Hiring Folks: What Would You Think (Cover Letter Edition)?

[Anonymous]

I'm a seasoned non-profit leader, with 12 years of director and ED-level leadership positions. When I had my child, I stepped down from leadership to part-time SME roles so that I could have some work-life balance and be the type of parent I wanted to be during my child's early years. Now that my kid is thriving in Elementary School, and the pandemic is (largely) over, I'm refreshed & rejuvenated enough to be thinking about my next ED/CEO role.

I am not getting bites for ED/CEO roles, and I think it's because the steps down over the past few years seem like a backwards trajectory. Even though I am not currently in a C-level role, my SME role oversees a $16m/FY program (basically 8x the budget of the last NPO where I was ED).

Finally today, I just thought, what the heck? I'll get personal for a minute. I basically wrote in my cover letter what I put at the beginning of this post (along with all the skills I would bring to the organization, of course). I know it's job search 101 not to talk about family or being a mom in the cover letter or interview (or heck, sometimes even at work), but I have to think that explaining the shift and why I want back up the ladder has GOT to be better than the strategy I'm employing now, which is pretending the shift downward didn't happen.

What would you think?

[Anonymous]

No, you need to apply to lower jobs and work your way back up. Sorry no short cuts in life unless you start your own business. How long is this break, how old are you?

[Anonymous]

I think the cover letter should highlight why you're a good fit for the role, and including these personal details may highlight that you have distractions in your life.

[Anonymous]

I'm not so sure.

I think being up front can be helpful in the right context, both for weeding out employers who don't support work-life balance, and for finding those who do.

I wouldn't use this strategy all the time, but it seems like a strategy similar to how a SAHM might frame her re-entry to the workforce.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how long your "break" was, but since you were director/officer level, you must still have contacts in the field. You need to start with your network.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with PPs and would appreciate a very brief explanation. Otherwise someone else is left wondering why your career has been in a downward trajectory and their conclusion will likely not benefit you. You haven't been getting bites, so what you've been doing hasn't been working. I would do it. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

So you were last in an ED role 5+ years ago?

I think you are better off with coming up with a creative title for your current SME role, and emphasize the size of the budget and number of reports you have now. Something like "head of widget strategy" or "lead widget researcher". Especially if you can build on the past ED experience in the letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree with PPs and would appreciate a very brief explanation. Otherwise someone else is left wondering why your career has been in a downward trajectory and their conclusion will likely not benefit you. You haven't been getting bites, so what you've been doing hasn't been working. I would do it. Good luck.

+1

[Anonymous]

this is where working women should giver her a chance. I know a few women at VP level, had first one juggled work, but then had second one and left, then a third one. Next thing you know the oldest is starting college and you need to go back. By then it is 17 years. Why not just hire them back?

[Anonymous]

I hire a lot of execs at nonprofits. I think you likely won’t go from a part time role to an ED role right away- apply if you want but I would expand your search to full-time Director/VP level positions, reporting to an ED/CEO.

Also- are you cold applying? You should be working with search firms.

Finally- I think a brief explanation in a cover letter is helpful- “For personal reasons I took part-time positions for the last few years, I worked on my skills on these areas/produced these results. Now looking for a full-time position, etc”. Don’t put it all out there but acknowledge it for sure.

One more, sorry- this is a very good job market but still tight for the top. So you need to be patient. Takes at least six months in most cases to land something.

[Anonymous]

I think you should explain your path in a sentence or so. And I agree that you'll probably have to apply to more mid-level jobs. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

No op it will not help based on my experience. I looked for a job for a year with a similar statement in my cover letter and got called for only a couple interviews. It seemed necessary to me because I had a complete gap where I didn’t work at all. As soon as I took it out I got several interviews and immediate offers. I did have to take a step back from where I was but was happy to do this as my priorities have shifted.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't mention your kids. Just focus on what you have done and what you know.

[Anonymous]

Do not get personal in your cover letter like this, you’ll look entitled. You need to apply for FT positions at your current SME (or one step up role). You need to earn back the CEO/ED title.

[Anonymous]

OP back. For context, this is a female-heavy, child- and human-servivces-related field.