A Guide to Surviving a Round of Lay Offs

The headlines are screaming about high unemployment rates, pink slip parties and record numbers of lay-offs and downsizing. If you've been laid off or are facing the possibility of unemployment, you may be wondering "What's next?" After the disbelief, denial and feeling of panic, you will need to get some rest and prepare to land your next job. You need to act quickly and be strategic in the way you approach and think about your job search. Doing so will empower you through a lay off or simply help you prepare for the possibility of one in the near future. Follow these strategies and you'll increase your chances to emerge stronger, better-prepared and ready for the dream job which awaits you.

Change Your Career: Transitioning to the Nonprofit Sector by Laura Gassner Otting
How could we not recommend this book? Written by the Founder and President of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, this book is designed to help readers change their careers and ultimately, their lives. This is the A-Z guide to shifting your focus to a nonprofit career with a range of excellent resources and packed with sound, practical advice.

The Charismatic Organization: Eight Ways to Grow a Nonprofit that Builds Buzz, Delights Donors, and Energizes Employees by Shirley Sagawa and Deborah Jospin
While some nonprofits are chronically under funded and understaffed, others can raise a million dollars at a single event. Companies call them when they are seeking cause-related partners. Their boards are full of energetic, knowledgeable, and connected people. They have grown steadily over the last decade. They are the go-to groups on their issues, the place to work, and the leaders in their fields. From our friends Shirley Sagawa and Deb Jospin comes The Charismatic Organization, a sure to be best-seller offering a guide to reframing nonprofit work so that organizations can expand their resource base and sphere of influence to further their missions and achieve greater impact.

Forces for Good: The Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits by Leslie Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant
If you are looking for real-live examples or case studies, this book will really of interest to you and for this reason it was voted a top ten book of 2007 by the Economist magazine. This is a comprehensive review of 12 different nonprofit organizations, including Teach for America and Share Our Strength and their efforts to make a difference with smart, mission-driven practice and leadership. It will change the way you look at nonprofit organizations (big or small) and provides real life examples of how traditional business models translate in the nonprofit sector.

Search: Winning Strategies to Get Your Next Job in the Nonprofit World by Larry Slesinger
This is a practical guide for people seeking employment in the nonprofit world. An executive search consultant, Larry Slesinger will walk you through putting together a step-by-step job search which includes how to make a great impression at an interview, and create a great network.