Career Track Live

Advice for Young Professionals

The Washington area is a magnet for smart, ambitious young workers. Post columnist Mary Ellen Slayter writes a regular column for these professionals who are establishing their careers locally, and offers advice online as well.

Mary Ellen Slayter is author of Career Track, a biweekly column in The Washington Post's Jobs section. She focuses her chat on issues affecting young workers.

Today, she is joined by Laura Gassner Otting, president of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group (NPAG). NPAG is a consulting firm that assists workers looking for employment in the nonprofit sector. Gassner Otting is also the author of "Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector" (Kaplan Publishing, 2007).

Read Mary Ellen's latest Career Track column.

The transcript follows below.

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Mary Ellen Slayter: Good afternoon!

We have a guest this afternoon, Laura Gassner Otting. If you have questions about working for a nonprofit, she's your gal.

Welcome, Laura!

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Washington, D.C.: Is there a time by which references expire in a de facto way and you should not bother them anymore? For example, I have a supervisory reference from four years ago (worked with for months) who has spoke so eloquently and favorably that I want to keep using them -- but is there a time when you should assume you need to move on, for both yourself and the reference's patience? Thanks!

Laura Gassner Otting: It's good to treat your references well, and you are smart to be thinking about whether or not your reference is getting impatient. The best thing to do is to call them and ask. Remember to thank them effusively for the support they have given you over the years, and ask them if it would be all right to continue to use them. They will likely say yes, but if they say no, it will be for a reason, like they have gotten too busy or that they want to be called only as a final reference instead of an initial reference.

The other part of your question was about how long references are still considered "fresh." I'd say that if you have had six other bosses since, but don't list those, I'd worry as the recruiter. If you've only had one or two, that's not as concerning. However, if you are using her because you can't use the others, that is another question entirely.

Remember to help your references help you. This old reference might be eloquent because s/he is naturally so, or might be because you prepped him or her well. When asking permission to use someone as a reference, give them a fresh copy of your resume and the job description and have a conversation with them about why you think you'd be good at the job. Ask them if they have concerns, and then tell them why you think you can address them. This will allow them to speak as passionately and eloquently as they reference you currently favor.

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D.C.: Is it a myth that you can't make money working at a nonprofit? If so, what positions can bring home the bucks? Does legal counsel make a considerable amount? I feel like I'm realizing that I want more money than nonprofit sector can offer. Thanks.

Laura Gassner Otting: In brief, the General Counsel of Special Olympics in DC makes $225,000, just to show but one example.

This is a very big myth of the nonprofit sector.

Years ago, nonprofits were lucky to be able to pay the wages of their employees. Nowadays, nonprofits know that to hire and retain excellent staff, they must offer competitive benefits packages as well. Nonprofit employees have come to expect retirement contributions, relocation reimbursement, flexible work schedules, health and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, and generous vacation plans. Some nonprofits even extend these benefits to same-sex or other domestic partners.

Nonprofits have-from both necessity and desire-become more creative in the benefits they offer. Instead of offering high salaries, some nonprofits offer inflated titles. You can't discount the feelings of a 30-year-old who is becoming senior vice president of operations after five long years as an anonymous staff associate in a large corporation. Some nonprofits have gone further, offering additional vacation time or a laptop to take home, knowing that employees are there because they care deeply about the work and are, frankly, not likely to take the additional vacation, or are likely to put in time on nights and weekends. Finally, some nonprofits have become quite inventive, allowing their staffs to bring their pets to work or using some of their in-kind donations, like theatre tickets, restaurant gift certificates, or gym memberships, as performance rewards for high-achieving staff.

Finally, nonprofit work is steeped in nonmonetary benefits as well. Studies have shown that nonprofit workers have the healthiest morale compared to those in the government or private sectors. They have the easiest time connecting their day-to-day tasks with the overall mission of the organization and, thus, their specific contribution to society. Further, they feel that they have a greater opportunity to learn new skills, take on larger levels of responsibility, and be respected by society at large for their contributions to the world.

You can find in depth responses to this and other myths about the nonprofit sector in my book.

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Alexandria, Va.: I have my master's in political science and am currently working for a lobbying firm. I plan to go on for my Ph.D. part-time while working. My problem is that my goal is to become a college professor and when I check part time professor job listings at community colleges in the area they all want teaching experience (which makes perfect sense). I'm wonding if you have advice as to whether I should leave my current position and get a job teaching any grade at a public or catholic school? I don't have certification, but a great deal of listings to my surprise do not require it particularly the catholic schools. I do not want to be a middle school or high school teacher for my entire career, but would want to use it as a stepping stone in gaining teaching experience while pursuing my doctorate. Any thoughts on this would be helpful. Thanks!

Laura Gassner Otting: This isn't my specific area of expertise, but to my best knowledge, colleges don't see all teaching equally. Teaching is middle or high school is an entirely different animal than teaching at the university level. In fact, it may even make you look less erudite to them.

From what I understand, PhD programs has tracks by which they train future professors. They have teaching assistant roles, etc., and that will likely make up the majority of your experience. Other than that, the teaching position you get will likely depend on the relevancy and impressiveness of your thesis to whichever university is in need of a professor in your area of expertise.

Mary Ellen Slayter: If your goal is to be a professor, you may want to reconsider the part-time track. Academic careers generally require full-time participation in a PhD program, with fellowships or teaching assistantships. If you can't get either, you may want to rethink your long-term hiring prospects.

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Chapel Hill, N.C.: I've been temping at a university for nearly one year and my boss wants to make my job permanent. I'm excited and relieved, but I am worried about negotiating salary. I'm terrible at this stuff! I don't want to take a cut in salary just because they're providing benefits now, but is that a reasonable expectation on my part? They budget the equivalent of $25/hr, but due to the temp agency's cut, I was receiving $23/hr. Assuming I don't get a nice, fat raise, do you think it's OK to request the equivalent of $25/hr? My previous job paid $50,000/year. Thanks!

Laura Gassner Otting: See if you can have them put in writing that you will have a review after 6 months, 12 months, etc., to determine whether you have met certain benchmarks and deserve a (specific) raise.

It's a bit of a tough sell though, since they want you to "cost" them the same as you do now. You ought to look into the option of a higher salary without benefits if they are willing to consider it.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Are you paying for your benefits now? Are you sure the benefits won't be worth more than $2 an hour? Health insurance is expensive.

Look at the bottom line, not just the salary figure.

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San Jose, Calif.: Hi, Mary Ellen. On a whim, I accepted a job in California and moved there two years ago. My parents, who still live in the Washington area, now really need me close by. Accordingly, I posted my resume on both Monster and Hotjobs where I clearly indicated my desired job location to be in the greater Washington area. In the past few weeks, I have received many inquiries from bay area companies (some of them quite well known), but NOT ONE inquiry from the greater Washington area. I have a hard time to think that companies in the Washington area don't have a need for my skills (I have several years BI implementation experience), not to mention they were almost breaking down my door when I was living in DC two years ago. Is making that long distance phone call too exorbitant a price to pay for local recruiters?

Laura Gassner Otting: They are concerned that they will have to pay relocation for you. You will likely be more successful if you use your parents' address. You can even go as far as to get a DC area cell phone number.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Yes, and if your savings allow, just go ahead and move back. It sounds like you wouldn't have much trouble getting a job here quickly.

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Washington, D.C.: After graduating undergrad two years ago I am finally looking into some graduate work. I am considering starting with a certificate program in the area I would like to pursue, do employers generally see certificate programs as an asset, or is it better to jump into a master's program?

Laura Gassner Otting: It depends on what you are looking to do.

More than 50 graduate schools nationwide offer nonprofit certificate programs for those without the time, energy, or resources to commit to an advanced degree in a university setting. Most of the certificates are in nonprofit management or leadership, with the balance covering specific areas like arts administration, fundraising, association management, and the like. Coursework in these programs is similar to topics covered more rigorously in graduate programs, and it often focuses specifically on best practices without delving deeply into the research and theory behind them.

If you are looking to continue to build your professional resume while also getting smarter about what you do, or if you need the flexibility and income that a part-time program and job can offer, a certificate program is a great solution.

A listing of these programs can be found in Part 3 of my book.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi, Mary Ellen. I left my first job out of college after 14 months to pursue my MA full-time. I will be finishing the program in December and am preparing to apply for jobs around November. My question is how to show on my resume that I was first, not fired from my previous job, and also that I have been attending school full-time. As of now I simply have written that my degree is anticipated December 2007, but I fear that isn't enough. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Laura Gassner Otting: You should list your education at the top of your resume since, after all, that will be your top selling feature for your next employer. Under the listing of the institute from which you are earning your degree, put a bullet with any scholarships, awards, etc. An employer will assume that you are in school full time.

You can also mention it in your cover letter.

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Arlington, Va.: I have spent the last seven years experience working in the IntelCommunity/DOD, but seriously considering working in international development (but not with USAID). The Peace Corps has strict prohibitions, and it seems that other international NGOs seem suspicious of me. Do you have any suggestions or advice? Thanks.

Laura Gassner Otting: You need to show them that you are "friendly" to their cause, their mission, and their outlook. If they won't accept you directly, why not try to take steps towards them by volunteering as board member with their friends? This way, you'll expand your knowledge, expand your career's breadth, and also expand your networks of friendly champions.

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Washington, D.C.: What is the best way in a resume to show a contract change from one company to another when I am really not changing jobs?

Laura Gassner Otting: The best way to do this is to set up an overarching "consulting firm" entitled something like "Joe Smith Consulting" or similar. Then you can list your multiple projects under this umbrella with dates of contractual assignments for each one. List the larger dates of the overall work, i.e., all the contracts you've had, as you would like any other job.

This is also a good tactic for someone who has had multiple promotions within the same company or nonprofit organization.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi, Mary Ellen. I have been at my current job three months, and it's just not a good fit. When I apply for new positions, should I acknoweldge my short tenure in the cover letter or wait until the interview?

Thanks!

Laura Gassner Otting: Everyone makes mistakes and I can assure you that this is quite common.

Use your old resume and then tell the story in the interview. Whatever you do, don't lie. When we headhunters find out the truth -- and we always do -- we'll be pretty leary of you if we didn't get the straight story the first time around.

And, as importantly, tell the truth as well as you can without bad mouthing your current employer. Turn the lens back on yourself without blaming other by saying things like, "I should have done more due diligence before accepting the position." Otherwise, we'll think you are just pointing fingers and running away when the going got tough.

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Lorton, Va.: Mary Ellen/Laura:

Many state government agencies' salary information is public and readily available. How appropriate/inappropriate is using this information to negotiate a salary or raise?

Laura Gassner Otting: It is an essential thing for you to know, but might not look too nice to throw it in the face of the person with whom you are negotiating. After all, you will have to work with this person day in and day out after the negotiation is over.

Then again, if you don't stand up for yourself, who will? Go in armed with the data and link the salary or raise you expect to specific benchmarks of success in the job in question. Keep notes about what you have accomplished. Set a high bar for future expectation, but negotiate next year's raise now as you agree of what you want to make happen!

A longer, more complete answer to the question of handling the salary question can be found here: http://www.nonprofitprofessionals.com/library/salary_negotiation.htm

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RE: Future Professor: I too am thinking of becoming a community college professor, however in my field (mathematics) the entrance requirement is a masters. From my memory as community college student all but one professor held a M.S. or M.A.; the future teacher might take that into consideration.

If the goal is to teach only at the community college, maybe s/he could teach part-time at the local community college thereby gaining teaching experience, developing contacts, and possibly working into a full-time position where the college would fund the Ph.D. program. Just an idea.

Mary Ellen Slayter: another possible path ...

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Washington, D.C.: I gave notice last week and am finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate on my work as I count off the days until my departure. Any tips for ways to stay focused as I wrap things up? I do want to make things as easy as I can for my eventual replacement.

Laura Gassner Otting: In a word: references.

Your work performance will matter, but so will the way you left your job. They are still paying you a full salary, so you should still be working a full job. Not doing so will come back to haunt you later.

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Columbia, Md.: I'd like to start by saying I took a look at the archive of articles Ms. Slayter has authored and they are chock-full of interesting info. I'd also like to say "ditto" to the call for restructuring the student loan programs. I am currently feeling the pressure under a ton of student loans and supporting myself in this area.

On the career note, I am looking for some advice on how to bridge the happiness/ability to survive conundrum. I own my own home and have a lot of debt. However, my love of politics has taken a backseat to trying to make the most money to support my lifestyle (which is, at the moment, a job for a federal contractor). Is there any way to prepare myself for a close-to-equal salary tradeoff to move to a politically-driven job?

Laura Gassner Otting: As someone who once dropped out of law school to join a national presidential campaign - and found herself earning starvation wages in the White House - the best advice I can tell you is to seriously determine your readiness factor. Sure, you can talk all you want about enjoying your work and the daily satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of others, but the last time I checked, my bank didn't take good karma in lieu of mortgage payments.

It sounds like you already understand all about valuing the inantigibles. It sounds like you have already sized up your financial situation. Let's talk turkey, then.

If you are ready to make the move to the nonprofit/political sector but are not in a financial position to do so, consider scaling down your expenses and lifestyle. Perhaps the cause you hold dear is more important that those extra nights out at fancy restaurants or another designer handbag. Consider holding back any extra expenses for a few months to determine whether the sacrifice both gets you to where you need to be financially and is palatable for you in the long term. If not, you will come to resent your candidate's or nonprofit's cause and its staff, souring you on the opportunity to transition later in your career, when you may have saved up enough money or emptied your nest.

Lastly, don't settle for less. Try to find a job that pays towards the upper end of the nonprofit/political spectrum. Don't settle for less money than you could comfortably afford to make. Consider other cause related venues, like the new social venture movement in the nonprofit sector or for-profit ventures of nonprofits that fund their work. Or look into socially responsible businesses as a way to make the move into the nonprofit sector in stages. Socially responsible businesses are for-profit businesses that demonstrate respect for ethical values, people, communities, and the environment. And, since these businesses are for-profit entities, you might temporarily soothe your need to do better by the world while not doing too poorly by your bank account.

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Anonymous: I hope that the two of you can help me. I recently moved from D.C. to the Deep South. I had a job I loved working for a very well-known (and very often demonized) liberal non-profit that is not too popular down here. I'd like to get another job, but there aren't really any non-profits around, so I'll probably end up applying in the educational field. I am concerned about addressing my prior experience given that I am smack dab in conservative country. Any advice? I am deeply committed to the cause for which I worked, but would obviously not let my political beliefs be known in a non-political job. Thanks!

Mary Ellen Slayter: Come on, you gotta tell us where you are!

The Deep South covers a lot of territory -- and a lot of political subcultures. The most staunch liberals I've ever known are from Mississippi. Molly Ivins was from Texas, not New York. The Southern Poverty Law Center is in Alabama. You get the picture.

Give us details, and we'll try to give you a little more direction.

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Alexandria, Va.: Thank you so much for this opportunity to discuss nonprofit work. As an editor in the publishing profession, I would like to know what Ms. Otting's primary reason would be for working in the nonprofit sector. As someone who has been in both nonprofit and commercial industries, I found nonprofits to be rigid and it was difficult to get anything done because we constantly had to consult a board of directors that were not onsite. Many of our practices were based in the logic that we do this because we have always done it this way. And don't even get me started on the low pay. I want to want to work for a nonprofit, but I never saw any benefit unless you were a high-level manager that got to travel.

Laura Gassner Otting: I would venture to say, not knowing the specifics, that perhaps you chose the wrong nonprofits.

We all remember the days when our mothers would walk around the neighborhood collecting money for juvenile diabetes or when our fathers would head off in the evenings for their local civic league meetings. We think about soup kitchens and homeless shelters, libraries and schools, or museums and zoos and think we know the nonprofit sector. Think again.

The nonprofit sector today is a dynamic, vibrant, and vast place, filled with every conceivable kind of person and organization and addressing any need you might imagine. Its employees hold PhDs, MBAs, and GEDs and perform work that spans the highly lucrative to the drastically underpaid. The mothers and fathers we remember are still doing their important volunteer work-volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofits, after all-but they are now more of an army mobilized to accomplish annual campaigns, not the office staff relied upon for daily support and strategic direction.

Approximately 1.9 million nonprofit organizations are registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Millions more probably exist that are either too small or too informal-those with an annual budget of less than $5,000-to be counted. In total, nonprofits have a combined revenue of $621.4 billion, which represents 6.2 percent of the nation's economy. An estimated 11.7 million people, or nearly 9 percent of working Americans, are employed in the nonprofit sector.

Innovation is the name of the game in today's nonprofits. Sure, they still serve the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, but today's nonprofits no longer resemble the organizations of yore. In an exceptionally competitive market for scarce fundraising dollars, nonprofits increasingly leverage resources for double or even triple plays. Providing beds to a tired and cold family in the middle of winter is a great and noble endeavor, but teaching the mother or father of that family to bake and run a small but profitable cafe- then funneling those profits back into the purchase of beds and food to benefit more families-is entirely another. This "triple bottom line"-feeding and housing the poor, job skills training, and earned-income generation-is the emerging trend in the nonprofit sector, and career changers will likely find their easiest transitions in nonprofits that have embraced this approach.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Hello,

I'm no longer at the "young" professional stage of my life, but am in my mid-forties and considering a career change from the academic world (French professor) to the nonprofit sector (animal protection is of interest to me, but I am open to any ideas). I would prefer to stay in the Charlottesville area (about 2 hours south of D.C.) where I have heard there is a fair amount of nonprofit activity. Might you have any hints as how to best begin my job search? Thanks so much.

Laura Gassner Otting: The best way to start your job search is to get active in your issue area. Contact your local animal shelters, animal rights groups, etc., and find out from them about volunteer opportunities. Every day you volunteer, you will encounter scores of valuable resources that should be tapped during your job search. These resources may be individuals, networking associations, or alumni groups, which may provide precious linkages to otherwise unknown opportunities. Begin by beating the bushes and taking advantages of these relationships and resources.

Secondly, start thinking about the functional skill set you bring to the table. Are you a professor only, or do you manage a portfolio of classes, colleagues, or a whole department? What have you learned to do in your spare time, and not just your paid work?

Knowing you want to work in the nonprofit sector is easy. It's often been described by career changers as something they couldn't not do. It's a fire in the pit of your stomach, a yearning for more, a decision that life is more than a paycheck. Yet figuring out just where you fit into this vast and wide-ranging sector is not so easy. This article, excepted from my book, lists nine questions that can help guide your search more specifically: http://www.nonprofitprofessionals.com/library/nine_questions_to_guide_your_job_search.htm

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Alexandria, Va.: I could really use some advice. I am working in the publishing field and am at a mid-career level. I was recently hired for a new editorial department to help establish it and create processes. Well, know that I am in the position my manager has been pretty chilly regarding any ideas I have, and has even gone to lengths to tell me why they won't work only to repeat them later as her ideas in other meetings. I have since stopped feeding her any more info but this has made me unhappy because after all I was hired to help establish a department and that is where I am in my career. Not too mention most of my ideas aren't radical, they are simply processes that occur in every editorial department, but my boss doesn't know this as she has never been in this field. Do you have any methods for dealing with a boss that is waving me on for help but then stopping me when I do this?

Laura Gassner Otting: The best defense is a good offense. Perhaps it would be wise to create some sort of "task force" around certain ideas so that it can be seen by others that you have initiated the ideas yourself, and that she has not? Perhaps you can copy important peers on memos you send to her with your ideas? In either case -- and I would caution you to decide what works best in your own situation, since I am not knowledgeable about the specifics -- you might want to start looking elsewhere for a position where you can be more effective.

Consider this: when you look for another job three weeks or three years from now, will she give you a good reference?

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Not Challenged at Work: I'm in my first job post graduation. It is working for the Army. On paper my job sounds exciting, fun, and interesting, but the day to day leaves me bored and unchallenged at work. How challenged should I find myself in my job? I'm doing as much extra work as my boss will give me (online training to further my career, graduate school, and reading literature related to my work). The job security is nice but the work level required is mediocre. The health benefits are fantastic. I've been with this job for over year. It's typically low stress. My boss is awesome. Despite all this many days I leave feeling unfulfilled; that I could be doing something more meaningful. Please don't misunderstand, when I have work it directly impacts the troops on the ground, but the work is few and far between. How much excitement (or passion) should I have for my first job? Thanks for taking my question.

Laura Gassner Otting: We often talk about professional experience as one of three things: a job, a career, or a calling. A job is a day-to-day thing, something you don't think about after you leave, and something that causes no stress outside of the work day. A career is something more; it's a track, a trajectory, a building towards a bigger and brighter horizon. A calling, even better, is something that you can't NOT do. It's a fire in your belly that gets you up every day and inspires you to do more and be more.

It sounds to me like you have a job that you are trying to turn into a career, but might even want a calling. Careers pay the bills and you're right on track with all of the extra work and education you are doing. I'd advise you to think about your next job, not in the sense that you should look for it today, but that you ought to think about what this job leads to later on. Do a bang up job for the Army, amaze them, and at the same time, learn as much as you can that can put you in good standing to go off and pursue your calling.

You've got a long professional life ahead of you; and sprinting to the finish will only exhaust you. Instead, look at it as if it were a marathon. Train today for the race tomorrow, and good luck!

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D.C. Metro Area: What is the best way for someone with a J.D. and four years of for-profit, big firm experience to search for nonprofit legal jobs?

Laura Gassner Otting: When looking at career changers, most hiring managers are looking for some sort of commitment to the sector leap. Does your resume have this?

Showing this forethought may be as easy as incorporating your current and past board work, community leadership, or relevant education on your resume. For others, changing sectors is an ideal opportunity to get involved in new ways with issues about which you have passion-human rights, animals, equal representation, the environment-or with community organizations to which you are already tethered-a child's school, an institution of higher education you attended, a place of worship, or a political campaign, to name just a few. This career move is a perfect time to build a skill set through continuing education around a new career path, either enhancing what you already know or developing in a whole new direction. The experience and exposure you gain through board and volunteer work and continued education gives you both a growing network with whom you can start your job search and the credibility to do it well, not to mention the perfect resume bullet points.

All boards are looking for legal minds as they look to diversify their ranks. Getting on a board will give you knowledge about the nonprofit sector, networks within your issue area of choice, and a lexicon of nonprofit-speak to use during your interviews. This is discussed in great length in Chapter 6 of my book.

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Washington, D.C.: I saw this question earlier and I wanted to clarify: fibbing about your address when trying to relocate to a new city doesn't turn companies and recruiters off?

Mary Ellen Slayter: I don't think they really care, not as long as the commitment to make the switch is there. If pressed, don't lie. Just explain that you're planning to move. You can even put the address as a "local" one.

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Washington, D.C.: Ladies -

I have a dilema. I have applied for my absolute dream job in early but have not heard from the HR rep. In early July I emailed the group VP who would most likely be in charge of selecting the candidate.

I am more than qualified for the job. What else can I do and when do I call it quits? I have left follow up confirmations to the HR rep once, is it acceptable to contact the group VP?

Laura Gassner Otting: Let me put it this way: dream candidates are few and far between. If you aren't right for the job, calling and bugging the HR rep won't hurt you. Maybe your resume was never received? Maybe it was just overlooked? Maybe it got sent to a spam folder?

If you are perfect for the job, following up can only help. I would certainly never turn away a dream candidate if they left me a polite voicemail. So, consider your elevator speech. Get a ten to fifteen second voicemail message out to the HR rep that says that you applied for the job, and have - in brief - x numbers of years experience doing (insert exactly what they want here). She'll likely dig out your resume for a second look should you sound interesting.

One last thing to note: unless you have a previous relationship with the group VP, you've just gone over someone's head who you need as an ally in this process. Proceed with caution. Come up with another way to "run into" that person, otherwise you are surgically sabotaging a very important person to you. Look for every angle into the organization and proceed on all flanks, but make sure you give the HR rep a heads up.

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Washington, D.C.: You mentioned it several times in the chat, but how do you go about getting on the board of a non-profit? I would think it must be harder than saying "I would like to be on the board"? Thanks for your help.

Laura Gassner Otting: The advent of the Internet has brought the board application and nomination process out of the country club and into the mainstream. Many web sites exist where board seat seekers can enter their profile and their interests and have board opportunities, both national and local, delivered to their in-box. Nonprofits can post their board needs and seek direct applications or look through a file of resumes for their perfect match.

Here are a few examples of web resources that match board candidates and nonprofit boards:

- boardnetUSA (www.BoardnetUSA.org)

- BoardSource (www.BoardSource.org)

- Bridgestar (www.Bridgestar.org)

- Volunteer Solutions (https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/org/board/dir-A-1.html)

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Silver Spring, Md.: I have a recent doctoral degree in history and have worked for cultural agencies for the last few years. I am not able to stay in my current position, but seem to be in a rut between over and under-qualification. Often, PD and PO positions ask for a degree and 8 to 10 years experience. Positions beneath that level seem to want an MA and a couple years of experience. I feel like I'm being seen as overqualified for one group and underqualified for the other. How is one meant to get the 8 to 10 years of experience without getting hired to do the job? Is there any way around this?

Laura Gassner Otting: Any job description my search firm writes invariably has this line: "While no one person will embody all of the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences..."

This is key to keep in mind. Very few of the respondents to any advertisement have all the requisite qualifications. We often find that some have a few in spades, but none of the rest, while others have little depth all over but briefly touch all bases. A better approach would be to be up front with what you have and what you don't, and then use the cover letter to mention what you are doing to fill in any gaps (such as volunteering or working on a board).

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"Fibbing" on Your Real Address: As an employer, I rather do care. Don't make it seem like you live here when you don't. I take where you live now and why you want to relocate into account. Someone with previous ties to the area or ties that have a backing - getting married, spouse lives in area - make sense. If I think you are moving only becasue you are desperate for work, that makes me think twice.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Another side to this. It will matter to some people. So I guess you're taking a chance on what type of person will pick up your resume.

Still, I think there are ways to indicate an intention to move regardless (including giving a local address and a local phone number) that don't qualify as "fibbing." Especially if the address is clearly identified as a local one, and the person's transient status is explained clearly in follow-up questions.

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Laura Gassner Otting: Saying that there aren't a lot of nonprofits where you are tells me that you haven't looked hard enough. There are close to 2M nonprofits registered in this country, and some of the most important ones - in my humble opinion - take on issues of poverty, education, domestic violence, and health care in places just like the Deep South.

Start by looking online for your state's association of nonprofit agencies. You can link to it from the national council if needed (http://www.ncna.org). Then go to your local school and your local place of worship and look at the posters on the community flyer board. Finally, check out yahoo groups or google "(Your town/state) and (nonprofit) or (issue area)" and see what you find. I'd bet there's a lot more there than you think.

And, hey, if you come up short, you can always go to the local campaign of your liberal presidential candidate of choice and find some sympathetic ears!

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Re: Past 'Controversial' Work: I used to work for the Democratic party. When interviewing at private firms later, sometimes conservative employers would pause..."oh I see you worked at the, er, Democratic....er" before he starts weaving liberal conspiricies in his head, I started describing the organizational skills required, saying it was like running any understaffed underfunded nonprofit organization. It could have been the boy scouts... Stress the organizational skills, multitasking, and move their attention away from the politics quickly.

Laura Gassner Otting: Consider yourself lucky that this lack of understanding that the world is round came up in the interview and not when you were on the job. You went about your answer in exactly the right fashion, and you should do it again and again. Don't take the interviewer's ignorance (or arrogance) as anything but that. You were right on!

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Alexandria, Va.: I am in the process of (hopefully) switching government agencies. In government job offers, you primarily know what salary you are being considered for because of the pay scale. The agency I'm interviewing with is the leader in offering student loan forgiveness, and I am VERY interested in hopefully attaining this perk. How can I bring this up in salary negotiations, if my salary is pretty much set?

Laura Gassner Otting: Lay your cards on the table during the salary negotiations. You might find that they offer you a lower starting salary or request that you commit a certain number of years after graduation, but knowing what you are in for is half the battle. All negotiations are fluid, and nothing is set until you sign on the bottom line. Once you've done that, though, you're stuck, so be honest, be early, and be up front.

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St. Louis, Mo.: I've been telecommuting for my new job for 6 months now and have only visited the "home office" once and that time was spent almost exclusively with my boss...she's really been my only point of contact the whole time.

Lately, I've been getting the sense that she's tired of my questions (she knew I was new to the industry when she hired me). I'm trying to do what's best for my clients (get quick answers) but I recognize my need to learn some of the answers on my own (takes longer).

The other issue is I had reason to challenge something in a recent report, but am not comfortable pushing until I get a satisfactory answer. I raised the question once, but was told basically I had done something wrong. (I re-looked at the data in question and I KNOW I'm not wrong.)

Before I landed this job, I was unemployed after a layoff for about 9 months and am worried about pushing the limits too far.

How do I get the support I need for myself and my clients without ticking off the boss?

I'm trying to figure out a way to get back to the home office to start building new relationships with other senior management, but for now, I feel like I'm walking a tightrope.

What's your opinion on getting quick answers for a client vs. doing the research that's going to take longer? (I see the give a man a fish/teach a man to fish parallel...but question the application in a vendor/client relationship.)

Laura Gassner Otting: I'd advise you to start creating a network of peers, if there are any to be had. You might be able to save yourself and your boss some heartache by engaging peers in your professional development just as you might assist in theirs. And, a side benefit is that when the time comes for you to leave this job, you can always use peers as a reference to talk about your impatient boss being an impediment to your success in the job, while also showing your ingenuity around creative solutions to the problems with which you were faced.

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D.C. area: Good afternoon. I recently left the field of teaching and am having difficulty finding a job. I am pursuing employment past those of administrative assistant, because I want something that has more opportunities for advancement. I have a bachelor's degree and five years of teaching experience. I have applied to many places in the past month and have yet to hear back from anyone. My resume describes skills I have that are be valuable to other employers, and I try to make my resume and cover letter specific to the jobs I apply for. How can I make my skills and job experience more appealing? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Laura Gassner Otting: It's hard to be specific not knowing all that you are doing in your search, but many job seekers make the mistake of relying only on the application progress to guide their search.

A good rule of thumb is to spend about 25% of your time answering ads and 75% of your time networking. If you aren't networking, you aren't really looking for a job. I tell my job seeking clients that they should spend at least three quarters of their time talking to their networks, and only one quarter answering blind ads from newspapers or online sources. Advertised jobs are wonderful, but they don't nearly scratch the surface of what might be out there. Besides, wouldn't you rather get into the candidate mix before the onslaught of resumes?

Here's another helpful article: http://www.nonprofitprofessionals.com/library/job_search_101.htm

Mary Ellen Slayter: This is good advice for anyone.

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Mary Ellen Slayter: We're out of time. Thanks for joining us, Laura!

Laura Gassner Otting: Thanks for having me!

Please let your readers know that there are lots of informative articles on my website, http://www.nonprofitprofessionals.com, that go into greater depth on these and other subjects, and that they can catch my book online at Amazon.com or in bookstores everywhere for even more.

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