A New Guide to
Nonprofit Gold
Off the corporate path
fJim Clarkwanted tosay "just oneword"
to"The Graduate" today, it would proba-
bly not be "plastics." Instead, he might
say "nonprofit," referring to employment
opportunities with public-interest and so-
cial-service organizations. As executive di-
rector of a new job-listing service called
Access, Clark can match career interests-
in fields like political lobbying, community
service, environmental protection or the
performing arts-to specific jobs. And ac-
cording to college-placement officials, at
least 15 percent of college grads are like
Dustin Hoffman's Benjamin: "They don't
exactly relish the idea of sitting behind a
desk in a suit and tie, working for a Fortune
500 company," says Phil Bishop, director of
career planning and placement at Millers-
ville University in Pennsylvania.
A 1986 graduate of Wesleyan, Clark
founded Access more or less out of necessi-
ty. He was a government major and presi-
dent of the Wesleyan chapter of Amnesty
International, but he couldn't find any job
leads during the summer before his senior
year. So he improvised. Using his dorm
room as an office, Clark worked with Wes-
leyan's career-planning office and student
volunteers to compile a mailing list of more
than 12,000 nonprofit organizations from
24 different fields. The group then sur-
veyed the organizations, inviting them to
list job openings free in the Access directo-
ry. "It's a win-win situation for the student
and the company," says Clark. "There is no
cost like there would be for a classified ad."
Cautionary note: Since last January, 36 col-
lege-placement offices in the Northeast
have subscribed to the monthly Access di-
rectory, which they keep on file for inter-
ested seniors. On a cautionary note, Victor
Lindquist, director of placement at North-
western, says that employment opportuni-
ties in the public sector may have reached
their zenith during President Lyndon
Johnson's administration. "There are very
few new positions being created," says
Lindquist.
Clark insists that his service is still a
good investment. Individuals can write di-
rectly to Clark's office (67 Winthrop Street,
Cambridge, Mass. 02138). For $15, Access
will conduct a three-month job search
based on each person's r6sum6 and a dover
letter describing job interests, desired geo-
graphical location and salary. If the service
fails to turn up "appropriate" job listings,
the $15 fee is refunded.
BRUCE MEYERSON
I
ARE YOU SEARCHING?
WE ARE, TOO ...
Searching for young
Catholic men, like you ...
To live and work with the poor ...
To share their sorrows and joys . .
To care for the needy little ones'. .
To bring Christ into their lives ...
If you have a heart big enough,
JOIN US!
COLUMBAN FATHERS,
MISSIONARIES
TO THE THIRD WORLD
For more information,
write or call:
Father Michael Cody
6449 North Magnolia Avenue
Chicago, IL 60626
(312) 274-9111
NW9
:Name
Street
:City State Zip :
:School/College Age:
:Phone: ( )
SEPTEMBER 1987 4