Fulltime Timeline

Nonprofit organizations do not typically recruit; they usually hire-as-needed and fill their openings as quickly as possible with candidates that are referred to them. For that reason, the best job search strategy is to build your network so that when a job opens, you aware of it early in the process.

Keep in mind that the fiscal year for most nonprofit organizations runs July 1-June 30, so March and April is usually when budgets for the upcoming fiscal year are being developed and finalized. Employment opportunities tend to increase with the start of a new fiscal year.

Most students do not get nonprofit jobs through on-campus recruiting, so your interviews are generally off-campus. The Job Search Assistance Fund is available to help cover costs associated with interviewing in the nonprofit or public sectors.

Career Services will assist you with your job search, but please remember, we do not match students with employers; obtaining employment is your responsibility. We encourage you to take the following steps to ensure a successful job search outcome:

September/October

Attend the Public Service Fair to learn about local organizations and to secure a spring and/or fall part-time internship. Part-time internships will help build your resume and your network.
Gain access to TartanTRAK to upload your resume.
Decide what type of organization you are seeking (e.g. large or small), what city you would like to live in, what issue you would like to work on, etc.
Research fellowship opportunities.
Meet with your career advisor to discuss your interests and to organize your job search.

November/December

Attend the workshops to perfect your resume, hone your interviewing skills, and gain knowledge about the job search process.
Attend relevant information sessions.
Participate in mock interviews.
Get your resume cleaned up and reviewed by your career advisor.

January/February

Attend relevant Network Nights
Talk to alumni about opportunities in their organization. They're an excellent resource for learning more about a particular organization, career field or employment opportunity. You can find alumni in the Alumni Directory, Alumni Career Advisor Network, and Carnegie Mellon Alumni LinkedIn Network.
Join professional organizations, attend conferences, conduct informational interviews to help foster relationships in the field.

March/April

Update your resume with relevant academic projects, coursework, etc.
Look at organizations’ websites for job postings and also use the online resources
Attend relevant Network Nights and Career Fairs (i.e. Pittsburgh Nonprofit Job and Internship Fair, and Network Washington, DC ).
Make contact with employers, send resumes and applications, and begin the interviewing process.

May/June