 |
Shelly Cryer
Fieldstone Alliance/American Humanics
284 pages. $18.95.
This insightful handbook is for job seekers in all nonprofit fields who would like to join 12.9 million paid workers and 4.7 million volunteers in careers that are “part of a life of meaning that … makes an impact for good.”
A model of clarity and organization, the book opens with a detailed description of the nonprofit sector. Nine subsectors, such as education, health and religion, are analyzed, from agencies and programs to job-search websites. Careers are described in five broad categories: senior management; programs and service delivery; administration, human resources, and finance; development and fundraising; and communications. Among 15 sample job descriptions are several in youth services, including after-school counselor and youth program director. Career preparation and job search strategies are customized for the nonprofit world.
Featured voices from the field illuminate topics such as work-life balance and fundraising. A “So You Want to Be a Youth Worker?” sidebar gives an overview of the field, lists large youth organizations, and suggests resources. Nineteen profiles of professionals offer valuable advice for those considering similar jobs. (Most say that “passion” is necessary.) Youth worker profiles include those of an associate executive director of Fresh Youth Initiatives and a teen membership and program specialist at the YMCA.
Students, new graduates, and seasoned professionals will all find solid direction here. (800) 274-6024, http://www.fieldstonealliance.org.
