1. Is it okay to volunteer at a nonprofit that I’m also applying to work at?
I applied for a job at a nonprofit I really want to work for 2 weeks ago. I am perfectly qualified for this position. I received an email right away saying they have just started the search process and will be in contact when they start interviewing. I have applied to multiple other positions at this organization, and had a few interviews over the past few years, but no job offers. I also know some people on the inside – and therefore I know that they tend to be slow in their hiring process. I have no idea what the timeline for this position is, but it could be awhile before they start interviewing.
Would it be acceptable to volunteer at this nonprofit while I wait to hear about the job? They have advertised on their website that they are looking for volunteers – to do essentially the same thing as the paid position (but as aides, not the leader). I am wondering if offering to volunteer could help my application, since they would see me doing the work, or if it might hurt it because if they already have me doing the work for free, why would they bother hiring me? Also would it look suspicious to volunteer while i’m trying to get the job – do you think that is too eager? If you think I should volunteer there, do I mention I’ve applied for the job when I sign up to volunteer?
Volunteering can help you quite a bit when you’re hoping to get a job at a nonprofit — because it makes you more of a known quantity and allows you to demonstrate that you’re responsible, reliable, professional, and sane … qualities that count for a fair amount in hiring. Moreover, if you can build relationships with people there, that can get you an in as well. That said, don’t volunteer with the expectation that you’ll get the job; it can help, but it’s far from a guarantee. If you know you’ll feel resentful if you don’t get hired, don’t go the volunteer route. But it’s a good way to build your network and presumably do good in the world, even if it doesn’t lead to this particular job.
Update: Some commenters pointed out that I got this one wrong. I’m going to quote commenters Majigail and Artemesia here, because they got it right. From Majigail: “To me, it almost feels like the applicants that just show up and ask for a tour to ‘get to know the organization,’ when what they really want is an unscheduled interview and a foot in the door. I honestly feel like it could do you more harm than good.” From Artemesia: “This is how I would feel — a bit bullied by the applicant. It might influence me to reject the candidate. Of course, if they were already a long term volunteer then that would be different. But to volunteer during the search process just shouts ‘suck up’ and ‘trying to game the hiring process.’ Not everyone is going to find that comfortable.”
2. Employer seemed enthusiastic, but are they now losing interest?
I had an interview earlier in the week which went very well! It was a great relaxed tone, we laughed, shares some jokes and I got a tour of the facility and was even introduced to 5 or 6 people. When we were finishing up the tour, I was asked if the job was something I’d be interested in, I said yes, but tried to contain my excitement. On the way out the director the woman (who is also the director) shook my hand, have me a pat on the shoulder and said HR will be contacting me.
That evening, I emailed the three people I met with, thanking them — the administrative director, the medical director, and the HR recruiter. The director and medical director both responded to my email within 30 minutes, saying that it was a pleasure meeting me and they really enjoyed our time together. HR responded the next day, saying that if they choose to move forward with me, she will be in touch by the end of this week, but if I had any questions I can email her. I had a question today and her response was very vague, which is leading me to believe that after all of the positive vibes I’ve received from the decision makers that now I might be passed by for the position.
None of this means anything. The tour and the interviewer asking you if you’d be interested in the job didn’t mean you were likely to get the job, and the HR person’s vague response to your email didn’t mean that you’re not likely to get the job. None of this means anything at all. You are reading into all sorts of signs that don’t actually mean anything. You will know if you are likely to be offered the job if they tell you that they’re offering you the job.
3. My hostile manager won’t invite me to the staff party at her house
About 2 years ago, my boss fired me. I brought a grievance and won. She has been hostile ever since, and is becoming more and more hostile. Her latest antic was to “disinvite” me from the staff Christmas party, which is help at her house during off hours. She invited everyone on the staff but me. And, when I asked, she told me it was a “private event.”
I also have not had a performance evaluation since my 3 month review, right after I was hired. Other members of our staff have. The grievance 4 months after that, and I’ve been at this position for a total of 2.5 years. Any thoughts on this?
Your boss is behaving like an ass, but … well, when you file a grievance against your manager who fired you and end up forcing your reinstatement, it’s not surprising that she’s not embracing you. You could take this stuff up with someone above her, but even if you’re successful in doing that, it’s not going to magically turn her into a manager who’s fair to you and on your side. And a manager who wants you gone can make your life unpleasant and do a lot of damage to your career, even while the toeing the line to people above her.
I would think seriously about looking for a position working for someone who doesn’t have it in for you.
4. My grandfather, who I work with, wants me to wake up at 6:30 every morning
I work with my grandfather in his pest control company. I also live with him. We work by appointments, so sometimes we have early appointments, sometimes we don’t. He wants me to be up at 6:30 every morning (unless we need to be up earlier (which I am perfectly fine with). My problem is that when we don’t have an appointment till later, he still wants me to wake up at 6:30, which is fine if I need to leave at 7:15 (it takes me 45 minutes from alarm to walking out the door), which not all the time I have to. I like to sleep all the time I possibly can sleep, and I don’t want to have to sit around the house doing nothing in the morning when I could be sleeping. His only reasoning for anything I have an issue with is “because I said so.”
Are there any rules or regulations that allow him to or prohibit him from requiring me to wake up at a certain time? And where can I find the official rules so I can prove to him that he can’t (if that’s the case)?
The only rules that apply here are the rules of Working For Your Grandfather While Also Living With Him.
In general, if your employer wants to engage in particular activities outside of your normal work hours, they need to pay you for your time (assuming you’re non-exempt, which it sounds like you are). But this isn’t about labor law; this is about you and your grandfather needing to work out what’s reasonable for him to expect of you and whether you want to comply with those expectations (and what the trade-off will be if you decide not to).
5. Does my resume need to list my jobs chronologically?
Does my current job have to be listed first on my resume? Or can you list jobs based on relevance to the job you are applying to?
You should list your jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first) because that’s how employers expect your work history to be presented. However, you can certainly have one section for Relevant Experience and another for Other Experience.
1. Is it okay to volunteer at a nonprofit that I’m also applying to work at?
I applied for a job at a nonprofit I really want to work for 2 weeks ago. I am perfectly qualified for this position. I received an email right away saying they have just started the search process and will be in contact when they start interviewing. I have applied to multiple other positions at this organization, and had a few interviews over the past few years, but no job offers. I also know some people on the inside – and therefore I know that they tend to be slow in their hiring process. I have no idea what the timeline for this position is, but it could be awhile before they start interviewing.
Would it be acceptable to volunteer at this nonprofit while I wait to hear about the job? They have advertised on their website that they are looking for volunteers – to do essentially the same thing as the paid position (but as aides, not the leader). I am wondering if offering to volunteer could help my application, since they would see me doing the work, or if it might hurt it because if they already have me doing the work for free, why would they bother hiring me? Also would it look suspicious to volunteer while i’m trying to get the job – do you think that is too eager? If you think I should volunteer there, do I mention I’ve applied for the job when I sign up to volunteer?
Volunteering can help you quite a bit when you’re hoping to get a job at a nonprofit — because it makes you more of a known quantity and allows you to demonstrate that you’re responsible, reliable, professional, and sane … qualities that count for a fair amount in hiring. Moreover, if you can build relationships with people there, that can get you an in as well. That said, don’t volunteer with the expectation that you’ll get the job; it can help, but it’s far from a guarantee. If you know you’ll feel resentful if you don’t get hired, don’t go the volunteer route. But it’s a good way to build your network and presumably do good in the world, even if it doesn’t lead to this particular job.
Update: Some commenters pointed out that I got this one wrong. I’m going to quote commenters Majigail and Artemesia here, because they got it right. From Majigail: “To me, it almost feels like the applicants that just show up and ask for a tour to ‘get to know the organization,’ when what they really want is an unscheduled interview and a foot in the door. I honestly feel like it could do you more harm than good.” From Artemesia: “This is how I would feel — a bit bullied by the applicant. It might influence me to reject the candidate. Of course, if they were already a long term volunteer then that would be different. But to volunteer during the search process just shouts ‘suck up’ and ‘trying to game the hiring process.’ Not everyone is going to find that comfortable.”
2. Employer seemed enthusiastic, but are they now losing interest?
I had an interview earlier in the week which went very well! It was a great relaxed tone, we laughed, shares some jokes and I got a tour of the facility and was even introduced to 5 or 6 people. When we were finishing up the tour, I was asked if the job was something I’d be interested in, I said yes, but tried to contain my excitement. On the way out the director the woman (who is also the director) shook my hand, have me a pat on the shoulder and said HR will be contacting me.
That evening, I emailed the three people I met with, thanking them — the administrative director, the medical director, and the HR recruiter. The director and medical director both responded to my email within 30 minutes, saying that it was a pleasure meeting me and they really enjoyed our time together. HR responded the next day, saying that if they choose to move forward with me, she will be in touch by the end of this week, but if I had any questions I can email her. I had a question today and her response was very vague, which is leading me to believe that after all of the positive vibes I’ve received from the decision makers that now I might be passed by for the position.
None of this means anything. The tour and the interviewer asking you if you’d be interested in the job didn’t mean you were likely to get the job, and the HR person’s vague response to your email didn’t mean that you’re not likely to get the job. None of this means anything at all. You are reading into all sorts of signs that don’t actually mean anything. You will know if you are likely to be offered the job if they tell you that they’re offering you the job.
3. My hostile manager won’t invite me to the staff party at her house
About 2 years ago, my boss fired me. I brought a grievance and won. She has been hostile ever since, and is becoming more and more hostile. Her latest antic was to “disinvite” me from the staff Christmas party, which is help at her house during off hours. She invited everyone on the staff but me. And, when I asked, she told me it was a “private event.”
I also have not had a performance evaluation since my 3 month review, right after I was hired. Other members of our staff have. The grievance 4 months after that, and I’ve been at this position for a total of 2.5 years. Any thoughts on this?
Your boss is behaving like an ass, but … well, when you file a grievance against your manager who fired you and end up forcing your reinstatement, it’s not surprising that she’s not embracing you. You could take this stuff up with someone above her, but even if you’re successful in doing that, it’s not going to magically turn her into a manager who’s fair to you and on your side. And a manager who wants you gone can make your life unpleasant and do a lot of damage to your career, even while the toeing the line to people above her.
I would think seriously about looking for a position working for someone who doesn’t have it in for you.
4. My grandfather, who I work with, wants me to wake up at 6:30 every morning
I work with my grandfather in his pest control company. I also live with him. We work by appointments, so sometimes we have early appointments, sometimes we don’t. He wants me to be up at 6:30 every morning (unless we need to be up earlier (which I am perfectly fine with). My problem is that when we don’t have an appointment till later, he still wants me to wake up at 6:30, which is fine if I need to leave at 7:15 (it takes me 45 minutes from alarm to walking out the door), which not all the time I have to. I like to sleep all the time I possibly can sleep, and I don’t want to have to sit around the house doing nothing in the morning when I could be sleeping. His only reasoning for anything I have an issue with is “because I said so.”
Are there any rules or regulations that allow him to or prohibit him from requiring me to wake up at a certain time? And where can I find the official rules so I can prove to him that he can’t (if that’s the case)?
The only rules that apply here are the rules of Working For Your Grandfather While Also Living With Him.
In general, if your employer wants to engage in particular activities outside of your normal work hours, they need to pay you for your time (assuming you’re non-exempt, which it sounds like you are). But this isn’t about labor law; this is about you and your grandfather needing to work out what’s reasonable for him to expect of you and whether you want to comply with those expectations (and what the trade-off will be if you decide not to).
5. Does my resume need to list my jobs chronologically?
Does my current job have to be listed first on my resume? Or can you list jobs based on relevance to the job you are applying to?
You should list your jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first) because that’s how employers expect your work history to be presented. However, you can certainly have one section for Relevant Experience and another for Other Experience.
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