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Tag: NFP Recruiter
- Eva Husted
Eva Husted, Talent Acquisition Manager @ Autism Queensland, gives us insight into what really goes on in the life of a Not-for-Profit recruiter.
Looking for a TA career change but not too sure how to get there? Our ‘So you wanna be a…‘ series takes a look at some of the more niche TA roles and digs deep into the who, how, and why behind them. We chat with some of your favourite TA leaders in that space to find out how they got started, what their role really looks like, and what tips and tricks they have for other TA superstars looking to get a foot in the door.
In this issue, we sat down with Eva Husted, Talent Acquisition Manager @ Autism Queensland, to find out what really goes on in the life of a Not-for-Profit Recruiter.
This is an easy one to answer – the passion in my team. I am surrounded by people motivated by deep-rooted passion for the cause, it’s why they joined an NFP and it’s so different from working in other sectors that are lead and determined by the number of monthly hires or dollars.
Like a lot of people, I fell into recruitment completely by accident and found I loved it! There is something about the people and culture side of HR that is so positive and so diverse in the skills you need from marketing to negotiating to leadership development for your hiring managers and more. Once a role came up at a NFP for a cause I was super passionate about and could relate to, I didn’t think twice, I jumped in without hesitation.
In NFP you have a lot less to work with so there are some key skills that will help to be more strategic in your approach which you will need to rely on so much more than if you were in other sectors.
This is too hard to answer, there are so many things! The biggest impact for me is knowing that I have contributed to ensuring that the people who come to us are going to have the best support possible because we have found the best possible candidates.
And of course, like all TA professionals – I love that Friday afternoon feeling after a hustling week telling the candidates they got the job! *chefs kiss*
Imagination & Creativity – The things you have to work with like salary will not be as competitive with private organisations, so you need to work with what you got, that means being able to take all the passion and the hard work that you see everyday and creating something visible for the world to see.
Adaptability & Resourcefulness – when your hiring manager throws a curveball last minute you need to be able to adjust course and re-prioritise to get it done, without any extra resources. A lot of the time you will need to think on your feet to achieve the result in a different way.
Curiosity – TA is all about strategic placement of your organisation through recruitment and you will need this more than ever – don’t just focus on what is the goal in front of you, be curious about everything surrounding it too!
Hardworking & Persistence – TA in NFP is not for those wanting something steady or easy, the goals will be similar to a normal business but you will have less resources and sometimes tighter deadlines so be willing to roll your sleeves up and dive right in.
Before you jump in, ask yourself why you are jumping in. You will be surrounded by passion for the cause which is so motivating but realistically the hours are long, the pay is less than a private business, everything is more visible to the world and meeting that deadline doesn’t just mean the company can make money, the impact is to everyday people looking to that NFP for support, it is making a difference for those people.
All TA is centred on people and relationships but if you are motivated by commission, jump into agency. If you are motivated by a challenge, jump into internal TA. If you are motivated by the cause, I encourage you to jump into NFP; you could find yourself exactly where you need to be.
What are some of the actionable things you can do if you want to be a Not-for-Profit Recruiter? Here are some suggestions from Eva of who to follow, what to use, and where to seek out your info.
A lot of the experts/influencers I follow also have a lot of content/newsletters/events on LinkedIn. Lauren Sharp & Craig Watson (TaPod – We Talk Talent), Steve Gard (Circle Back Initiative), and Sophie Thomas (Lotus People).
This is really hard in NFP, there just isn’t the funds to be able to have a flash ATS in place. If you’re in NFP, do some MS Excel short courses – trust me, you will only be using MS systems like Excel, Planner, Tasks, Outlook etc at max 50%,
You would be amazed at what comes up when you google Brisbane Recruitment Events in either LinkedIn or Google – I have found several events and webinars that have been so useful and informational (you just need to have the courage to rock up solo without knowing anyone!)
Never take for granted the online learning or webinars that either your ATS or advertising platform may put up – you never know what new thing you might learn!
Is there a specific niche area of recruitment you’d like to know more about. Email us and let us know.
