At our FLiP events, we often meet young professionals who are interested in making a career change into the philanthropic sector or students looking to make their first step into a career involving social change. Among the most common questions asked is always, “How…?”
Beyond our own experiences regarding “landing” in our current positions (because let’s be honest here, we did not all anticipate working in the philanthropic sector), specifics on a plan or advice on how to position oneself to make that transition is not a topic we can easily speak about. Lucky for us, there are organizations that specialize in doing just that. FLiP sat down with Bettina Seidman, founder of the career management consulting firm, SEIDBET Associates, following her pro bono work as one of the “Ask The Experts” consultants at the recent Craigslist Foundation Non-Profit Boot Camp held in New York.
Thank you, Bettina, for your time and advice. FLiP readers, enjoy!
Future Leaders in Philanthropy (FLiP): Please tell us about your background.
Bettina Seidman (BS): I have been a career management coach for over 15 years, following 20 years in human resources management in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. I have a BA in Psychology, an MBA in Industrial Psychology, and a Certificate in Labor Relations.
FLiP: What is SEIDBET Associates? What are its services and who are its clients?
BS: SEIDBET Associates is the company I founded in 1991. I provide services to clients to help them identify the career or job they want and the techniques to attain those positions including assessment in the case of career change, as well as:
- Resume Development and Editing
- Job Search Techniques
- Strategic Interviewing
- Negotiation
In addition, SEIDBET services include performance coaching, executive coaching, outplacement counseling, and human resources consulting for small organizations.
FLiP: Why career counseling?
BS: I left my job as a Human Resource Director in 1989, the result of downsizing. After doing some human resources consulting work, I decided I wanted to change careers and started working in the outplacement industry where I was trained in career counseling. I liked the work very much because I was able to use all the skills I had ever developed and, shortly thereafter, I started my own company.
FLiP: Recently, you were one of the one-on-one coaches/experts at the Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp (held on Saturday, August 16th). How was your experience?
BS: This was the second year I participated as an Ask the Expert Coach at Craigslist Foundation Boot Camp. I attended Boot Camp two years ago as a participant to learn about it - 2006 was the first year of Boot Camp in New York. In my view, this was the best year of the three - there was more space for the Ask the Expert coaches and more individuals came for coaching. There was also more space in the exhibition room for companies to display their products and services. In addition, the first year Boot Camp was at NYU Stern, the second year at BAM in Brooklyn, and this year back at NYU, at the Skirball Building. Manhattan is always the best venue because it is central. I was able to provide pro bono coaching to a variety of people, including a manager working in nonprofit, several people who wanted to transition into nonprofit from the corporate sector, a couple of young people just finishing college, a man specializing in international relations, and a man who had started a nonprofit and was working on a new logo and mission statement, among other people. My group ranged from age 20 through 58.
FLiP: What kinds of questions were raised?
BS: Resume questions, niche identification questions, job search questions including questions about networking and development of two-minute pitches, and questions about interviewing, and questions about logo and mission statement.
FLiP: Can you give us very top-line advice for professionals who are new to the sector (a majority of our FLiP audience) in terms of setting career goals and a personal business plan?
BS: It is important to be as clear as possible about what you want to do - talk to lots of people already in the niche you have identified and ask prepared questions. Learn all you can about marketing techniques. It is important to have more than a specific skill set. If you want to start a nonprofit organization, you need to learn about running one. If you are looking for a position in the nonprofit sector, you need to learn about developing a marketing-driven resume, the best job search techniques, and strategic interviewing and negotiation skills
Ms. Seidman writes a free monthly newsletter called THE SEIDBET BRIEFING. You can also email her about career management coaching at SEIDBET@aol.com.
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