It’s a question we all ask ourselves from time to time: Should I stay, or should I go? And, if it’s time to go, where do you go and how do I get there? Jean Crawford, President of crawfordconnect suggests that depending on where you are in your career lifecycle, you’ll be looking for different criteria to evaluate your decision but should start with the basics:

Level of stimulation

  • Is my work interesting and challenging?
  • Am I passionate about what I am doing?
  • Am I listened to and do I have impact on decisions?
  • Do I take, initiate, and own success?
  • Does my presence have an impact in the organization?

 

Development

  • Are there career advancement opportunities?
  • Does the organization have a long-term commitment to me?
  • Am I building career-boosting skills?
  • Are the senior managers committed to me?
  • Do high performers receive promotions?

 

Lifestyle

  • Does this job allow me to meet my personal/family commitments?
  • Do I live in an appealing city or region?

 

Organizational Culture

  • Is the organization well-managed?
  • Do I have a good relationship with my boss?
  • Do I like the culture and believe in the organization’s values?
  • Do I trust senior management?

 

Wealth and rewards

  • Am I recognized and rewarded for my contributions?
  • Do high performers get paid more?
  • Is there a substantial wealth creation opportunity?

 

If after analyzing your current position you decide that it is time to make a move, Jean recommends you play up your leadership skills to address the upcoming leadership gap that will occur as existing leaders begin to retire. “It will be important for the younger generation of fundraising professionals to prepare themselves with the management skills that will be needed to fill these positions. Hiring managers will be looking for individuals with not only the technical skills needed to do the job, but also the emotional and social intelligence that will lead the organization to success,” Jean says.

Another way to get noticed by prospective employers is to display career consistency. “When conducting searches, we are always looking for consistency from an individual. This means a resume that shows consistent growth from position to position without a lot of short stints within organizations. It also comes into play when doing reference checks,” states Jean.

Sometimes a job change may not be enough. Many people want to explore other parts of our great nation and consider taking opportunities in other cities and towns. You may want a change of pace from big-city life or, you may have always lived and worked in a small town and want a different work/life experience. “Since the majority of nonprofits are based in large cities, it will be easier to find a job that suits your experience and interests in somewhere like Toronto, however there are also more people vying for these positions. Smaller cities and towns are also in need nonprofit leaders and managers and offer the advantage of more of a community feel to the job. Big cities pay more than smaller towns however there is also more pressure and competition for fundraising dollars,” Jean suggests.

So now that you’re on your way to sorting out whether you should stay or go, you may also want to consider spending some time on building up your professional assets and investing in your education. “As the nonprofit sector grows, it also becomes more complex which among other things, means that organizations are becoming more strategic and accountable for every dollar raised. If you’re lucky enough to be in an organization that has put a mentorship model in place or, working under a particularly great leader, there is certainly much to be learned from within the organization.”

With limited financial resources common to most nonprofits, Jean suggests you may have to look elsewhere for professional development. “The CFRE is the most common designation we request followed by the CAGP. We’ve also been looking more and more at individuals with MBA’s because of skills developed in such programs such as organizational development, strategic planning and leadership.”

Whether you stay or you go, we wish you all the best with your decision and remind you to Dream Big and Make it Happen!

Special thanks to Jean Crawford of crawfordconnect based in Toronto, Ontario (www.crawfordconnect.com) for the great advice.