For nearly 20 years, our team at On-Ramps has been helping nonprofit organizations recruit mid- to senior-level leaders. We talk to both hiring managers and job seekers all day, every day.
Sadly, one refrain we’ve been hearing quite a bit is that recent developments affecting the sector are prompting many nonprofit workers to look for new job opportunities. At the same time, AI is changing how job seekers find and apply for positions and how hiring managers process applications. This means the nonprofit job market is becoming even more competitive in some ways—during an already tough time.
What do nonprofit job seekers need to know to succeed in 2025? Here are six tips to help you navigate this rapidly changing landscape.
- Don’t be afraid to use AI to your advantage. Career-related and job-posting platforms like Indeed, Idealist, and LinkedIn are leveraging AI to better match opportunities to job seekers. To ensure you’re seeing the job opportunities that are most likely a good fit for you, update your résumé and personal profile regularly. Be sure to include details about not only what you’re good at but also what you hope to do more of in a new role. This will help pull up job postings that match both your experience and your aspirations.
- Beat the AI filters by customizing your résumé. AI works both ways. In addition to showing you job opportunities you might find interesting, some platforms use AI to filter applicants to show hiring managers candidates they might find most compelling. So, when applying, it helps to customize your résumé for each role, highlighting the skills and experiences emphasized in the job posting. This is especially important now, as application volume has increased significantly.
- Tap into your network—but do it thoughtfully. If you know someone at the hiring organization in a professional context, write them one or two gentle emails about the role. Ask whether they have more information and, if so, whether they’d be willing to speak to you about it. Sometimes such conversations lead to a professional recommendation from your contact, which can help you beat the AI filters and gain an advantage in a competitive field of job seekers. Keep in mind, however, that only professional recommendations that speak to your relevant skills and qualifications are useful to hiring managers. By contrast, pursuing a position through a personal connection outside your professional network can position you as someone who can’t (or thinks they can’t) get the job based on their own merits.
- Don’t be creepy with ‘cold contacting.’ If you don’t know anyone at the organization, don’t resort to cold contacting. Sending emails to a complete stranger about job opportunities is unprofessional and can seriously backfire. If the person you’re about to email isn’t already familiar with the quality of your work, don’t send the email. Nothing annoys hiring managers more than uninvited emails; it won’t make a good first impression.
- Consider job opportunities beyond your niche. We’re hearing that state governments, for instance, are hiring and eager to pick up displaced workers. There’s a good chance many of your skills are transferable. There’s no need to limit yourself to similar roles in similar organizations.
- Consider short-term job opportunities (if you can afford to). Given the uncertain economic outlook, many hiring managers we’ve spoken with have expressed trepidation about making long-term, full-time commitments to new staff. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to get done! If you’re in a position to provide short-term or part-time support, many organizations may be eager to hire you for a specific project or duration. These opportunities often aren’t posted externally, so the best way to find them is to reach out to former colleagues and peers you’ve worked closely with.
An email (with your résumé attached) inquiring about short-term or part-time job opportunities might:
- note you’re aware they may not be hiring for a full-time position but you’re open to alternative arrangements;
- succinctly explain your skill set and how it relates to the organization’s work;
- give clear, concise reasons for your interest in contributing to their organization and mission; and
- briefly state what type of alternative arrangements you’d be available for: short-term, part-time, etc.
Seeking a new role under uncertain circumstances is never easy, but there are options job seekers can take advantage of to find well-matched job postings, be found by hiring managers, and broaden their professional horizons to other sectors or alternative work arrangements. We hope these tips will help you turn current challenges into future opportunities.
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