Life seems so simple when you are younger. Even as you are in post-secondary school, you are preparing for the future but most people do not yet have the mind-set of thinking about a lifelong career. Then comes graduation; a momentous occasion filled with euphoria and self-fulfillment. Next, for most people, comes a feeling that can only be described as sheer terror; the realization that your journey is just beginning and that you are nowhere near ready to go out and face the world all by yourself. Fortunately, you are not alone. There are people who can help during one of the most daunting times of your life. The first people you can turn to for advice while you are still in school are your instructors but you should also speak with employers and some recent graduates. In order to help with this transition, I spoke with Naheed Nenshi, an instructor of Nonprofit Studies at Mount Royal College, as well as Yvette Rasmussen, director of resource development and Dayton English, coordinator of development & communications, both working for Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta, in order to get their thoughts on the subject.

Prepare for the future

In order to prepare for the workforce, a solid education is first necessary. And according to Nenshi, Mount Royal College is the best place to get your preparation as it is the only undergraduate degree in nonprofit management in Canada. Nenshi explains that “we are housed in a business school. So the students that go into our program get the same basic management courses as any other undergrad business school student.” English, a recent graduate of Mount Royal College, has similar thoughts as Nenshi. “You do a lot of the general business courses that you would regularly do if you were pursuing a degree in business but you would also do courses that are specific to the nonprofit sector. For me it was a broad base of learning.” In terms the needs of the nonprofit sector, Nenshi discusses that “what we are hearing from employers and from nonprofit organizations is that they really want people who have a solid base of management skills but also understand the unique elements of the nonprofit sector.” He is also trying to help new students to nonprofit studies by giving them an easy way to find the courses and programs. He states that “there are institutions all over the country that teach nonprofit management in different ways. One of the things that I’ve been working on is a web portal that students can use in order to search for programs in nonprofit management offered across the country and online.”

It’s important to not only know what direction you want to go with your education but also how to apply that knowledge once you are entering the workforce. When Rasmussen does hiring at Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta she believes that “a background in nonprofit studies definitely differentiates the candidates. There is a distinct advantage that comes at point of entry when the resumes come in and we are evaluating them for relevance and a good fit.” During the interview process she states that “What I really like to see is that the candidate has a good practical depth of understanding; not only of the nonprofit community but of marketing and business in general. It doesn’t have to come in the form of experience but it has to be strategic and be distinctly familiar with the nonprofit sector.”

Find the right path

Once a student possesses the tools and knowledge to enter the workforce, they must now figure out the most challenging part; where to apply that knowledge. Nenshi feels that “one of the challenges is figuring out a career path where you can follow your passion while making some money. What our students find is that because they have good management skills they are in high demand even outside of the sector. So they really need to find that niche within the sector that they’re very passionate about because that’s what’s going to keep them going.” Nenshi goes on to say that “close to 100% of our alumni are still employed in the nonprofit sector. But you’ve really got to find the right thing. If you’re crazy about the arts or for sports then do that; it’s not all human services. You should find what really ignites your passion because it’s what makes working in the nonprofit sector so special. You see outcomes that are really related to things you want to see done in the world and students need to keep that close.” In terms of applying the knowledge into the business sector, English feels that the most difficult part is “Making the adjustment from the academic and theory side of things to the reality of working within the restrictions of having capacity limitations placed upon you. When you are in school you conceptualize and you have all of these great ideas. However, when you get into the actual business setting, you are faced with deadlines, multiple demands on your time and limited resources. Now you really have to be strategic about what endeavors you are pursuing and what you are directing your time and energy towards…That’s something that you have to learn once you are in the field.” Keeping with English’s thoughts, Rasmussen thinks that “it’s about the transition from theory to the strategic application of your skills and putting those diverse skills that you come out with and channeling them into a result driven basis. It’s a matter of setting your priorities and strategically having a global perspective of where you need to be and taking the critical steps to get there. I would suggest that the biggest challenge is channeling them all into a productive energy and pacing yourself within that global strategic application.”

Stay within yourself

Knowing how you want to apply your knowledge is a large part of finding happiness and success in your career but it’s also important to continue learning, no matter what you are doing. Nenshi believes that “you have to be humble because we’re going through a shift in the nonprofit sector…I really encourage our new graduates to go into the workforce with a spirit of humility; really trying to learn…It’s important that your formal learning may be over when you walk across that stage with your funny hat but you’re informal learning is just beginning. I feel that students that have the mindset to be lifelong learners are more successful in their careers.” From Rasmussen’s perspective, happiness is crucial. “The best advice that I have to offer a new graduate is for them to research the organization that they are applying to well. Know them, request a discovery session and establish what the corporate mission is. Ensure that you’re aligned with it, that the organization is mission driven and then strategically position yourself so you set yourself up to be successful.” She feels that it is important to “know that there is a mentor, who the partners are, who the board is and ensure that when you go for an interview that the corporate culture is ethical and aligned with where you need to be. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and ensure that you present yourself with all of your skills right up front… all else, don’t settle. Hang in there and get that right placement and make sure that it aligns with your values, your mission and your skills.” From the perspective of a new graduate, English adds to Rasmussen’s standpoint. “For me I did this (what Rasmussen has expressed) and I’m glad that I did. I spoke with peers that I graduated with that didn’t do the same and they ran into a lot of problems. For me, if you don’t look for an organization that has a mission and a culture that aligns with you, it doesn’t matter what the job is and what the other perks are going to be; you’re not going to have as good an experience that you otherwise would.”

Karl Noseworthy is a freelance writer from Newfoundland who currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario. He can be reached at karlnoseworthy@hotmail.com.