Career Q&A: Making the switch to nonprofit

I currently work with a for-profit private company but realize I get a lot more fulfillment and enjoyment out of the volunteer work I’m doing and would like to spend my “9-5” time contributing to something I’m really interested in....

Is your boss a psychopath?

We’ve all gone out for lunch and complained about our bosses – “Oh, my boss is such a psychopath,” we say. Usually, this kind of gripe is just a means of letting off steam after a frustrating encounter, but sometimes...

Career Q&A: Determining your fit for a position

I’ve sent out a few dozen applications over the last three months and have yet to receive a call back. I really want to work with a nonprofit organization but am getting a bit discouraged. How do I know if...

Are you overdoing it with overtime?

Overtime anyone?  Employers and employees in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors around the world are struggling with increasing work demands that often spill into personal time outside the office. While the notion that work life and personal life are...

A gradual impact: Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders through higher education

As the mission-driven sector in Canada continues to grow, so does the need for young innovators and leaders who can confidently carry it forward. Stepping up to fill what has become a prominent educational gap in a country that prides...

Career Q&A: Preparing for a phone interview

I have an upcoming phone interview with an organization in a different city. How do I prepare for this? If you’re competing in today’s job market, you should be prepared for interviews over the phone or, increasingly, via Skype, with...

Ready to lead and not ready to leave: The demographic conundrum

You might think it’s a good problem to have: too many capable leaders. Older leaders who are still interested and able to lead nonprofits, and younger leaders who are ready to step in with fresh ideas, energy and training. Unfortunately,...

Serving the debt sentence: Is repaying your student loan a barrier to working for a nonprofit?

A million years ago when I went to university, I graduated debt free, thanks to summer and part-time jobs, frugal living, a one-time gift from my parents and a small scholarship. Not so easy for today’s graduates whose tuition increases...

You’re Hired! How to turn an application into an offer

Dawn Green’s story is fairly typical. A marketing professional with 15 years of experience at an advertising agency, she decided to make a career switch last year. “It was time for a change,” she says. “I needed to do something...

Are nonprofit staff taking on too much?

Nonprofits attract people who are inspired by the mission of their organization and who recognize organizations rely on staff who, as the cliché goes, give 110%. A certain degree of pitching in and working overtime as needed comes with the...