(A version of this item, with live links, is available at
<http://blog.deborah.elizabeth.finn.com/blog/_archives/2006/12/28/2602827.html>.)
Dear ISF Colleagues,
It's a pleasure and a privilege to be the moderator of the Nonprofit
Tech Jobs email distribution list. I love being an honest broker, and
this is a very practical, direct way to serve as many jobseekers and
mission-based organizations as possible.
As the list moderator, I also receive many requests for clarifications
and favors. In my ongoing struggle to balance pro bono projects with
billable hours, I've formulated the following responses to frequently
asked questions:
Q: Are you paid to administer the Nonprofit Tech Jobs list?
A: No. I do it on a volunteer basis, as a service to the community.
Q: Well, then what do you do for a living?
A: I'm an independent consultant in the field of nonprofit technology.
Q: Can you offer me career counseling?
A: Alas, no. I'm not qualified to do that.
Q: Can you review my resume, and find me some job opportunities
that would be a good match?
A: Alas, I usually can't accept such requests via email or
telephone, and I can't offer to do any extensive research for
individual job seekers. However, if you ask me in person, I may be
able to make some helpful suggestions off the top of my head.
Q: Why don't you provide more nonprofit tech jobs that are based
in the region or country where I'm based?
A: I only list job opportunities that are brought to my
attention. It's important to understand that I don't actually create
(or fund) the jobs listed here.
Q: Why don't you provide more nonprofit tech jobs in my field of
technical expertise?
A: I only list job opportunities that are brought to my
attention. It's important to understand that I don't actually create
(or fund) the jobs listed here.
Q: I want to work for a specific nonprofit organization. Can you
offer me a special introduction to someone there?
A: Alas, no - unless I have many years of firsthand experience of
your work, and the organization's hiring manager would like me to play
such a role. In such a case, I will do it as a professional courtesy.
Q: Can you give more information about a job that you've posted
or about the organization that is hiring?
A: Alas, no. I publicly post everything I know about the job
opportunities that are listed. If it's not included in the original
posting, then I don't have the information.
Q: I'm highly qualified. Can't you do more to help me land a
nonprofit tech job?
A: Alas, no.
Q: I'm really desperate. Can't you do more to help me land a
nonprofit tech job?
A: Alas, no.
Q: I'm a very special person and feel really entitled. Can't you
do more to help me land a nonprofit tech job?
A: Alas, no.
Q: Why is there sometimes a lag between the time when a nonprofit
organization announces a tech job on its web site and the time when
you post it to the list?
A: I post job announcements to this list in my not-very-copious
spare time. Please accept my apologies if I'm only able to do that a
few times a month.
Q: What can I do to assist with the Nonprofit Tech Jobs list?
A: When you receive a relevant job announcement, please format it
appropriately and email it to nonprofit_tech_jobs 
yahoogroups.com .
Thank you for asking!
Best regards from Deborah
P.S. Here are some other items from my blog that you might also find relevant:
"Career Paths and Career Ladders in Nonprofit Technology"
"The Nonprofit Tech Jobs email distribution list"
"Thank you - I'm very flattered!"
"Freebies and billable hours";
"What does "Cyber-Yenta" mean?";
"Consulting Services"
Deborah Elizabeth Finn
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
deborah_elizabeth_finn%40post.harvard.edu">deborah_elizabeth_finnpost.harvard.edu
www.cyber-yenta.org
.