Job Hunting in Madison (fit in, living, donating)

[rnf2y]

I recently left a corporate job that made me miserable and am trying to break into the non-profit sector in Madison. I have a good living arrangement that will allow me a lot of time to job search, but the going has been tough. I've started volunteering at some places I'm interested in as a start. I'm sending out applications daily, and have started a private business on the side to generate some cash. I've also found that getting a government job in Madison is incredibly difficult.

Any insight for someone trying to break into the public or non-profit sectors in Madison?

[43north87west]

Originally Posted by rnf2y

I recently left a corporate job that made me miserable and am trying to break into the non-profit sector in Madison. I have a good living arrangement that will allow me a lot of time to job search, but the going has been tough. I've started volunteering at some places I'm interested in as a start. I'm sending out applications daily, and have started a private business on the side to generate some cash. I've also found that getting a government job in Madison is incredibly difficult.

Any insight for someone trying to break into the public or non-profit sectors in Madison?

I can give you two pieces of advice about the non profit sector in general. I assume that Madison, in a general sense, is no different than other places.

First, because not for profit organizations are often community organizations, volunteering or donating to them is a great way to get recognized and to make connections. If you haven't already, use your corporate experience for all that it's worth. A really good way to do this, is to volunteer to sit on a board of directors. It's actually not that difficult to get on to a board, because there are so many. And from there, you'll make many connections that could help you.

Second, although this goes without saying, and you are probably well aware of this, the not for profit world is equally awash in corporate type drama, if not more so, than the corporate sector. What I'm saying is, if the corporate sector made you miserable because it was corporate, political, or laden with ill-conceived decisions, drama, or other annoyances, plan on seeing even more in the NFP section. As it goes with the private sector, so goes it with the not for profit sector.

[Milwaukee City]

There is an old saying: There is a lot of profit in non-for-profit.

[+Daimon]

I see adds in newspapers and fliers on state street all the time trying to recruit people for door-to-door canvassing for various causes....if you have a bachelor's degree or some form of management experience you may be able to find an administrative job for a group like this.

Food Not Bombs would also be good to look into, if for no reason other than networking. I'm sure some of the folks that participate in that program would know of others in the area.