Professional, campus organizations discuss career options
Efforts to increase community service have been pervasive around campus. However, many students may be unaware that community service can lead to a successful career in the nonprofit sector.
“The Greater Good: A Conversation for Career and Opportunities in the Non-Profit Sector” took place Thursday night in the Capstone Campus Room. Keynote speaker Madeline McGee, president of the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations spoke passionately about her work in the nonprofit field.
McGee grew up in Charleston, S.C., and attended the University of Virginia. She did not intentionally begin her career in the nonprofit sector, but has loved every moment of it.
“If you like people, you’re going to love the nonprofit sector,” McGee said.
McGee said personalities suited for nonprofit work include multitaskers.
“You really have to be good at juggling,” she said.
Campus and national organizations also attended. When McGee finished, students were given the opportunity to speak with representatives from national nonprofit organizations such as Goodwill, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, United Way, City Year, The Boys and Girls Club and Teach for America.
Representatives from campus organizations such as Study Abroad and the Career Center were also available.
“Volunteering gets your foot in the door,” said Community Service Programs Director Theresa Harrison. “A lot of the organizations you work with are nonprofit, so by volunteering with them, that can lead to an internship or a full-time job.”
Student interns for the Peace Corps, Grant Martz and Jared Owenby, attended the event to promote campus involvement. They seek volunteers to help market the Peace Corps through social media, campus posters and lectures. Interested students can attend their event on Monday at 6 p.m. in the Career Center.
Martz, a second-year political science student, said he found his internship through JobMate, an online USC program that helps students find jobs, and helps employers find students.
Alison Hogue, a program coordinator at the Career Center, spoke about the benefits of JobMate.
More than 300 employers in the nonprofit sector are currently listed on JobMate.
Internships are also pivotal in obtaining a desirable job.
“Employers really like to see that experience on your resume,” Hogue said.
In fact, in 2010, 66.7 percent of interns were subsequently offered full-time positions by their employers. Of those, 42 percent received offers before graduation, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Internships also resulted in students receiving about $7,000 more per year than those without internships, according to NACE.
The event was created by second-year students Alex Bren and Kyron Whitfield. Whitfield approached Bren, a business student, about the event because of Bren’s involvement in United Way, and they worked together to make it a success.
Whitfield is the community service coordinator at Preston Residential College. He knew that a lot of students were interested in the nonprofit sector, but didn’t know how to get involved.
“It gives us the chance to talk about the difference between nonprofit and for-profit organizations,” said Whitfield, a second-year marketing and global supply chain operations management student.
He recommends students get involved through the Community Service Program on campus and through Study Abroad.
Whitfield hopes interest will build and the event will become an annual occurrence.