by The Green Fairy

Created on: June 01, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2009

When people get to a certain age, usually about their late thirties or early forties, their attitude to work changes. For years, they've been motivated by the need to earn money and create security; but, one day they wake up and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Their desire suddenly changes from earning money to helping people. Ideally, many of them say, they'd like to do both at the same time - which means working for a non-for-profit organization, or charity. The pay rate might not be so good, but the job satisfaction is much greater. It's a way of putting something back into society.

The differences between working for a non-profit and a for-profit are not as great as you might think. Non-profits, just like for-profits, come in all shapes and sizes. Some are small, some operate on shoe-string, some are disorganized and some are plain unprofessional. The main difference between them is who benefits from the work of the organization - a good cause or the owner's bank balance (whether a sole proprietor or share holders).

Finding employment in a non-profit is no more difficult than finding a job in a for-profit. They advertise their positions in the same places - newspapers, websites, recruitment agents. Some advertise generally, others use specialist recruiters in the same way the other businesses do.

There is one essential difference when it comes to recruitment. A for-profit company that makes, say, plastic bathroom fittings, will not want to know about your passion for such fittings. But a non-profit will want you to have some sympathy for their cause. To get a position in a organization promoting welfare for cats you need to demonstrate an enthusiasm for cats - so owning one (or more) would help your recruitment chances.

One result of this approach is that the staff are naturally working towards a common goal because of a shared belief, and not just because they are in the same business. This often means they are willing to go that extra mile to help one another, and the organization.

It is true that non-profits usually offer pay and benefits at the bottom end of market rates - and they almost always prefer volunteers! But, that's not to say that they are poor payers, and they try not to lag too far behind the market in terms of benefits.

Working for a non-profit is not all a good news story. As with all workplaces there is potential for personality differences between co-workers, and for office politics to upset relationships. People are still people where ever they might work.

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