Search Notes, vol. 4 | from Public Good Talent

Job searching can feel chaotic. So let’s simplify it.

Think of this as your Job Search Survival Toolkit. These are the things worth carrying with you, and the things you’re better off leaving behind.

Job boards
Not glamorous, but still essential. This is where most jobs are posted and filled. Pick a few good ones and check them consistently. For nonprofit roles, I recommend your state’s nonprofit association (here’s the Colorado one, for example), plus Idealist and LinkedIn (I know it sucks, but there are lots of jobs there).

Listservs, community groups & professional organizations
These are often overlooked and surprisingly powerful, especially in nonprofit, public sector, and mission-driven work. Smaller pools, earlier intel, better signal. For example, here’s a Google Group called Design Gigs for Good. And a Facebook Group called Jobs & Opps in Faith-Rooted Social Justice. Pretty much whatever niche or community you’re a part of, you can find groups to help you navigate the search.

Friends, family & accountability partners
Not because they’ll “get you a job,” but because:

Self-care
This isn’t fluff. Job searching is emotionally taxing. Sleep, movement, sunlight, boundaries — these aren’t rewards for getting a job. They’re tools that help you keep going.

Fear of rejection
Rejection is baked into the process. It’s not feedback on your worth. It’s just math.

Shame about asking for help
Everyone who looks “successful” had help. You’re not weak for needing support. You’re human.

Negative self-talk
If you wouldn’t say it to a friend in the same position, don’t say it to yourself.

Perfectionism
Perfect applications don’t get jobs. Submitted applications do.

You don’t need a secret strategy. You need solid tools, realistic expectations, and enough self-compassion to stay in the game.

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