What’s Working (and What’s Not) in Today’s Mission-Driven Job Market

Lately, we’ve been hearing this question from job seekers: “I’m doing what I’ve always done to get a job. Why isn’t it working now?”

Well, the game has changed. Today’s job market looks different from even a year ago, and things are constantly changing. We recently hosted a five-session Career Catalyst Miniseries, Navigating the Mission-Driven Job Market, to help unpack job search strategies that work for 2025.

(Sidenote: We were in awe of the vulnerability, honesty and candor the participants brought to each call. This series and the community it created was a success because of our attendees.)

We discussed a lot of information in those sessions, and have captured the top questions (and our answers) below.  We grouped them into themes so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that successful job searching is part strategy and part luck, and you will likely hear differing opinions on each of these topics. The advice below isn’t the way you have to do it, but if it feels like your job search strategies aren’t working, these are ideas that you can test out see if you get a different result. Take the pieces of our advice that resonate with you.

• Job Search Strategies

  I haven’t applied for jobs in awhile. Where do I start?
  Start from within. Before your job search, spend time reflecting on who you are and what you do at the core (also known as your professional brand statement). Jot down the answers to these questions:

  ·       What do you bring to the table?

  ·       What do people count on you for?

  ·       What kind of outcomes have you driven?

  ·       What challenges do you solve?

  ·       Where have you improved systems, people, outcomes?

  ·       How do your skills create value for an organization?

  ·       Why do you do it?

  ·       What are your career values?

  ·       What matters to you most at work?

  ·       What kind of culture do you need to thrive?

  Sum up the answers to these questions in one sentence to develop your professional brand statement. For example, one project manager’s professional brand statement is, "I provide clarity to teams by facilitating strategic conversations because I want to provide an opportunity for people to focus on outcomes and impact."

  I’m applying to jobs below my experience level. How do I explain that?
  Address it in the cover letter. Frame your experience as an intentional career redirection, briefly share the reason for your redirection, and express enthusiasm for the role you are applying for.

  Should I ask for feedback after a rejection?
  You can, but don’t expect it. Some organizations can’t legally or practically provide it. Always send a positive thank-you note regardless and position a request for feedback as a desire to use the information to help improve how you position yourself in future interviews.

  How do I showcase volunteer or non-direct experience?
  Frame it in terms of measurable impact and relevant transferable skills. Include it as a separate section on your resume.

• LinkedIn & Personal Branding

  Should my LinkedIn profile match my resume exactly?
  No, but they should align. Keep job titles, employment dates, and responsibilities consistent. LinkedIn can offer a broader picture while your resume is tailored to each role.

  How detailed should my LinkedIn profile be?
  Try to strike a balance between overly sparse and overly dense. Include summaries and key achievements (two–five bullet points max per role). Make sure to include a professional photo and a banner image that reflect your professional brand (there are free templates available on Canva).

  Should I be posting on LinkedIn?
  Yes! Recruiters may be looking for someone with your skill set and expertise, so make sure to post thoughtful, original content and comments to others' posts that showcase your expertise. One of the panelists in our webinar series was recruited for her dream job this way.

   When it comes to posting specifically about your job search, while some have found this approach helpful, we recommend a more personal touch. As we mentioned above, LinkedIn posts can showcase your thought leadership and create awareness with recruiters that you could be a candidate for the type of position you are trying to attract. Instead of writing public posts about your job search, you can use LinkedIn to send direct messages to network with others and share specifics of your job search there, or ask for a deeper 15-20 minute networking conversation.

• Resumes & Cover Letters

  Should resumes and cover letters be customized for every job?
  Yes, and it’s worth doing so for the jobs that you really are excited about. Your resume is a tool to inspire the recruiter or hiring manager to invite you to an interview where they can learn more about you. Cover letters are an opportunity to stand out among the applicant pool, share more about your values and personal connection to the mission, and showcase areas where your background and skills match the qualifications and experience needed for the role.

  How far back should my resume go?
  Your resume should include up to 10-15 years of experience at the most. We advise removing the dates from your education to avoid age-related bias.

  How long should my cover letter and resume be?
  Cover letters should not be more than one page, and ideally a resume is one to two pages. Even senior professionals should limit their resumes to two pages, focusing on the last 10-15 years.

  What is the most frequent mistake you see on resumes?
  Using the bullet points under each position to describe job duties. Your resume should not read like a job description. Instead, choose 3-5 bullets to describe any outcomes you helped to achieve in each role you have held. A good question to guide your thinking is, “What looked different within the organization, team, or community because I was in that role?”

  How do I handle gaps or burnout breaks on my resume?
  Consider listing “Career Break” on your resume with the dates. Briefly highlight what you did during the break, such as volunteering, learning, caregiving, or self-care. Do not go into detail.

  Should I use visual design in my resume?
  Since most resumes will be uploaded to an applicant tracking system (ATS), we advise against using templates with visual design elements.  A simple well formatted and easy to read resume is preferable.

  Is it okay to use AI like ChatGPT for resume and cover letter writing?
  Yes, but use AI as a collaborative tool, not a copy-paste solution. Be specific in your prompts and always personalize the output to make it sound authentically like you. Be sure to proofread it, too!  As a bonus: use ChatGPT to prepare for a job interview by uploading the job description and asking it to generate sample interview questions to help you practice.

  What’s the difference between a resume and a Curriculum Vitae (CV)?
  CVs are longer and include detailed information about your academic and professional experience. They are often used outside the U.S. Resumes are concise and tailored to specific jobs. Unless a CV is specifically requested, you should apply for jobs in the U.S. using a resume.

• Interview & Application Process

  How do I know where to invest my time when it comes to job applications?
  To focus your search, spend time applying for jobs where you meet many of the qualifications and experience desired for the role. You don’t have to meet them all, but typically a hiring manager or recruiter is going to screen candidates based on these requirements (not the responsibilities section). Remember, sometimes they are looking at hundreds of resumes and will reach out to the candidates that best align with the desired skills and experience for the role. Hiring managers don’t need perfection but they do need clarity. That means you need to connect the dots between your story and their needs.

  How do I respond if I didn’t complete a project due to a layoff or short tenure?
  Highlight what you accomplished up to that point. It’s okay to note context without over-explaining. In most cases, you still spent time scoping, assessing, planning, and maybe even presenting those ideas for consideration.

  What are some general interview do’s and don’ts?
  Do: Tell stories that connect impact to the job, align your examples with the desired professional experience, ask strategic questions, and test your technology before a video interview.

  Don’t: Provide excessive flattery, share personal struggles, use overly casual language or slang, express negative opinions about past employers or co-workers, or show up unprepared.

  Should I follow up with a thank-you note?
  It’s optional. It can be helpful if you would like to clarify a point or experience that you discussed during the interview. Thank you notes are especially necessary for roles that involve strong relationship development expertise such as fundraising.

  Any tips for performing well in video interviews?
  Carve out enough time to prepare and test your technology. Minimize distractions. Use the SPAR Structure: Situation, Problem, Action, Result to share impactful stories. Focus on tone, clarity, and pacing to maintain natural energy. Smile while speaking as it naturally warms your voice. Remember it’s a two-way street and be prepared to ask your own questions.

• Career Transitions

  I want to transition from the public or government sector to nonprofit. Any advice?
  Reformat government-style narratives into results-driven resumes based on outcomes. Ask yourself questions like: What looks different because I was in this role? What did I accomplish? What did I create?

  How do I highlight experience from short-term roles or contracting?
  Emphasize the continuity of your responsibilities across organizations. Focus on impact and accomplishments, not just job titles.

  Should I include education dates or advanced degrees like a PhD?
  Only if relevant to the role. Some choose to omit these to avoid age bias or appearing overqualified.

• Networking & Community

  Does networking really help?
  Absolutely. Many roles are filled through referrals or connections. Just remember that networking can benefit the other person just as much as you and is beneficial at all career stages. When reaching out to connect with someone, lead with curiosity and respect without expecting any outcome. And remember to pay it forward by helping others.

  How do I build a job search support community?
  Join or create peer groups for accountability and resume feedback. Look into models like the “Never Search Alone” movement and book by Phyl Terry.

• Tools & Resources

  Some of the free tools that exist for job seekers include:

  Insight Timer (for meditation, a key tool during any job search), Lauren Miura’s Career Clarity Workbook, Asian Mental Health Collective, Earnbetter.com and the Never Search Alone job council model.

Here’s another thing we heard during the series: Jobseekers are tired. Really tired. In our live survey during the webinar series:

▪️ 44% were unemployed and actively searching
▪️ 39% were employed and actively searching
▪️ 11% were considering a change
▪️ 6% selected “other,” which tells me there’s even more nuance in the mix

This tracks with what we’re seeing across the nonprofit sector: talented people feeling burned out, uncertain where they belong, and overwhelmed by the process.

We hope that the advice and strategies we’ve shared here help offer a different way forward, so that you can create a focused, strategic job search plan, craft a meaningful story about your impact, learn to network without feeling like a wet noodle (we’ve all been there) and land the dream role that’s the right fit for you.