Talent Market

Talent Market is a nonprofit whose mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector

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  • CANDIDATES
    • APPLY FOR YOUR DREAM JOB
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    • CANDIDATE FAQ
  • CLIENTS
    • NEED HELP WITH A SEARCH?
    • OUTREACH
    • GEOGRAPHY & VIRTUAL WORK
    • TIPS FOR HIRING MANAGERS
    • CLIENT LIST
  • RESOURCES
    • ADVICE
      • TALENT TIPS
      • INTERVIEWING TIPS
      • RESUME TIPS
      • PREPARING YOUR RESUME & COVER LETTER
      • CONSIDERING THE NONPROFIT SECTOR?
      • CONSIDERING A CAREER IN FUNDRAISING?
      • ADVICE FOR ATTORNEYS
      • JOB HUNTING RESOURCES
    • INTERNSHIPS, CLERKSHIPS, & FELLOWSHIPS
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
      • STUDENTS & RECENT GRADUATES
      • MID-CAREER
      • ATTORNEYS
    • AWARDS
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    • FREE-MARKET NONPROFIT DIRECTORY
    • FREE-MARKET NONPROFIT MAP
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Job Seeking Tips

Ten Job Seeking Tips for the Free-Market Nonprofit Sector

1.      Utilize Your Network

I always bristle when I hear the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it is who you know.” So it pains me to tell you it’s true – especially in the free-market nonprofit sector. Tap into your network, including friends, former bosses, professors, recruiters (ahem), and even acquaintances to help you find a job.

2.      Educate Yourself

If someone says the name Hayek in a conversation and the first thing that pops into your mind is Salma, you should probably start boning up on the free-market movement. Do some research, read some books, spend time on fascinating websites, discover relevant blogs, find out about the different organizations and the roles they play in advancing social change. All of this will help you better understand not only what this sector is about, but also how you might fit in.

3.      Get Active

If you want a job in the free-market nonprofit sector, get off the couch and start getting involved. Attend a tea party in your home state. Attend Cato University. Attend a seminar sponsored by the Institute for Humane Studies. Go to FreedomFest.  Get to know our world and let us get to know you.

4.      Figure Out How You Can Contribute

A lot of talented folks in the private sector ask me if I can help them find a job in the free-market arena. The first thing I typically ask is, “What do you want to do?” Radio silence.  It sounds so obvious, but most people do not stop and think how they can contribute. Maybe you are a great project manager.  Maybe you have exquisite marketing and communication skills. Maybe you are tech genius. Spend some time thinking about your existing skillset and how it could translate into the free-market nonprofit world. And before you settle on something, see #5.

5.      Figure Out What You Want to Do

Hands down, the most common response to my question about what someone wants to do in the free-market nonprofit sector is “I want to be a policy analyst and writer.” And I wanted to be a supermodel, but some things just do not work out as planned. Here’s the thing: we turn on the television and see these bright, articulate, free-market policy analysts or we pick up National Review and read an article and we find ourselves shaking our heads vigorously in agreement with their eloquent words. Then we get the bright idea that we, too, can do that! And maybe you can, but chances are your existing skillset makes you a better match for something else. So just think about it before you get your heart set on policy analysis. (Full disclosure: I was one of those people that was convinced I should leave the private sector and become a policy analyst. However, I learned quickly that was not my comparative advantage. In fact, it was almost as far-fetched as the supermodel idea…oh well!)

6.      Make Sure You Are Committed to the Cause

You might read an article in the paper about something involving our growing government and shrinking liberties and decide you want to do dedicate your career to doing something about it. Are you sure about that? Or is it just a fleeting thought? The free-market nonprofit sector needs people who are committed to the cause and who actually want to make a career out of social change. Once you are here, you will find it is an amazing community with an abundance of intelligent and driven people, mental stimulation, and very worthy causes.

7.      Adjust Your Salary Expectations, But Don’t Buy Ramen Noodles

It is true there are not that many people in the free-market nonprofit sector pulling in a half million bucks a year. However, you can still make a great living, support a family, and live comfortably in this arena. If you are talented and work hard, you will find most organizations will reward you for your efforts.

8.      Everyone is a Potential Reference

Everyone you have worked with – directly and indirectly – is a potential reference. Even if you do not list his name as a reference, there is no guarantee your potential employer will not call around and ask about you.  Therefore, the lesson here is always be professional, work hard, and do not burn bridges.

9.      Master the Art of the One-Page Résumé

Hiring managers receive dozens of résumés for each opening they attempt to fill. They will appreciate a concise one-page résumé that quickly tells them if you have the skills and experience they need. The exception to this rule is academic-oriented roles, for which a longer curriculum vitae listing publications is customary.

10.  Get Involved Before You Get More Education

I have talked to many people whose end goal is to end up in the free-market nonprofit sector, but before they jump in, they want to get a doctorate, a law degree, or a master’s degree in a relevant field to make themselves more marketable. Now, before you go acquiring large sums of debt and a fancy degree, why not get involved in the movement first? You may find out you do not need an advanced degree for what you want to do, or you may find out you need a different degree than you had planned.  (Full disclosure: I got a fancy degree I rarely use, so I offer this advice from experience!)

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    Managing Editor – Leadership Institute, Campus Reform – Arlington, VA

    Director of Communications & Marketing – Pelican Institute for Public Policy – Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Remote in LA

    Director of Government Affairs & Advocacy – Pelican Institute for Public Policy – Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Remote in LA

    Director of Operations – Emmet Family Foundation – Virtual Office

    Associate Director of Data and Strategy – Leadership Institute – Arlington, VA

    Salesforce Engineer – Leadership Institute – Arlington, VA or Virtual Office

    Media Relations Specialist – National Center for Public Policy Research – Washington, D.C.

    Director of Development - Children’s Scholarship Fund - New York, NY

    Director of Communications and Marketing – New Civil Liberties Alliance – Washington, DC

    Separation of Powers Attorney - Pacific Legal Foundation - Virtual Office

    Media Relations Associate - Competitive Enterprise Institute - Washington, DC

    Grants Officer – Libertas Institute – Lehi, UT or Virtual Office

    Partnership Advisor, Mountain West U.S. – Leadership Institute – Virtual in the Mountain West or Arlington, VA

    Executive Director – Jack Miller Family Foundation – Buffalo Grove, IL

    Editor/Journalist- Alpha News – Plymouth, MN

    Community Engagement Coordinator – Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation – Des Moines, IA

    Membership and Development Coordinator – Horatio Alger Association – Alexandria, VA

    Research Fellow, Center for Constitutional Studies – Cato Institute – Washington, DC

    Director of Government Affairs - John Locke Foundation - Raleigh, NC

    Marketing Manager – Students for Liberty – Virtual

    Strategic Research Manager – Pacific Legal Foundation – Virtual

    Development Officer - Manhattan Institute - New York City, NY or Virtual Office  

    Director of Development – Objective Standard Institute – Virtual Office

    Communications Manager – Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity – Austin, TX, Washington, DC, or Virtual Office

    State Tax Policy Analyst – Tax Foundation – Washington D.C. or Virtual Office

    Director of Economics and Economic Freedom Initiative – American Institute for Economic Research – Great Barrington, MA or Virtual Office

    Membership Marketing Manager – Institute for Justice – Hybrid in Arlington, VA 

    Development Writer – American Enterprise Institute – Washington, DC

    Policy Director, Education Choice – Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) – Virtual Office

    Scholar in Poverty & Social Welfare Policy – Cato Institute – Washington, DC

    Salesforce Administrator – State Policy Network – Virtual Office

    Donor Engagement Manager – Tax Foundation – Virtual or Washington, DC

    Director of Major Gifts – Tax Foundation – Virtual or Washington, DC

    Research Assistant to the President and SVP for Policy – Cato Institute – Washington, DC

    Major Gifts Manager – New Civil Liberties Alliance – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Major Gifts Officer  - American Enterprise Institute - Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Director of Economic Opportunity Policy Initiatives – State Policy Network – Washington, DC or Virtual Office

    Philanthropic Investments Officer – Moving Picture Institute – Virtual Office

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SEND US YOUR RESUME

If you want us to keep you in mind for opportunities, send us your resume so we have all the details that will help us help you.

About Us

Claire Kittle Dixon

Claire Kittle Dixon
Executive Director

Claire runs the day-to-day operations of Talent Market, manages searches for clients, and oversees the organization’s fundraising communications, technology, administration, and cat-herding efforts…
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Katy Gambella
Director of Outreach

Katy oversees Talent Market’s outreach to young professionals and manages the outreach team. She also manages searches and executes outreach directly herself…
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Stephanie Keaveney
Senior Manager of Outreach
Stephanie splits her time between managing talent searches for free-market nonprofits, maintaing Talent Market’s social media presence, and engaging in outreach to young professionals interested in liberty-oriented careers…
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Lydia Ocampo
Outreach Manager
Lydia manages searches primarily for entry and mid level roles in the liberty movement. She also engages in outreach to expand Talent Market’s network, including giving presentations on career development and the opportunities available in the liberty movement…
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Bailey Drouant
Outreach Manager
Bailey assists free-market nonprofits with their hiring needs by helping them manage the search process from start to finish. She also engages in outreach to expand Talent Market’s network…
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Wait, You’re a Nonprofit?

Talent Market is a nonprofit. We’ll wait here while that sinks in. We know it’s a crazy concept, but it’s been working like a charm since 2009.

Talent Market’s mission is to promote liberty by providing talent for critical roles within the free-market nonprofit sector.

We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation. (We do not work with political organizations, organizations with mission statements that do not clearly advance free-market principles, organizations that focus on social issues, or organizations that have a focus outside of the United States. We are not a job board. ) 

Talent Market believes that the road to prosperity is paved with freedom and that the success of our movement hinges on the talent that will take us there.

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