You’ve probably heard that the key to getting your foot in the door of your dream nonprofit job or to set yourself up for a new career opportunity is to network, network, network. Well, that’s because it’s true! But no matter how powerful social media becomes, you simply cannot restrict your networking efforts to the internet. Back in the day, before blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, nonprofit leaders actually made connections face to face most of the time. A phone call was more preferable to email, and it wasn’t uncommon for hires to be made without a formal interview. These days, technology has made communication much less time-consuming, but the old-fashioned ways of networking still hold true. Most jobs (about 85%, I’ve heard) are NOT advertised online. That means 9 out of 10 nonprofit positions are still filled by somebody who knows somebody.
But if you’re a young professional just starting out (or even a sector-switcher), it can be a daunting process to advance your career when you don’t know that many “somebodies.” So here are five ways to start building your network – just like nonprofit leaders did back in the olden days.
Join a Professional Association
The best thing about nonprofit associations is that they provide you with a ready-made network as soon as you pay your membership fee. Some of the membership dues can be a little pricey, so I suggest you join the ones that are relevant to you. If you want to get into nonprofit fundraising, I recommend the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Want to work at a nonprofit association? Join ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership. Interested in philanthropy or working at a foundation? Check out Emerging Practitioners in Philanthropy. And no matter what kind of nonprofit job you’re looking for, you will always meet likeminded folks through the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network or your state nonprofit association.
Serve on a Committee
This follows from strategy #1 above. Most professional associations have committees that are made up of its members. Volunteer to join the events or membership committee of the association that’s the most relevant to your career goals. You will not only get to know your fellow association peeps better, but your face will be out there for all to see. The key is to build strong ties with those that might be able to help you get a job or advance your career in that particular field. You’ll end up learning so much more about your peers and build your leadership skills in the process. A win/win/win for everyone.
Attend Nonprofit Conferences
Nonprofit conferences are the mecca of networking. You get to learn from some of the top leaders in the field as well as build relationships with others in the sector. Of course, conference attendance can get a little pricey, but having the opportunity to meet hundreds of nonprofit professionals in one place is usually worth it. You will meet your peers, as well as experienced nonprofit leaders who could be your next boss! Some of the top-notch annual nonprofit conferences to attend include: Independent Sector, NTEN Nonprofit Technology Conference, and annual meetings held by your state nonprofit association. But please, whatever you do, don’t forget your business cards!
Invite People to Lunch
Hey, everybody’s gotta eat lunch, right? Go through all the contacts you’ve met so far and set up informational interviews with them or just informal lunches to talk more about their career or the field in general. And PLEASE start thinking outside the box when asking people to connect with you, especially those busy, influential people in your industry (they probably get asked to coffee a lot). Offer to take them (read: your treat) to a decent place for lunch. Not the tired Subway around the corner. Try a sit-down restaurant. With waiters. And tablecloths! When you meet with people one-on-one, it can be a lot less intimidating and you can also ask them to provide referrals to other people from their networks that you can meet with. Another strategy is to come up with your “wish list” of who you think it would be really cool to meet with “one day.” These may be people that are well respected, local and national leaders that are either in your dream position or would be hiring for your dream position. Keep track of when they are in your town to speak or for a conference to increase your chances of meeting with them face-to-face. And yes, it is absolutely acceptable to contact someone out of the blue. Or, you could ask a mutual friend to introduce you!
Offer to Help
Keep in mind as you’re striving to build your network that for the movers and shakers in your community who get tapped for favors all the time, it can be annoying to be asked to help people that you don’t know from a can of paint. Even in my own inbox, I get requests to “pick my brain” at least a few times a week. While I’m flattered to be asked for my advice, I also know that as a self-employed person, if I let everyone pick my brain for free, I’ll go broke! So, one way to get busy people in your network to help you is to identify a mutual benefit. Instead of having it be a one-way “give me an hour of your time for free” request, ask people if there’s anything you can do to help them first. It’s the age-old concept of reciprocity. Everyone is busy and if you don’t already have the relationship, it may be tough for them to prioritize helping you or meeting with you. For instance, if you come across someone at a networking event who mentions their frustration with a particularly difficult project, ask if you can assist or work with them to brainstorm new ideas. They will certainly appreciate your thoughtfulness and be more willing to help you when you ask.
What other networking strategies have worked to help you accelerate your nonprofit career?
For more nonprofit networking tips, consider purchasing my book, How to Become a Nonprofit Rockstar: 50 Ways to Accelerate Your Career on sale now. There’s a whole chapter on building a strong network!
