Your Job Search May Be Too Broad
I hear some version of this from job seekers all the time:
“I’m open! I could do development, communications, operations, maybe program work. I’m really just looking for the right organization.”
And I get it. When you need a job, narrowing your search can feel like you’re closing doors.
But sometimes keeping all of your options open actually makes it harder for people to understand where you fit.
If I ask what kind of job you’re looking for and the answer is “I can do a lot of things. I’m flexible, and can adapt to what the organization needs,” while admirable and probably true, I don’t know what opportunities to send you.
And a hiring manager looking at your resume is probably going to have the same problem. So here are a few recalibrations that might help you.
You do not need to pick one job for the rest of your life. Just decide for the right now.
I usually recommend getting down to two or three lanes. Maybe it’s Development Director roles at advocacy organizations. Maybe it’s Chief of Staff and senior operations roles. Maybe you’re looking at communications leadership jobs where you get to manage both strategy and people.
The point isn’t to make your search smaller for the sake of making it smaller. The point is to make your story easier to understand.
Because once you know what you’re targeting, a lot of other things get easier. Especially if you’re considering pivoting careers, something we discussed last month in our newsletter. Give it a read.
Your resume can emphasize the experience those jobs actually care about. Your LinkedIn can tell a clearer story. You know who you should be networking with. And when someone says, “What are you looking for next?”you can give them an answer they can actually do something with.
Here’s a test: could someone in your network describe the job you want to another person?
If you tell me, “I’m looking for something mission-driven where I can use my skills,” I probably can’t help much.
If you tell me, “I’m looking for senior development roles at organizations working on climate or democracy, ideally where I can build a major gifts program,” now I know exactly who and what to keep an eye out for.
That specificity doesn’t mean you can’t apply for something unexpected that looks great. It just gives your search a center of gravity.
And if you’re struggling to narrow it down, look at the last 10 jobs you saved or applied to. What do they actually have in common? What work are you consistently excited about? What are you qualified to do and interested in doing again?
Your answer is probably more specific than “I could do a lot of things.”
And that’s a good thing.
Happy job searching!
Naomi
PS: If you’re looking for a community while you look for a job, you should join our Networking Hour in 2027.
Managing Director (Anonymous Risk Advisory Firm) | Remote | $175,000-$200,000
VP Programs, Climate & Biodiversity (Friends of the Earth) | Remote | $165,000-$200,000
Director of Development and Communications (Coalition for Asian American Children and Families - CACF) | New York City, NY | $140,000-$150,000
Executive Advisor, Strategic Partnerships (Friends of the Earth) | Remote | $140,000-$150,000
Chief Of Staff (Only One) | Remote | $140,00-$170,000
Communications Director (We Build Progress) |Remote | $150,200-$160,000
People Operations Manager (Growald Climate Fund) | Brookline, MA (Hybrid) | $117,00-$125,000
We're hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of them on the NRG website.
Ask The Coach
Feeling stuck in your job search? Not sure where to start, or what to do next?
Join us for a Q&A session with our career coach, Kristin Saybe. This is for all levels, so whether you’re looking to break into the c-suite, or if you’re finding your first job out of college, this is for you!
📢 Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the roles we’re hiring for. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! If you received this from a friend, sign up here to receive future “Get Hired'' newsletters.
Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a partner to help you with your job search strategy, learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you.