A friend of mine just decided to quit her nonprofit job. It was making her so miserable that it would sometimes bring her to tears. As I spoke with her, I was reminded that many people think just because you work for a good cause, your workplace will always be hunky-dory. You’ll come into the office or program site in the morning and everyone will be smiling and jumping up and down with excitement about saving the world. And your boss and board members will be just swell people of the highest character. While these are all nice sentiments about nonprofit work culture, they’re just not always true. Nonprofit workplaces can be plagued with the same irritations as for-profit companies: office politics, incompetent bosses, lying, stealing, lazy co-workers, etc. But if you don’t go into it with rose-colored glasses, you can avoid hating your nonprofit job. Take time to answer this question: what kind of work environment do you need to be satisfied and happy? Here are some examples of factors that nonprofit professionals often overlook when searching for a new job.
Being in close quarters
Many nonprofit offices are so tiny, you can hear everything – every strike on the computer keyboard, every phone call, every stomach growl. Working in cubicles is more common than having an office with a door. If you need privacy in your work environment, you should be sure not to take a job where you won’t get any.
Working on evenings and weekends
Many nonprofits hold events at night or on the weekends as part of their programs or for fundraising purposes. I knew someone who worked for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and their work was around the clock, not confined to the typical 9-5 work hours. If you don’t want your nonprofit job to interfere with your after-work happy hours or weekend activities, you should find out what the nonprofit’s culture is before you accept the position. Ask your potential employer what a typical week would look like, as well as what a “worst-case scenario” week might consist of as well.
No support for professional development
This is by far one of the biggest complaints by nonprofit professionals about their work environment. Many organizations don’t have the budget to pay for additional training or staff development. On the other hand, there are also nonprofits that do have the funding to support professional development, but still don’t give employees enough time off or a flexible work schedule to take advantage of available learning opportunities. Oftentimes, nonprofit workers have to pay for conferences and workshops out of their own pocket as well as use their vacation time to attend. Be your own best advocate in the job searching and benefits negotiation process to make sure you’re joining an organization that will support your ongoing growth as a nonprofit professional.
If you don’t do your due diligence on the type of nonprofit work environment you’re signing up for, it’s nobody’s fault but yours. These items may at first seem like minor considerations, but if you plan to stay in a position for a while, they can wear on you. Choose your next nonprofit job carefully so you can love your work with a passion…instead of hating it with a passion.
