Data Watch

Nonprofits Urged to Improve Recruiting Practices

Jobseekers in the social sector are a lot determined to build long-term careers in the nonprofit sector, but believe that nonprofit organizations fail to do enough to address obstacles they face, finds a survey of nonprofit jobseekers. More than three-quarters believe nonprofits have to immediately change their recruitment, employment and professional development practices.

Mission and cultural fit are the most important factors to nonprofit jobseekers, with 84% of respondents to Commongood Careers’ survey indicating that "work is part of my identity, not just a way to make a living." Additionally, more than three-fifths (63%) of respondents plan to stay in the sector for at least 10 years, and 82% say they want to hold an executive-level position in the sector. The relative absence of career ladders, however, as well as a dearth of mentors and professional development might limit the ability to remain in the sector, nonprofit jobseekers believe, in large numbers. Concerns over salary levels and work-life balance also cause hesitation to build long-term careers in the social sector.

Jobseekers in the social sector indicate that a number of characteristics are ideal for nonprofit organizations to have, according to respondents. Topping the list of these is a “collaborative” work environment. “Results-oriented” and “strategic” follow to complete the top three; “structured” is the least sought-after as an ideal characteristic for nonprofit organizations.

“Almost 50% of respondents listed ‘evidence of an organization’s effectiveness and impact’ among their top three responses when asked what elements where [sic] most important to them in evaluating different job opportunities (the organization’s mission and the job’s salary were the other top three picks),” the report notes. “Finally, 59% of participants stated that ‘believing in the strategic direction of the organization’ was one of the most essential contributors to their decision to potentially stay employed at a single organization for 5-10 years.”

Eighty-two percent of the 1,750 respondents to the survey self-identify as active jobseekers, according to The Voice of Nonprofit Talent in 2008, a related report exploring nonprofit jobseekers' motivations for wanting to work in the sector, their plans for overall career trajectories, and their concerns about sustaining nonprofit careers.