I’m in the accounting field for a small nonprofit and have decided to get into fundraising. I’ve talked to a lot of people about this, and would like to pursue it. Do you have any practical advice on HOW to go about doing this?

In my last column, I dealt with the decision component of your career transition. This column will look at the more practical elements of HOW you can transition into your new career once you’ve determined exactly what that new career might be.

As part of the decision process described in Part I, you talked to a number of professionals currently in your preferred profession. During this process, some of the questions you asked would have hopefully focused on your VIPS (Values, Interests, Personality & Motivators, and Skills). You should stay flexible as to your ultimate career goals during your entire transition period, since you will be learning throughout the journey, and this newly-acquired information might change your earlier decisions.

Determine the skills you will need to succeed

During career transition, many people focus almost entirely on the skills component, in the logical belief that ‘you get hired for your skills’. While this is true to a large extent, it is important to also look at career transitions more holistically, and include all of your “VIPS” (Values, Interests, Personality & Motivators, and Skills). If I were the erstwhile Lion Tamer wannabe in our Monty Python example from last column, I might have thought that lion taming is where my future career lies, and could further determine that I lack the whip handling and showmanship skills required to be successful. This is a dangerous stage of transition, since what can often happen is the development of tunnel vision, and too much of a focus on acquiring the missing skills, (i.e. “I need to go to whip handling school, I guess.”). This may be how career colleges get rich, but not how successful transitions happen.

Don’t forget the other factors – The “V”,”I”, and “P” of your “VIPS”

With further inquiries and analysis of this career option, I may actually discover that I don’t share the organization’s Values (the Circus, in this case), or perhaps I might not have the intestinal fortitude and determination needed to face those lions, or even be that interested in modifying lion behaviour at all (Interests). Upon further reflection, I could also determine that since I have more of an introverted personality, standing out in front of a group of people every night would likely not fit in with that personality trait.

So you can see that there are many more things to consider, other than “Do I have the skills to do the job?”

In your particular situation, it is likely that you share the same values as your organization, and have an interest in the cause, but as an accountant, who typically spends more time on your own or with a small group, do you feel that you have the personality traits to cold call people in major corporations and sell your cause to them? Could you “schmooze” a potential donor at a social gathering and convince him or her to give? Be honest with yourself, and try to remember times in your past in which you have done similar activities successfully. For example, if you can say things like, “I was the top seller of Girl Guide cookies every year, and enjoyed getting out there and meeting people,” you’re off to a good start for fundraising.

Determine your transferable skills

Once you have found out as much as possible about your new career, and determined your resolve to change professions, it’s time to get practical. This is the moment to come full circle and start thinking again about skills. They are, after all, why you get hired. By talking to professionals who are currently in the role, you should have a much better idea of what the key success factors are. For fundraising, they could entail excellent written and verbal communication skills, planning and scheduling, creativity, to name just a few.

Deal with any skills gaps objectively

Perhaps you realize that you have all the skills you (and others) feel you need, except good public speaking skills, for example. Set out a plan to address this gap and acquire the skill. Enroll in Toastmasters, or volunteer to present the financial statements at your next finance committee or board meeting. Only by gaining strengths and developing your missing skills will you succeed in your transition.

Determine the best transition strategy

How are you going to cross that great divide? Remember, not all transitions are created equally, and some are easier than others. There are basically four types of transitions:

1. Same Organization, Same Job	STATUS QUO (Easy)
2. Different Organization, Same Job	NEW PLACE (Moderate)
3. Same Organization, Different Job	NEW JOB (Moderate)
4. Different Organization, Different Job	NEW EVERYTHING (Hardest)

 

In your case, Your best strategies are likely #3, or perhaps #2. Let me explain. The reason that some transitions are more or less difficult than others primarily relates to the perceived degree of inherent uncertainty involved. In other words, if you reduce the risk of possible failure, you will have an easier transition. Accountant to Lion Tamer has a very high degree of risk. This risk could be mitigated by taking up lion taming as a hobby first, or doing the books for a lion taming company (strategy #2 or #3). Being around lions and lion tamers can expose the transitioning professional to the prospective profession while they are still employed doing what they’re good at (accounting). This can allow you to job shadow and become familiar with the activities involved in your potential new profession, without the added pressure of needing to perform.

Market yourself using your new career profile

You need to start thinking of yourself differently. Act, dress, live, and breathe the new role as much as you can. In your case, you are no longer an accountant, but an apprentice fundraiser. Socialize with other fundraisers and get involved with fundraising organizations, such as your local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Consider announcing your intention to change careers publicly – but be very careful. Your boss could suddenly see a problem with an accountant who doesn’t want to be an accountant anymore. Some organizations are more progressive, however, and can actively assist you in your transition. Know your organizational culture beforehand, and try to determine if this has happened in the past. Remember, also, that you should always transition from a position of strength in these cases. If you are a poor accountant and come in late everyday because you’d prefer to be a fundraiser, you might be asked to transition at some other organization completely.

Plan, set deadlines, and go for it!

The important thing to remember is to plan and set a deadline for your transition. You’ve already transitioned several times in your life, perhaps without even knowing it (elementary school student to high school student, child to adult, unemployed to employed, etc). Acknowledge that some transitions are more difficult than others, and consequently might take more time. The keys are gaining as much knowledge as you can, having a transition action plan, and setting a deadline for your ultimate success.

Good luck!

Michael Mayne, M.B.A., CMA, is Managing Partner and a Certified Professional Career Counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a Career Transition, Counselling, and Outplacement firm. Michael has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years, and is Past President and Treasurer of ALS Canada. To contact Michael, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.

To submit a question for a future column, please e-mail it to careercoach@charityvillage.com. No identifying information will appear in this column.

Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.