4 Skills to Highlight When Applying for Non-Profit Jobs

4 Skills to Highlight When Applying for Non-Profit Jobs33The initial impact of a resume is important. But chances are youve got lots to say and notlage a lot of space to say it. When youre researching how to optimize your resume for the job hunt, youre spoiled with a diverse array of expert opinions and easy-to-follow guides. But what if youre thinking about shifting into a niche or specialized sector like non-profit jobs?Truth be told, a charity resume doesnt function the same way as a resume for a private sector position. Sure, youll need to include past job experience and highlight your skills, but even more than that you need to emphasize skills that underscore your humane side and answer the glaring question why do you want to work for THIS charity?To help you start, weve highlighted the top four skills important for non-profit jobs. Take a look.1. The desire to make a differenceCall it drive. Call it passion. Call it enthusiasm. No matter what you call it, its absolutely vital to demonstrate a clear-cut sense of motivation and a personal connection with the cause. In the non-profit sector, organizations want to know theyre hiring employees that really care about their mission and are likely to stick around for a while. Its especially important if youre changing your career. And it doesnt have to be all about business maybe you ran a side project in your spare time or took part in a marathon for charity. This can be demonstrated through any work you did volunteering, fundraising, campaigning or getting active in local politics.The best part? Being encouraged to showcase your passion allows you the space to inject a bit of personality and let the recruiter see a more human side of you.2. A think-outside-the-box approachThe way people donate is changing, and charities need to be constantly adapting and innovating. More than half of the population prefers to visit sites on their phones than on desktops. In fact, mobile-responsive donation sites receive 34% m ore donations than traditional desktop sites because the process is fast, simple and can be done during your lunch break or on your evening commute.Thats why charity recruiters are always on the hunt for creative thinkers and idea generators. When faced with new trends or sudden problems, its the original ideas that help move an organization forward. And its not just fundraising ideas. Did you provide new ways of cutting costs at your old job? Or maybe you came up with a way to streamline office communication. This is important in every part of a charity. So if you can demonstrate that youre forward-thinking and can help find ways to do things better or save money, youll be a strong asset for the team.3. Empathy and sensitivity in communicationMost businesses are looking for people with good communication skills. But for non-profit jobs they need people who are not only great communicators but can also demonstrate empathy and sensitivity. Whether youre fundraising, running a help-li ne or working face-to-face with the public, its important to always come across as warm and sincere.In non-profit jobs where youre working directly with the public, good communication hinders on your ability to speak clearly and calmly during difficult or emotionally-charged situations. Most importantly, you want to make sure youre helping and not harming vulnerable people who come to your organization for help.4. Teamwork FlexibilityMore than just getting along with your colleagues, teamwork in the charity sector is about two things. Being willing to work beyond the specifications of your own role and give other members of the organization a hand. During busy times, everyone should to pitch in no one wants a jobsworth who isnt willing to help out because its not technically their responsibility.For this reason flexibility is such a valuable skill to demonstrate on your resume. Not every role in non-profit adheres to standard 9-to-5 working hours. In fact, the work-life balance is one of the things that draws candidates to the sector. Youre more likely to find part-time or flexible hours. But the flip side is that you may sometimes need to work on weekends and evenings for events or during busy campaigns. A can-do attitude can go a long way.Of course, we cant ignore important transferable skills like time management, organization, and work ethic. But its worthwhile to spend a bit more time making sure your passion, creativity, empathy and flexibility shine. If youre making the shift into the sector, theres always room to grow and develop (and hiring managers know that). In this case, passion trumps a perfect skill set, so dont be afraid to put yourself out there and find your dream non-profit job.This content was provided by CharityJob, the largest and most specialized job board for the charity and not-for-profit sector in the UK.