representing nonprofit management (ED/CEO), fundraising, marketing, program management and volunteer management. The last 40 minutes is spent networking around the room. Attendees have the opportunity to give a 30-second pitch about them, their skills, what they are looking for, the organizations they are hoping to interview with, etc.

RT: How do people find out about the Job Club?

MD: There is a directory of Kansas City area job clubs where we are listed. We also list info about it on our website. Lots of word-of-mouth referrals.

RT: Why are there so many sector switchers? Is it due to companies making layoffs in KC?

MD: It is partly due to layoffs – Sprint, Hallmark, American Century are the big ones where we see job clubbers coming from. I think that people feel “burnt” by the corporate sector and think if they have to work they want to do something good. We spend time in Job Club dispelling myths about working in the sector making sure that job clubbers understand you are required to do more with less, have more “politics” to deal with, that application of business principles is a must, etc. We also bring a copy of the Greater Kansas City Nonprofit Salary and Benefits Survey so they can get a sense of what to expect in this area. We also promote Shelly Cryer’s book, The Nonprofit Career Guide as a great resource!

RT: Do participants pay to attend the Job Club? If so, how much?

MD: No, it’s free to all. We consider it a part of our “suite” of Career Services – JobLink, InternLink, Nonprofit Shadow Day and Nonprofit Job Fair.

RT: What have the outcomes been so far for participants in the Job Club? Have any of them found jobs as a result of their involvement?

MD: We have about five that have found jobs. While that’s not an overwhelming number, the thing that I think is great is that they (primarily the sector switchers) are doing a variety of things to prepare themselves to work in the sector – coming to training, volunteering, etc.

Thanks to Michelle Davis for sharing the inside story about NP Connect’s work with us! Find out more about their Job Club here. Do you think Job Clubs are a good idea to bring new leaders into the nonprofit sector? Are there any Job Clubs or similar programs in your community?