Life After College for Meaning Makers and World Changers
Working in a Center for Civic Engagement at a private Liberal Arts institution, I work a lot with students who are involved with community-based work from tutoring, language development, STEM initiatves, public health, to social justice issues like poverty eradication in our community or LGBTQ advocacy. There comes a moment whenever students come into my office either to talk about summer plans or careers after college that the harsh reality of “world change for social good” is not an open and ready career. Even if it was, you would probably need 3–5 years of experience to be eligible and probably would only pay $10/hr with a graduate degree required.
With that said, one of the first pieces of advice that I often give students is that your 20s is figuring out what you want to do in your 30s. Life is a series of steps. For those of us who really wish to work in the non-profit industry or public sector we are not looking to make a fortune, but there is strategy to getting your feet into the door and landing the job of your dreams.
First, learn and master the three D’s.
Data.
Design.
Development.
Anytime you write a grant or start a fundraising campaign you will be utilizing data from the number of people served to your measurable outcomes. Over 70% of the United States population utilizes social media where pictures and streaming video continue to outperform anything text-based. People respond (aka give $) to visual compelling content that is designed well. Finally non-profits are jokingly called “no-profits” meaning that often this industry does not generate revenue that covers operational costs. Learn skills associated with fundraising and development as the organization you work for will need cash to survive.
But learning these skills does not necessarily get your foot in the door in these sectors.
My path to employment started through AmeriCorps when I coordinated an after-school program in East Appalachia Tennessee. Through my experience with this organization, I was eventually hired into Higher Education that has continued to push my path upward in working this industry over the last five years.
There are many of these programs out there including City Year, Service Year, and Service Programs that Change the World. I also used to Teach English abroad which is a very viable way to gain global experience and perspectives. Often people will tell me that these opportunities, while looking exciting, do not pay bank. Unfortunately, being a do-gooder for social justice is often not financially rewarding….. immediately.
Your dream job awaits you, but we are a job hopping generation. It might take you 3–5 years of lower pay but if you work hard, develop your professional skills, and are very strategic with the positions you acquire, moving up in this industry is not only possible but also practical. So, when students come into our office to chat about life after the Liberal Arts and developing a meaningful career the immediate answer is not well that’s impossible but let’s talk about climbing the ladder one rail at a time.