Working for an NPO

[PsychStudent21]

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Hi,

I couldn't really find anything posted on here about working for a non-profit org in the field (counseling/social work). Anyone have any general tips or suggestions?

Do you negotiate salary/job offer in an NPO? I wasn't thinking to considering they are usually grant/privately funded, but everyone around me is telling me to negotiate any type of job offer (although none of them work in the non-profit field).

Any advice or comments would be great. Thanks!

 

[MBellows]

Hi,

I couldn't really find anything posted on here about working for a non-profit org in the field (counseling/social work). Anyone have any general tips or suggestions?

Do you negotiate salary/job offer in an NPO? I wasn't thinking to considering they are usually grant/privately funded, but everyone around me is telling me to negotiate any type of job offer (although none of them work in the non-profit field).

Any advice or comments would be great. Thanks!

I would always -try- to negotiate, unless it was a program that I really liked and I had a good way to supplement the work on the side. Just remember that sometimes they aren't able to negotiate with you. It's not necessarily because they don't want to, but if they are grant funded they may only be able to spend so much on each position.

 

[JustNoticing]

Yea, I'd treat it like any other job. You only know if there is flexibility with the salary if you ask!

 

[Goobernut]

I've also heard suggested that if you can't negotiate salary -- try to negotiate benefits. Like see if they will tack on additional paid days off, extra paid sick days. A cell phone for work -- Shorter work hours but paid at full price.

The social work podcast has a great episode on "salary negotiation" that I think would be beneficial to anyone looking to work with the types of organizations we usually work with in community mental health (no money) haha.

 

[MBellows]

I've also heard suggested that if you can't negotiate salary -- try to negotiate benefits. Like see if they will tack on additional paid days off, extra paid sick days. A cell phone for work -- Shorter work hours but paid at full price.

The social work podcast has a great episode on "salary negotiation" that I think would be beneficial to anyone looking to work with the types of organizations we usually work with in community mental health (no money) haha.

Totally not a social worker... Totally have a brocrush on Jonathan Singer

Also, benefits can include them paying for CEUs. When you get licensed, try to never pay for CEUs.

 

[Goobernut]

He runs a great podcast!! He just has really great info all around, and some of his guests aren't social workers 🙂 I especially love the bits where he talks about sound quality. I don't know why, but I love his attention to detail! He's worthy of a brocrush.

BTW if you know of a counseling podcast that is just as good, I'll give it some equal opportunity love.

 

[JustNoticing]

Link?

 

[MBellows]

He runs a great podcast!! He just has really great info all around, and some of his guests aren't social workers 🙂 I especially love the bits where he talks about sound quality. I don't know why, but I love his attention to detail! He's worthy of a brocrush.

BTW if you know of a counseling podcast that is just as good, I'll give it some equal opportunity love.

The ACA puts out a podcast. I think you can just search for ACA in the iTunes store. You are supposed to have an ACA membership to get it, but I was able to get it from there before I shilled out for the membership. Personally I think the membership is worth it, Counseling Today is usually good for a laugh each month.

 

[PsychStudent21]

Thanks everyone.
I do listen to both podcasts occasionally, never thought to look through them, the SW was very helpful!

 

[MBellows]

Link?

http://socialworkpodcast.blogspot.com/

 

[JustNoticing]

The ACA puts out a podcast. I think you can just search for ACA in the iTunes store. You are supposed to have an ACA membership to get it, but I was able to get it from there before I shilled out for the membership. Personally I think the membership is worth it, Counseling Today is usually good for a laugh each month.

Some of the links the ACA posts from Counseling Today from their Facebook page are downright embarrassing to me by association.

 

[MBellows]

Some of the links the ACA posts from Counseling Today from their Facebook page are downright embarrassing to me by association.

It's an issue that needs dealing with. Hopefully there will be an increased focus on research and evidence base that will change that. I've seen bad stuff from them, NASW, and APA that have been somewhere between laughable and face-palm-tastic.

Their podcast series has, in my experience, been much better.

 

[FMSW]

I know I'm late to the topic but figured I'd through my experience in. I was offered a Case Management position with a large NPO but like you, I had heard that one shouldn't negotiate salary, so I took the 1st offer. Well, after meeting with my new co-workers (we were all hired on within weeks of each other) they were all getting paid a bit more than me because they hadn't accepted the 1st offer. One of them went back and forth 4 times and was able to get $6,000 more than me which is pretty impressive for a NPO.

A few months later I applied for a different position within the same NPO and this time I negotiated. Granted I was only able to get them to go up roughly $2,500 from their starting offer, but it was a grant position through the government so they didn't have much wiggle room to begin with. They maxed out the grant with my salary so negotiating even when a grant is involved is still possible.

As others mentioned, some other things can be negotiated such as telecommuting, extended lunch, access to a work vehicle or expense account if applicable. I was able to get a work cell, laptop, a corner office (trivial but worth it when it's warm those windows come in handy!). I was also able to get them to pay for me to attend a national conference, travel, and hotel accommodations.

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