Building a Nonprofit Career, with Amy Chu

Switching job sectors can be challenging for any job seeker. But it's not impossible to make the switch, especially if you have a strong network of support around you. On this bonus episode of Find Your Dream Job, Amy Chu (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amynchu/) and I discuss how she went from a career in technology to a more fulfilling one in the nonprofit world. Amy also shares how she used networking and professional organizations within the nonprofit field to build up a significant support network that still supports her today. Learn more about Amy’s career history below in this installment of our Success Stories series (https://www.macslist.org/articles/success-stories).

What do you do for a career? Who do you work for?

I am the Data and Information Administrator for Sisters of the Road (https://sistersoftheroad.org/), a nonprofit Cafe in the Old Town neighborhood working to create systemic change that will end poverty and homelessness forever by providing accessible, nourishing meals in a safe, dignified space.

How long did it take you to find this job?

It took me about three months of active job searching to find my current job. I made it clear while I was job hunting that I was looking for meaningful work, and many people I knew in Portland suggested I apply at Sisters of the Road. Fortunately for me, they had an open position which I applied for and was invited in for an interview.

How did you find your job? What resources did you use? What tool or tactic helped the most?

I found the job on the Sisters of the Road employment web page through word-of-mouth recommendations. I was also using Mac’s List, PDX Pipeline, LinkedIn Jobs, and recruitment agencies. Scheduling informational interviews with nonprofit professionals I found on LinkedIn helped me build a support network and learn more about the nonprofit sector.

What was the most difficult part of your job search? How did you overcome this challenge?

Deciding whether moving into the nonprofit sector would be the right transition for me after working in the technology sector was tough. Job hunting in Portland is also very different from job hunting in the Bay Area. The technology sector is smaller, and the creative and nonprofit sectors are more prevalent.

I overcame this challenge by reading Mac Prichard’s book “Land Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond)” while cultivating a support network. The book identified job boards I had never heard of, local nonprofit networking groups, and much more. I also landed more phone and in-person interviews once I started tailoring my cover letter and resume to each position that caught my interest.

What is the single best piece of advice you would offer other job-seekers?

Figure out what you are looking for in your next job and request informational interviews with individuals who have similar jobs (https://www.macslist.org/networking/6-tips-next-informational-interview).

Why do you love your job?

My job requires me to be the database expert, responsible for the input, tracking, and reporting of data related to revenue, as well as generating tax and gift acknowledgements. This is befitting because I enjoy working with software, analyzing data, and making sure the data is accurate. I also enjoy providing database training and support to our volunteers and staff because I like helping others learn new things.

Last but not least, I believe that working towards building authentic relationships and alleviating the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty to end them forever is a worthy mission.

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