Switching Careers From Nonprofit to For-Profit: Job Search, Resume & Interview Tips

Making a career switch from the nonprofit to the for-profit sector is exciting. And with only one in 10 jobs in the U.S. being nonprofit, it can open up a whole new world of professional opportunities. 

However, changing sectors also brings with it many uncertainties. 

Will for-profit companies value your skills equally? How differently do organizations run? Will it be easy to translate your experience? Is it the right move for you?

Having questions about how to switch careers from nonprofit is natural. While there are certain key differences that are important to know about, there are also some surprising similarities that mean the change might be easier than you think. Ultimately, understanding the contrasting dynamics that shape each sector will help you navigate this transition with confidence.

So if you're preparing to change careers, read on to learn all you need to know to successfully switch from nonprofit to for-profit.

Nonprofit vs. For-Profit: The Key Differences

Whatever your background and position, you should be aware of some major differences between for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Knowing the differences when switching careers from nonprofit to for-profit can make the transition much smoother. 

Mission and Purpose

Perhaps the most obvious difference between nonprofits and for-profits is mission. Social, humanitarian, or environmental motives typically drive nonprofit organizations. Therefore, their purpose usually focuses on impact over profitability. 

While for-profit businesses may also have a positive mission, their main objective is to generate profits. Therefore, the mission typically looks like providing products or services in exchange for financial gains. 

Funding

How organizations fund themselves in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors is also majorly different. 

Nonprofits rely on funding from:

• Government grants and support 
• Donations
• Fundraising 

For-profits, on the other hand, generate revenue through sales or secure funding through:

• Loans 
• Investments
• Stocks

Organizational Structure

Organizational structures in nonprofit and for-profit organizations are both typically hierarchical. Both sectors need skilled employees and have HR departments to hire and manage staff, conduct interviews, provide training, and perform other tasks.

Nonprofit structures usually have a board of directors or trustees that act as the organization’s decision-makers. There may also be staff and volunteers working to achieve the institution's mission. 

In for-profit companies, shareholders have ultimate control. The working structure usually has a CEO or president as the core decision-maker, followed by levels of management and employees. 

Finances and accounting 

As nonprofits' financial aims are around sustaining their mission, compared with for-profits' objectives of maximizing profits, you may expect a higher salary and more financial incentives in the private sector. 

If you are working in payroll, HR, or accounting, you may need to learn a new set of financial structures when switching from public to private. Note that while non-profits still pay payroll taxes, they may be exempt from other state and corporate taxes, unlike private companies. 

Performance Measurement

The performance metrics in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors are again quite disparate, so you may need to get used to measuring success in a new way. 

Nonprofits typically measure social impact. A charity increasing literacy rates of children, for example, may follow metrics on numbers of children served by school enrollments. For-profit companies typically use KPIs (key performance indicators) to measure long-term performance based on tangible factors like sales, revenue, and profits.

Culture and Values

Due to the different nature of the missions of these two sectors, employees moving from one to the other may notice a shift in culture and values. This can manifest in the company culture and the types of people drawn to work there. 

A not-for-profit company culture typically champions the values of compassion, purpose, and camaraderie. Nonprofits are also likely to attract committed, purpose-driven, and non-financially-motivated individuals.

Profit-motivated companies, however, may focus more on employee incentives and satisfaction as well as innovation and growth. They are more likely to attract ambitious individuals motivated by innovation and improving their circumstances. 

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Resume and Interview Tips for Translating Nonprofit Experience to For-Profit World

Changing careers can be tricky and overwhelming, especially when it comes to translating your skills and experience into an unrelated sector. 

Resume Tips

Focus on the following when crafting your resume:

• Highlight transferable skills: Focus on your skills that are relevant and valuable in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, like time management, leadership, or communication. 
• Quantify your impact: Measurably presenting your impact will likely resonate with the results-driven culture of for-profit businesses.
• Tailor your resume for each application: As there may be a gap between the exact skills needed when jumping careers, it is vital you customize your resume and highlight relevant skills for each role. 
• Show your adaptability: Highlight any cross-functional projects, collaborations with external partners, and skills you acquired during your nonprofit work to show your adaptability.
• Incorporate business language: Adapting your language is a simple trick to be able to appeal more easily to businesses in the for-profit sector. Research terms and terminology used in the company’s job description, website, and general industry. Also, don’t forget to cut public sector jargon from your resume. 
• Seek guidance: Don’t leave it to guesswork. Ask friends, family, or other contacts who work in the sector to provide real insight. 

Interview Tips

• Prepare your story: Interview preparation is always key. But get really clear on your narrative behind your passion for making a positive impact and how this aligns with the values and goals of the company you are interviewing for.
• Translate your experience and skills: Instead of simply explaining your experience, highlight how your unique skill set can be an asset in the for-profit world. Emphasize transferable abilities like soft skills and problem-solving abilities. Use active language like ‘led’ or ‘created’ for maximum impact.
• Be willing to learn: Show you are eager and ready to adapt to a for-profit environment. 
• Be company-specific: Demonstrate strong research skills and an understanding of the company culture. Target companies where your skills are an asset and may even put you ahead of other candidates.
• Be honest: While you can focus on your skills and strengths, be upfront and honest about areas for improvement. Make it clear that you are open to new ideas, training, and development.

Is It the Right Move for You?

Despite the differences between the sectors, if you feel ready to change careers, there’s no reason why you can’t successfully transition from nonprofit to for-profit jobs. Prepared with the knowledge and skills above, as well as iHire’s career change toolkit and other job seeker resources, you have everything you need to continue your professional growth in a new setting.