
Paul Schulz
CEO, American Red Cross Los Angeles
Red Cross
Red Cross
CEO, American Red Cross Los Angeles
I lead the Red Cross activities around mission, communications and fundraising in Los Angeles.
You would see a very full day starting early to beat traffic across town. We would meet with staff and volunteers to hear about key issues affecting their ability to deliver our mission. We might meet up with board members or other community leaders to hear how we are doing from their perspective and also to share with them major programs we are enacting, like Prepare SoCal, to get ready for major disasters in our area. It might end with meeting volunteers in one of our 14 offices.
Here's the first step for professionals
Jump in and volunteer with an organization that you respect. You will learn so much and will then hear about opportunities that will arise if you end up liking the place. Read as much as you can about the organization. Try and find connections within the non profit based on your friends, those you volunteer with, or those you meet in the hall. The more people you meet and get to know the better your odds of landing a job there are. I used this same strategy when I was interviewing for my position.
"Don't take time off. You will be out of the market and will not be able to get back in."