PRO TIP: Using a nonprofit job board is only ONE place to look – read on for some hidden gems
You probably know that tapping into your connections for information and referrals is the most effective way to land interviews, but it’s not the ONLY way. Job seekers do get interviews just by applying to jobs they find online without a connection.
However—as you are probably painfully aware—searching for posted jobs can be overwhelming. Believe it or not, there are 5,000 – 7,000 job boards out there all competing for your attention, and there are dozens just in the nonprofit and social impact space.
>>There is no ONE place to look, but there are ways to streamline your search to be both as expansive and as efficient as possible.
⏰ Use your time wisely so that you can focus on the BEST opportunities and really go for them!
Google for Jobs
This under-utilized tool will help you to find a treasure trove of opportunities, all in one place. It seems crazy to call Google “underutilized” but when I meet with job seekers many are not aware of how powerful it is.
>>Enter your target job title with the term “job” in a Google search bar, and you will see a box of search results like the ones below.
>>Click on XX+ more jobs to see the full list. The search defaults to your current location, but you can change the filters after you get to the next page.
The results will look like the image below.
>>Narrow your search using the many available filters.
- Filter by date posted to see only the most recent opportunities, anything else is likely to have too many applicants already.
>>Try different variations on your target job title to see what new jobs pop up.
>>Create job alerts to be notified about new opportunities.
>>Note the source of the job (where Google found it).
- Again, go directly to the organization’s website and locate the posting in their Careers or Work with Us section. Don’t apply via a secondary site like a job board, and research the organization while you are on their website.
Below are just some of the nonprofit and social impact job boards that Google indexes, so you don’t have to search them all independently!
If any of these job boards are a bullseye for your target job (such as Devex for global jobs), also go directly to that site, as it may also have valuable job search tips.
Comprehensive Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- Glassdoor
- TheMuse
- ZipRecruiter
- CareerBuilder
Nonprofit/Social Impact Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- Idealist.org (big nonprofit site)
- BWork.com (for benefit corporation or Bcorp jobs)
- Foundationlist.org
- Impact and Nonprofit Career Network
- National Council of Nonprofits
- The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Global Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- Devex.com
Education Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- HERCjobs (higher education dual career job search)
- Higher Ed Jobs
- The Chronicle of Higher Education
- Inside Higher Ed
- School Spring
- NAIS Career Center
Environmental Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- Clean Harbors Careers
- NextEra Energy Careers
- Sustainable Business
Social Work/Social Service Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- SocialService.com
- National Association of Social Workers
Social Impact Investing Job Boards indexed by Google for Jobs
- Fast Forward
Staffing and Search Firm Companies indexed by Google for Jobs
- Kelley Nonprofit Consulting
- Scion Nonprofit Staffing
- The Moran Company
- ExecSearches.com
- Koya Partners/CommonGood Careers
For even more details on how to use Google for Jobs, see my blog post for step-by-step tips.
Indeed.com
Indeed’s website is not indexed by Google and should also be part of your toolkit. Indeed.com is both a traditional job board and a job search engine similar to Google for Jobs. They advertised on the Superbowl – you’ve heard of them. Indeed makes money when employers post jobs and even more money when employers promote them (these are the jobs that appear at the top of the results). You can see in the images below that you will get somewhat different results on Indeed and Google even when using the same search terms. The first image is Google results, and the second is Indeed. They both find the Urban League job opening.
One reason Indeed.com is so popular with job seekers is that they have an >>Apply on Indeed<< feature that makes it easier to apply to lots of jobs. And let’s face it, it can be grueling to churn out those applications. DO NOT APPLY ON INDEED – go to the organization’s website.
If you want the job, take the time to both customize your resume using the language you find in the job post, AND write a highly customized cover letter, then apply directly on the organization’s website. You need to be seen as the highly motivated job seeker that you are, not a candidate who is randomly applying for any job.
Nonprofit Job Boards with Bonus Benefits
While the job postings might be indexed by Google, these job boards are worth checking out for the additional educational opportunities they provide.
Idealist is a go-to resource. You’ll find jobs, grad school options, volunteering, internships, and more.
Work for Good is one of the original nonprofit job boards. It is definitely worth checking out.
PND by Candid (formerly Philanthropy News Digest) is another good site with both job postings and a strong educational component.
Slack and Other Communities
There are a growing number of Slack and other communities that have a high concentration of folks in the tech sector but are useful for everyone. In these communities, you’ll find networking opportunities and many jobs posted on various channels.
Two communities I recommend:
Ladies Get Paid is a terrific overall resource for women and their Slack (with almost 100K women!) has a dedicated nonprofit channel (plus many others). There is a free tier.
Remote Woman is a traditional job board with a bonus Slack community; also has a nonprofit jobs channel.
Social Impact Chat (by Social Impact World) is a Slack community for social impact professionals.
Niche Job Boards
Although there are a massive number of jobs to be found using Google and Indeed, not every job board has structured its postings to be easily found by Google and Indeed has stopped indexing new job boards. Employers post on these sites because they get fewer applicants (so less work for recruiters) but they tend to be qualified and committed to the cause.
If you have an interest in a very specific area you will also want to search for [your field] job board to unearth the more specialized sites. These come and go frequently, so don’t rely on job boards you used a couple of years ago. Always do the search.
University Job Boards
You should also check out your university job board, either the university-wide ones like Handshake or department-specific listservs. They often have opportunities for alumni, and there could be some that you won’t find on Google or Indeed.
Local Job Boards
- Most states have a nonprofit association, often with a job board with local listings. Click your state on this map for more information.
- Bigger cities often have a local nonprofit job board. Employers prefer them because they are less expensive and they only get local candidates. Some are indexed by Google, but because they also have many other job seeker resources, they are worth checking out on their own. Google [your city] job board.
Public Service/Government Job Boards
For Federal government jobs, there is only one place to go: USAjobs.gov
- For help applying to these jobs, use gogovernment.org, run by the Partnership for Public Service.
- You will find that you need a completely different resume to apply to Federal jobs, so follow their instructions to the letter.
For state and local government jobs, try www.govtjobs.com and also try this website www.governmentjobs.com
Social Media Job Boards
While social media is great for networking, there are also some sites that act as informal job boards. Members post opportunities they know about for the benefit of others. Two sites to check out:
- Reddit has a subreddit called Nonprofit Jobs (r/Nonprofit_Jobs)
- Facebook has several groups targeting nonprofit job hunters, the largest helpfully titled Nonprofit Job Hunters
- LinkedIn has jobs posted that are indexed by Google, but there are also groups where people informally notify others about opportunities. One to check out is Nonprofit & Philanthropy Jobs, Powered by ImpactFlow
Newsletter with Job Opportunities
Check out a jobs list below and sign up for the newsletter from a progressive recruiter. Learn about nonprofit opportunities (all with salary ranges):
Need even more ideas? Check out this Moving Worlds blog post (from 2020).
Feeling stuck? I can help with a Resume or LinkedIn Profile Review to make sure your application is highly targeted before you apply. Or, you may be interested in a Job Search Power Hour on any career topic that is holding you back, like interviewing or networking.
