Are you considering switching jobs or employers? Read this first!
There is a perception that many fundraisers are job-hoppers, never staying in one role or with one organization for long. Yet those of us in the profession know that advancement, both in responsibility and earning potential, is often possible only through change.
But switching jobs too soon or too often can actually hurt your career. So, how do you know when it’s time to go? Here are a few points to consider:
What’s your career stage?
Beginner
Is this your first nonprofit-sector job? Have you been there three years or less? Stick it out, develop a groove, and learn all you can.
Four to six years
By now you should have some experience — perhaps with a major campaign — and should have developed strong relationships with donors and board members. If you are ready to advance and don’t see opportunities, it may be time for a change.
Six-plus years
You have been successful, raised significant funds, completed campaigns, and made a difference. Maybe you feel you’ve hit your stride, and it’s time to leverage your experience into a bigger role. Check with your organization to see if there’s room to advance. If not, it’s probably time to consider outside opportunities.
Questions to contemplate
- Have you mastered the skills associated with your role? Are you qualified to move up?
- Do you have experience that makes you valuable to another organization?
- Will you be leaving your organization in better shape than when you started?
- Are you sure you’re ready for more responsibility?
If the answers to these questions are yes, consider this:
Are you running toward something, or away?
Wise people have shared this valuable advice with me: It is better to run toward something good instead of away from something bad. Try to be sure, or you may find yourself always running away!
You can read the full article — and benefit from more of Jory Barrad’s wisdom — in the January edition of Giving Tomorrow (subscription required; free for clients).
Jory Barrad currently serves as Director of Development at The Pathway School in Jeffersonville, Pa.
Categories: Relationships, Self Improvement
