Ch-ch-changes

I knew that my first job out of college wouldn’t be my last – however, knowing this doesn’t make it any less weird.  Most people, at some point, change jobs.  The days of the “lifer” are over, and most often, the younger you are, the quicker you move.  However, I knew that I couldn’t leave before I felt I had made a significant impact.  I needed to know, in a sense, that my work here was done.  When I did begin to feel that I had contributed all I was meant to, I knew I had no choice but to move on.

I’ve always called work in the non-profit sector a “good karma” job. I may be barely paying the bills, but at the end of the day, I knew I made a difference.  Unfortunately, the non-profit field isn’t always presented as a career choice in colleges and universities.  My education, in particular, taught me that I was to take unpaid summer internships in the city (LA, Boston, New York – take your pick), then take an entry-level position at a communications agency in that same city.

I, however, fell into a different track.  After an internship at a local non-profit, I began to consider the benefits of getting paid to do something personally fulfilling and beneficial to the community at large.  I was fortunate enough to get hired at that same non-profit after graduation, and have been there since (that is, until this Friday).

Non-profit work needs to be presented as an option to graduating seniors. It is clear that there is work to be done to improve this world. I know, I know, the job market, the economy, the lay-offs, the budget cuts, etc. etc.  As far as I can see, it’s no worse than the corporate world. Sometimes it’s even a little better.

Non-profits are usually (I venture to say “always”) under-staffed and short on resources. A recent graduate can take advantage of this – I was able to get my hands on projects that were clearly outside my job description, but great resume-building experience. I dabbled in event planning, PR, marketing, campaign execution, social media, finance, strategic planning, community relations and design – all experiences a corporate position would not have afforded me.

Now, after this life-changing, amazing experience, I’m officially ready to move on to something new: the corporate world. One friend accused of me going to the “dark side.” Not true. I can continue giving back, just in a different sort of way – I’ve gained the knowledge, resources, and most importantly, the drive to make it happen.  Yes, I’ll be working in a for-profit environment. However, I will be working for a company that values volunteerism, philanthropy and community as much as I do. It was extremely important to me that I found a company whose values mirrored mine – but only because of my non-profit experience. (Two years ago, I would have said yes to Altria.)

See you on the dark side.