Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Executive Directors
Sierra, an Executive Director, recommends internships as the best entry point, suggesting a progression from "intern" to "coordinator" to "manager" and beyond. The career path, according to Sierra, involves navigating various titles such as "operations manager" and "director," requiring a gradual build-up of experience.
Entry-Level Jobs, Career Development, Nonprofit Organizations, Internships, Job Titles
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sierra Emrick
Executive Director
Central Coast State Parks Association
UCSB
No
Environmental & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Sales and Client Management
Scholarship Recipient, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. Internships are valuable entry-level experiences in the nonprofit sector.
2. Entry-level positions often include titles like coordinator, manager, or director, with opportunities for advancement.
3. Gaining experience through internships and progressively higher-level roles is a common career path in this field.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
There are tons of opportunities to get internships with nonprofits. I think that's the best way to get your foot in the door, especially if you can find a coordinator role.
That's the second step. When I graduated, I didn't know what all these little words meant: coordinator, manager, director, executive director, operations manager. There are all these different roles.
A lot of it is just minutia. So, start with intern. If you can hire, get a coordinator. If you can hire, get a manager. If you can hire, get a director. You'll probably have to build your way up, but there are tons of opportunities at all those levels.