How can you write a resume for the nonprofit sector?

1 Know your audience

Before you start writing your resume, do some research on the nonprofit organization you're applying to. What is their mission, vision, and values? What are their goals and challenges? What are the specific requirements and expectations for the role you're interested in? Use this information to tailor your resume to match their needs and culture. For example, you might highlight your volunteer experience, your fundraising skills, or your knowledge of a certain cause or community.

2 Highlight your impact

Nonprofit employers want to see how you can contribute to their cause and make a difference. Therefore, you need to quantify your achievements and demonstrate your impact in your resume. Instead of listing your duties and responsibilities, use action verbs and numbers to show what you accomplished and how you improved a situation. For example, instead of saying "Managed social media campaigns", you could say "Increased social media engagement by 50% and raised $10,000 in online donations".

3 Showcase your skills

Nonprofit work often requires a diverse set of skills, such as communication, collaboration, leadership, problem-solving, and creativity. You need to show that you have these skills and how you used them in your previous or current roles. You can use a skills section to highlight your relevant hard and soft skills, and provide examples of how you applied them in your work history section. For example, you could mention how you led a team, solved a challenge, or created a new initiative.

4 Use the right format

The format of your resume can also make a difference in how you present yourself and how you catch the attention of nonprofit employers. Depending on your level of experience and the type of role you're applying for, you can choose between a chronological, functional, or hybrid resume format. A chronological resume emphasizes your work history and career progression, a functional resume focuses on your skills and qualifications, and a hybrid resume combines both. You can also use a resume template or a resume builder to help you create a professional and attractive resume.

5 Proofread and polish

The final step in writing your resume for the nonprofit sector is to proofread and polish it. You want to make sure that your resume is error-free, clear, concise, and consistent. You can use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to check your spelling, grammar, and readability. You can also ask a friend, a mentor, or a career coach to review your resume and give you feedback. Remember to customize your resume for each nonprofit job you apply for and include a cover letter that explains your motivation and fit for the role.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?