Some Personal News: I’m still looking
The job search continues. I am still looking for the right job, working for and with the right team. Most organizers can relate to feeling both ready to jump back into campaign work but also feeling hesitant while waiting for the right opportunity to come along. But waiting has a financial cost. And filing for unemployment during a pandemic has been a grueling process. I know many organizers and campaign staff who are still waiting to receive benefits after months of filing.
All of the organizers I know and have worked with previously are some of the most talented people I’ve met in my five-plus years of working on campaigns.
So, if you’re in the progressive space and hiring I want to offer some tips to help you find us:
1. Clear job descriptions which include benefits and salary information
This has always been important but is especially important now. If you’re wondering why you’re getting more applicants than qualified candidates, perhaps you need to be more clear about what you’re looking for. Spend more time describing your ideal candidate. Answer our emails and LinkedIn messages requesting an informational interview. I promise this will save us both time in the long term.
Share salary details and benefit information upfront. This has never been more important. Healthcare, benefits packages, and compensation are especially important during a pandemic. It can take up to a month between being interviewed to being hired and any job we apply for is a time investment. If you’re clear about those details upfront, the process may be quicker. And truthfully, compensation and benefits tell us more about how you value your staff and what sets you aside from others.
2. Flexible work location
Want to know which type of jobs we’re looking for? Remote positions. But we’re organizers, we know once it’s safe, you’ll need us to work on location or take in-person meetings, or perhaps some travel will be required in the future but flexibility matters. Do not limit your pool of talent. I guarantee some of the best talent you’ll meet resides outside of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
3. Look beyond resumes
Our resumes help illustrate the work we have done in previous roles but it’s important to dig deeper. We are not just experts at running phone banks or using VAN, we’re community-driven, culturally sensitive, and that’s the type of knowledge and experience you need. Help facilitate an interview process that enables applicants to share their stories, culture, and values. This will help ensure you’re hiring qualified candidates who can work effectively in cross-cultural settings and produce better outcomes.
4. Make new friends
While strong recommendations from influential and well-known leaders in the progressive space help with flagging a resume and almost always get an applicant noticed, this is extremely limiting to new talent with lesser-known friends.
One big takeaway from the 2020 election cycle is our traditional organizing model won’t always work and we need innovation, new ideas, and diversity. You don’t know everyone you need to know in the progressive space yet and it’s time to meet new and talented candidates with bold ideas and diverse backgrounds. Make new connections, mentor new talent, and hire them.
5. List short term campaigns and other job opportunities
Many organizers are looking for part-time or short-term campaign work while they find a more permanent position. Do you have a project you need to launch and need to bring someone on for a few months? List the job! Flexibility is important right now and many applicants are open to four to six-month roles.
6. Be Respectful of Everyone’s Time
Finding the right job is time-consuming. Be mindful of the people you’re interviewing/considering. During this time organizers are not only looking for work and browsing through job boards, we’re also caring for family members and ourselves. Yes, we’re still experiencing the effects of the pandemic.
Think twice before requiring a complex assignment before giving the candidate an interview. Don’t make assumptions about our time and make sure the time you ask of others is well spent. And If you’ve given someone an interview, do them the courtesy and closure of a rejection email if you decide not to move forward with them — don’t leave them hanging in limbo.
There is no shortage of talent. Not sure where to start? My inbox is open, erochaydr@gmail.com.
