Comments on: So You Wanna Be Program Officer? http://www.tristaharris.org/so-you-wanna-be-program-officer Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:35:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: New Voices of Philanthropy » Blog Archive » Know What You Want (and then ask for it) http://www.tristaharris.org/so-you-wanna-be-program-officer/comment-page-1#comment-1147 New Voices of Philanthropy » Blog Archive » Know What You Want (and then ask for it) Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:23:14 +0000 http://www.tristaharris.org/?p=884#comment-1147 [...] unclear about what they want me to be, think, or do. Did they want a grant from Headwaters? Maybe. Were they looking for a new position and wanted some advice? Possibly. Did they want me to buy into their nutrient drink pyramid scheme? I don’t know [...] [...] unclear about what they want me to be, think, or do. Did they want a grant from Headwaters? Maybe. Were they looking for a new position and wanted some advice? Possibly. Did they want me to buy into their nutrient drink pyramid scheme? I don’t know [...]

]]> By: Paulette http://www.tristaharris.org/so-you-wanna-be-program-officer/comment-page-1#comment-1081 Paulette Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:38:04 +0000 http://www.tristaharris.org/?p=884#comment-1081 Very timely article Trista! If I may add my 2 cents I would also include "have a Plan B." Many of us in the world of program officers know how limited the positions really are and unless you are already in the "inner circle" it can be virtually impossible to break in. Now with news of foundations laying off people (virtually unheard of before now)the jobs are almost non-existent. My advice to anyone who wants to be a program officer is to know what you are in for in terms of the networking time, and possibly more education (it's almost impossible to see a posting for program officer that does not require an advanced degree). I was fortunate in that I was able to try on the position for a year through a graduate program but the full-time employment has not appeared. Now for a Plan B. I would suggest to anyone that if you are passionate about the nonprofit and philanthropy field as I am, look into other careers that provide transferable skills (like Communications, HR, finance). I have taken that route and am focused on the Communications side of philanthropy. I figure at the very least these skills will allow me to stay in the field I risked so much to move into. Very timely article Trista! If I may add my 2 cents I would also include “have a Plan B.” Many of us in the world of program officers know how limited the positions really are and unless you are already in the “inner circle” it can be virtually impossible to break in. Now with news of foundations laying off people (virtually unheard of before now)the jobs are almost non-existent.

My advice to anyone who wants to be a program officer is to know what you are in for in terms of the networking time, and possibly more education (it’s almost impossible to see a posting for program officer that does not require an advanced degree). I was fortunate in that I was able to try on the position for a year through a graduate program but the full-time employment has not appeared.

Now for a Plan B. I would suggest to anyone that if you are passionate about the nonprofit and philanthropy field as I am, look into other careers that provide transferable skills (like Communications, HR, finance). I have taken that route and am focused on the Communications side of philanthropy. I figure at the very least these skills will allow me to stay in the field I risked so much to move into.

]]>