Have you conquered the corporate world and do you feel inspired to join a not-for-profit organisation? Do you want to add value to an organisation that will also add value and purpose to you? Well read no further people…

If you want to rejuvenate your career and values and to live a more purposeful life, then switching to the NFP sector could be your calling. But you must be warned, it is certainly not challenge-free, not for the faint-hearted and not an easy ride (often misconstrued perceptions). It could be compared to moving to a foreign country where the language and culture is foreign! But don’t let this discourage you, many people who make the move never look back. Maybe you won’t either!

Before jumping into the sector blind, here are some key areas that are worth making a mental note of:

• Decisions are often made… gently (rather than swiftly) 
  Decision-making can be frustratingly slow with a myriad of stakeholders and multiple layers of discussion and approvals.

• Dealing with community expectations and community, government and corporate leaders can be challenging

• Multiple… lines
  In the corporate world there is only one bottom line: THE bottom line. In the NFP sector, the bottom line is usually very complex and multidimensional, the goals can be much broader and based around objectives that can be difficult (or even impossible) to measure.

• (Possible) lower pay but really flexible
  Never assume (we all know what that does to you right!) that this is the case. However, for many people nowadays, remuneration is no longer the key factor when selecting a new role. Instead it is having purpose, giving back, having the ability to influence and make a difference and a work life balance where you work hard during core business hours but aren’t expected to work until the late hours of the night/early hours of the morning.

NFP organisations have access to salary sacrifice a broad range of everyday expenses and they are often way ahead of their corporate colleagues in job sharing, working from home, leaves of absence, and flexible hours.

• Passionate and non-aggressive culture
  A much softer approach is essential to get things done in the NFP sector which can take time to adjust to if you come from an aggressive, delivery-focused for-profit workplace.

• Many hats
  Instead of hiring various resources with varying skill-sets it is the tendency for NFP staff to wear multiple hats on a daily basis. In the morning you might be wearing your BA hat, by afternoon you might be wearing your change hat and come evening you are wearing your PM hat after a short stint wearing your test hat. This is certainly a great way to gain additional experience and prove your ability to be dynamic and flexible. Time to go hat shopping I hear you say.

• Resistance to change / processes
  This dynamic may cause some clash. I’m sure you can guess why..

• Consultation 
  If you’re used to top-down decision-making, it can be surprising how much weight a single member or volunteer opinion may carry.

•  Stressful workloads
  Tackling huge problems with (usually) scarce resources and on projects that rely heavily on government funding, there is commonly more to do than there are people and resources to work with.  But as I personally always say, less stress more success guys!

I specialise in recruiting for business transformation, project services and change management for the NFP sector so if you are up for the challenge and fancy doing something new and perhaps more meaningful than before, then pop me a call.

Lydia Mc Williams

Consultant

Project Resource Partners

Level 7, 360 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 

T +61 3 9949 8100 D +61 3 9949 8106

E lmcwilliams@projectresourcepartners.com.au