My big fat Non-Profit Job

Prior to graduating from high school, I had never heard of nonprofit organizations.  I had an idea of what nonprofits were, but never fully explored the subject.  After graduating from college, I interviewed at HACE for an administrative opening.  Like any other job seeker, I prepared for the interview by doing research on the company. I was surprised to find out that HACE was a nonprofit organization.

You might ask what a non-profit organization is.  According to Wikipedia a nonprofit organization (abbreviated as NPO, also known as a not-for-profit organization) is an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals.  In HACE’s case, the goal is to help in the advancement of Latino professionals.  Through education, access and professional development, HACE helps Latinos succeed in every phase of their careers.

I was shocked to find out that there were organizations out there, which put together events to help high school, college and professionals throughout their career path.  Throughout my six years at HACE, I have held various roles from admin to account coordinator and now in operations.  Thanks to my job at HACE, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact that non-profit organizations, such as HACE, have in the community.

If you ever have the opportunity to do volunteer work for a nonprofit, I highly encourage it.

It is a great way to give back to the community and build your network of contacts.  Many individuals whom I know have found their current job by doing volunteer work with the organization first.  HACE is always looking for volunteers to help carry out its mission.

For more information on HACE’s programs and services and to learn about volunteer opportunities, please visit our website www.haceonline.org or call 312-435-0498.

--Rocio Mendez, Operations Manager at HACE