In the beginning...

Before anything practical, I've gotta say one thing: We're in this together. As a college senior definitely seeing the light pouring out the end of the tunnel, I'm in your boat. I'm juggling classes and volunteer work and the pre-spring-break boot-camp gym routine and making sure my social life goes out with bang—not to mention freaking out about the F-word (future). The balance is, well, pretty unbalanced at times, but I can usually pull at least most of that list together. It's that F-word that I have trouble with.

Don’t think that just because I’m blogging my little heart out about the nonprofit industry I know exactly what I’m doing. Trust me, I don’t. I don’t have a 10-year plan. Or a five-year plan. Or a six-month plan. I graduate on May 20, and to be perfectly honest, I don’t have the slightest idea what I’ll be doing on May 21. I know that I’d like to do something that a) benefits others, b) teaches me something and c) makes me enough money to pay for a corner of a bedroom and 10-for-a-dollar Ramen sales. Beyond that? No idea.

But there’s good news, I promise. There are many, many, many jobs out there that knock a, b and c out of the park. The trick is whittling them down to the one I want. Good news #2: There are lots of ways to do that.

In the early stages of the hunt, you’ve got to just see what’s out there. There are thousands of nonprofits with thousands of missions, some of which you probably don’t know exist. Browse. GuideStar.org lists every last one of ‘em (that’s a registered, tax-paying nonprofit), along with all kinds of information including…salaries!

Idealist.org is another biggie that you can’t afford to miss—and my personal favorite. It connects people from all over the world and allows you to search for jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities and more. There’s also a really cool feature that’ll hook you up with people who share your interests. Use them. Talk to them. Milk them for all they’re worth. (It’s OK, people love to talk about themselves.)

Last but definitely not least way to do the once- (or twice-, or thrice-) over of the landscape: Check out career fairs where you don’t have to zone out reading “About Us” sections of websites and can actually talk to people about the organizations they work for, what they do and how you can get involved. Lucky you—Idealist career fairs are in full swing for the next four months across the U.S. And be on the lookout for regional, city and college career fairs, too. You never know what you’ll find.

Feel free to leave comments about any of my ramblings. I’d especially like to hear what’s on your mind—what’s freaking you out, what’s working, what I’m missing.

And remember the boat. We’re all in it, no lifejackets allowed. It might take some work and a couple years of Ramens, but we’ll figure it out.