What do you do if you want to stand out as a candidate for social impact careers?

In Indian context the space of social impact is an emerging field of career. To stand out in this field one needs a combination of the following- 1) Academic credibility- A degree, diploma or certificates from good institutions gives you an edge over others. 2) Work experience- A diverse work experience with different stakeholders in the field like the government, corporate, think tanks etc. provides you a holistic picture. 3) Right Network- It is absolutely important to tap on the right people. Your quality of work would help you to expand on the network.

I have been in this place. Some strategies that worked out for me are; 1. Network with professionals in the social impact sector to learn about job opportunities, gather insights, and build relationships. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn to expand your network. 2. Create a professional online presence that reflects your passion for social impact and showcases your skills and expertise. This could include optimizing LinkedIn profile, sharing relevant content on social media, starting a blog/website to share your insights on social issues. 3. Customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements related to social impact.

To stand out as a candidate for social impact careers, it's crucial to craft a compelling personal mission statement that aligns with the core values and goals of the organizations you're interested in. Your personal mission should articulate your commitment to social change and illustrate how your unique skills and experiences contribute to advancing this cause. Reflect on what specific aspects of social impact resonate with you deeply, and communicate that passion and clarity of purpose in your applications and interviews

To stand out in social impact careers, it is essential to showcase relevant skills that demonstrate your capability to effect change. Highlight specific abilities like project management, fundraising, cross-cultural communication, analytical thinking, and any technical skills pertinent to the role you desire. Provide concrete examples of how you've used these skills in past experiences to drive social initiatives or solve complex problems.

· In today's competitive job market, direct experience in social impact initiatives can be a game-changer. It's not just about participating; it's about the difference you've made and the skills you've honed. Whether through volunteer work, internships, or previous roles, showcasing the tangible outcomes and the value you've added speaks volumes. It demonstrates a commitment to making a difference and provides a unique perspective that can be invaluable in any future role. Remember, it's the impact that counts, and your LinkedIn profile is the perfect platform to highlight this.

In the social impact space, it is highly valuable if you have experience working with stakeholders across funders/investors, implementating organisations, academia, field staff. It goes on to show the recruiter that in any situation you'll be in a position to appreciate varied perspectives. If you've had a chance to work across the board of above stakeholder types then it is a good proxy to denote that you're exposed to a wide variety of problems and by extension have developed the skill to build compelling narratives - narratives that can inspire hope or action among stakeholder of any category.

To stand out in social impact careers under the topic of experience, it's important to showcase a track record of relevant accomplishments and hands-on involvement in the field. Detail your direct experiences with community work, policy shaping, advocacy, volunteering, or any positions where you've made a tangible difference. Quantify your impact with specific results or stories that illustrate your commitment and effectiveness in social change efforts.

This is relevant to any industry, but networking is key. Think of networking more as making professional friends. Yes, you do need communication tools like an industry pitch, and coffee chats, but it’s ok to make it human and chat 1 to 1. Prepare for any networking chat in advance with clear questions and remember usually people enjoy helping others and passing along guidance. Along with conversations in person or video, explore social platforms like LinkedIn to start building light connections, like through follows, likes, and connections.

Data is key. Try out the ‘STAR’ approach, communicating your past achievements by explaining the: situation, task, action and result. For the result, be sure to quantify your impact. If you’re unable to quantify, look to see if there are baseline metrics to compare it to. By providing the “evidence” of your skills through hard data, recruiters will better view your strengths.

When I was recruiting earlier in 2024, what stood out to me from hundreds of short-listed candidates was NOT the ones who had the “perfect CV” with impressive social impact experiences; it was actually the way candidates were able to showcase how their skills translated to the role and growth of my company - and here, diversity of experiences was what really stood out. Candidates with more curious and diverse (squiggly??) trajectories stood out more, particularly the ones who showed well how those squiggly experiences made them more unique. So standing out was this formula: storytelling + values + diversity. ????

In my experience, when I've recruited for my employers, what was important for me was to see will you enjoy the job? as much as it's not a rule - 'work' does take some what of our major component of the day, so are you and will you be able to come to that place of I'm content with what i do every day, and if I'm not - how can I make my work better for everyone, including yourself, environment and your employers. It's that ability to enjoy, speak your mind and willing to make changes that's important for you. End of the day, social impact careers take immense energy off you since the work is with vulnerable population Etc, so are you willing to make a balance is what I see more than the best CV!