Two years ago I retired from my corporate job and began part-time work with two small non-profits.  Although the transition was something of a shock (no tech support! no cleaning service!) the rewards have been great.  And so have the pressures: In this era of corporate mergers and layoffs, total job security is rare indeed, but in the nonprofit world, the entire agency can disappear if timely funding does not arrive each year.  Fortunately, my former deadline-driven job taught me how to work at the edge of crisis. While I found corporate life pleasantly enjoyable most of the time, with the inevitable crises and challenges, I have found that in the non-profit sector, the peaks are higher as you experience personal transformations in the persons you are serving. 

In this issue, Allison Elliott interviews Kristen Pearson, who has worked for both and finds that the grass can indeed be green on both sides. The Editor.

After gaining an undergraduate degree in marketing, Kristen was prepped for a career in high-end fashion and corporate sales.  Several years of working in licensing left her looking for something different and she soon became drawn to the non-profit world, specifically to a tutoring and mentoring center for young women in the Bronx called Rosedale.  While working there, she developed the skills that would lead to her present position as a Project Rachel coordinator for the Archdiocese of New York and a part-time psychotherapist in private practice.    

What made you want to make the switch from your corporate job to a non-profit?

Doing work that didn't directly help others was beginning to weigh on me around year five of my corporate experience. During my time at Givenchy, I began tutoring an 11-year-old girl from Harlem and thinking about what life would be like if I became a social worker/therapist. That 11-year-old was my gasoline light shining in another direction; my career was about to change.
 
Do you prefer one over the other?  What are the benefits of non-profit vs. a for-profit or corporate job?

My heart prefers non-profit but my head prefers for-profit.  In non-profit (in my case specifically) you have direct contact with those you are serving. In for-profit, sometimes you don't get to receive the joy of witnessing personal transformations but are able to help financially−which is just as valuable but in my opinion, not as rewarding.

There's financial instability in the non-profit world. It's just the nature of that landscape so to speak. This can be disconcerting, especially when you live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. On the flip side, in for-profit one has the ability to support oneself but the work, in some cases, isn't as gratifying. At this crossroads, I had the opportunity to trust our Lord and really ask some tough questions. When you're in the boat sinking and you're in that storm, you just learn valuable lessons quickly.  Experiences working in non-profit changed my interior life more than working in for-profit. This can be a benefit or a cross depending on how one looks at it.
 
What do you like best about your current work situation?  What would you change?

Currently, I'm building my private practice as a psychotherapist. In this case one pulls from their business background to create a business model, but soon realizes that with psychotherapy the building is being built on an emotional and unstable foundation.  When we work with patients who are struggling, commitments aren't always kept.  We call this resistance.  Sometimes people don't show up and therefore one must really be creative to keep the doors open, i.e. pay the rent, supervision et al. So, you have this amazing mix of entrepreneurship and altruistic motives which is a great combination.
 
What do you miss the most about your previous situation?  What do you not miss?

When I was blessed to work at Rosedale, I found it all-consuming. One is constantly giving and not thinking about oneself at all. There was never a dull moment with programs to be developed and families to be served. It was so nice to spend a lot of time with the kids and families directly and bring the programs to life. My favorite part of the day was when the kids would come running up the stairs after school and they would be singing and laughing!  It was the "gift of self" all day every day.  In the end, that’s what I miss most. Right now I still mentor four Rosedale girls. Most of them are in college now and one is still in high school.  I don't miss the 1.5 hour commute to the Bronx everyday!

Do you think certain personality types are better suited for non-profits than others?  What type of work do you think your personality is best suited for?
 
In non-profit I think one has to be flexible and a team player. There were many days when I could have said "oh, that's not my department." Actually, when the trash has to be taken out, you take it out. When a grant has to be written, you write it. When a program coordinator is out sick, you're instantly running the show. So flexibility is key.

I think my current job works well with my personality. I have a great mix of working for the Archdiocese of New York and working in private practice. For the church, my boss gives me a lot of freedom to be creative with the program and if I come up with outside-the-box ideas, she usually allows me to execute them. It’s also nice to work on a marco level (400 parishes in the Archdiocese) and then on the mirco level, one-on-one counseling. It’s a good mix.

Do you see yourself working in your current field or situation long-term?
 
Long-term I expect to become a wife and mother. Being a licensed social worker gives me the flexibility to have a private practice from my house. This was the reason I pursued such a degree. Family would be a priority and I wanted to be close to home if something were to go wrong with my child. The desire in my heart is to do both with the work being the less important role if I were ever so blessed.

What do you think non-profits can do to create more job satisfaction for workers?  What about for-profit?  Do you see a big difference between the two or are they becoming similar?
 
Job security provides some job satisfaction. But a person interviewing should always ask the question, "Do I believe in the mission statement of this company?" One has to be passionate and see a reason for being there. God has given us each strengths and talents and wants to use those talents in a way to glorify him.  If one is an introvert, they shouldn't be working in customer service. If one has a gift for connecting with people, then they shouldn't be in a cubicle all day.  Our only real security comes from Christ, so in the end, if one is praying about such a transition, we can trust that He will guide us in the right direction.

One piece of advice I received once was “Just because you got a job offer, doesn't mean it is the right job for you.”  Also, if after an interview something is telling you that this is the wrong fit, really explore that and speak with someone you trust. Your impact can be great in the world; be sure it is the best fit for you, and then do it with a spirit of service and joy.  

Allison Elliott is a New York-based writer who has made the switch from non-profit to profit herself.  She currently works for a public relations firm.