I couldn’t find it, so I made it. (Part 1)
In 2022, I applied for more than 20 jobs, almost all of them at small- to mid-sized nonprofit organizations in Pittsburgh. I interviewed for more than half of them, went through several rounds of interviews for about half of those, received verbal offers from about half of those, and requested more information about the total compensation packages so I could do my due diligence. Most of them matched what I was currently making as a program director at a small nonprofit in Pittsburgh, and I was at the top end of the range, which is to say that they were “good” offers.
Although I knew I needed to move on from my current position to achieve my professional goals, I turned down every offer. It was terrifying. Walking away from opportunities felt like minimizing my options, and yet, there was a small, quiet part of me that knew I was doing the right thing. I just didn’t know why yet.
Throughout the process of applying and interviewing for jobs, sometimes multiple at once, I experienced a lot of feelings - sometimes conflicting ones. Fear, nerves, excitement, trepidation, confidence, “imposter syndrome,” a touch of haughtiness here and there. But the overall feeling I had during that time was one of not having enough information, of being out of control of my own destiny.
Despite receiving multiple job offers for what I would have once considered dream jobs, I both walked away and stayed put, kept doing what I was doing and started building something new. I had worked in the nonprofit sector for nearly a decade; it was home. I’ve met most of my friends at work, spent most of my energy on work, and love the work... but if I listened to that small, quiet part of me, I knew that we could all do better.
So instead of doing what I had set out to do - what I had spent so much time and energy trying to accomplish - instead of finding a new home for my career, I walked away. I left the sector I loved, the people I loved, the work that made me feel whole, and useful, and important. I had such a bad time trying to find a job at a nonprofit that I left nonprofits completely... or did I?
“I had such a bad time trying to find a job at a nonprofit that I left nonprofits completely.”
In the time since I made the decision to take the biggest risk of my life, I have continued to work with and serve nonprofit professionals and organizations. I’d argue that my ability to make a difference is greater than it has ever been, and I know for a fact that I am the happiest I’ve ever been. Most importantly, I have been able to impact people like me - people who are trying to find a reason to stay in the sector - in positive ways.
I have helped clients navigate job searches and land jobs they love. I have helped clients traverse jobs they don’t love while building the confidence to make their next big moves. And I have helped job candidates (who aren’t my clients) to have the kind of experience applying for a job (with my clients) that I wish I could have had. I’m proudest of this because now they know. Now they know what it can be like, how nonprofits can treat them, how nonprofits should. In whatever small way I am able to make a difference, I hope that I’m raising the bar for this sector that I love so much that I had to leave.
If my experience resonates with you, I want to meet you. I want to know what lights you up, what brings you down, and what you want to achieve. If you’re a nonprofit professional who is ready to make your next move, whether you love being a nonprofit employee or self-employment is looking pretty good (eek!), let’s chat.
If you’re new here, I’m Shannon Parris, an equity-first management consultant, or as my clients think of me, a trusted, outsourced business partner. I help under-resourced entrepreneurs and nonprofit professionals activate their strategies, optimize their operations, measure and maximize their impact, and foster equitable environments so they can boost their capacity, resolve complex issues, and do the hard work of changing the world.
I plan to use this space to write about my experiences, hopefully in ways that will offer value to my readers. It’s not in my nature to try to sell things. I’m a nonprofit nerd; I just want to help. But what I’m learning about being self-employed is that I get to make choices about how to prioritize my values; I get to do what I want. So this blog may not follow the rules or best practices, but I hope that it does help someone. If there’s a topic you’d like to me to write about, please do let me know.
