TIME Magazine recently released its list of 100 of the world’s most influential people. Though the list includes people from a variety of sectors and industries, there are many who touched our lives in some way. See our staff picks in the slideshow below.

Have you checked out the TIME 100? Who’s influenced you?

• Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III

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  When I left the Philippines in 2006, the country was in dire shape. Many were seeking opportunities overseas. But in the span of one presidential term, PNoy, as people would lovingly call him, has managed to give me and every Filipino living abroad every reason to come home -- a hopeful economy, a more honest government, and the promise of a better life. I've never been more proud to be Filipino. – Chris Machuca, Program Manager of Idealist Grad Fairs

  

• Elon Musk

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  I’m a space enthusiast so I’ve been following Elon Musk’s SpaceX since they launched the Falcon 1 rocket in 2008. When NASA shut down its Shuttle program in 2011, it became clear that we need people with big imaginations like Musk if we want to travel beyond our planet, which I believe is fulfilling the promise of humanity. – Hannah Kane, Scrum Master

  

• Beyoncé

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  When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guyana, I’d regularly sing Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women” at a local karaoke joint as Guyanese ladies stood on tables, sang along loudly, and threw their hands up at me. Feeling alive and empowered in those moments, the ladies weren’t thankful for my awful singing voice, but for music’s ability to reach and inspire, thousands of miles away. – Celeste Hamilton Dennis, Editor

  

• Lena Dunham

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  Since seeing Tiny Furniture a few years back, I’ve been a Lena Dunham fan. Despite all of the criticism, some more valid than others, she’s the first screenwriter I’ve felt who’s accurately captured the hilarity and tragedy of being a modern 20-something. In this constantly connected age, the perpetual state of self-criticism and comparison – be it career, body, relationships, or just general life fulfillment – feels spot on. Dunham’s willingness to expose herself both emotionally and physically is inspiration to dig deep in the stories I tell and fearlessly march forward as naked as the day I was born. – Sean Devaney, Video Producer

  

• Barack Obama

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  I can easily say that President Obama changed my life. During my crazy whirlwind year working as a Video Producer on his reelection campaign, he inspired me daily. Inspiration came when I met incredible people who told me how one of the President’s policies helped save their lives, or helped them afford college, or how the President was a role model for their young child. Inspiration came when I saw thousands of people show up at a rally in Richmond, or I got to follow a singular volunteer who was knocking on doors for the very first time. I found so much fulfillment and purpose by telling these stories, and I saw how video can really help move people to discuss, act, and vote. – Liz Morrison, Video Producer

  

• Michael Kors

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  Look, I am not exactly the most fashion-conscious person out there. So I’ll admit that I wasn’t too familiar with Michael Kors prior to his Project Runway debut. But beyond his funny quips and fashion innovation, I am inspired by Kors’ support of nonprofit organizations, especially God’s Love We Deliver. I’ve been volunteering at GLWD for six years and Kors has been supporting the organization for more than 20 years, not only encouraging employees to volunteer during their work day, but also donating $5 million to support the organization’s upcoming building expansion and serving on their board. – Kimberly Maul, Social Media and Editorial Intern

  

• Steven Spielberg

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  The first Spielberg film I watched was Saving Private Ryan and I barely made it past the opening scene. At one point, a young soldier was hiding behind a rock, another searching for his blown-off arm. But I hesitated to continue watching, not because of the gore and death, but because of the fear I felt and questions I began to ask about life, about war, and about those who serve. And that’s what Steven Spielberg does so well; he moves us from immediate shock and demands we think and feel deeper. – Allison Jones, Editor

  

• Mindy Kaling

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  I grew up with women like Mindy Kaling – smart, funny women of color who love the frivolous and the nerdy in equal measure – and I think that’s what makes her so accessible to her two million plus Twitter following, fans of The Mindy Project, and quite possibly the universe. I’m a bit Mindy-obsessed: I’ve read her book, I watch her show religiously, and I retweet her with some regularity – but the fan experience I think about most is young women of color who are watching her, who are imagining that they too can disappoint their parents by becoming excellent comedy writers and performers. If I could swing it, I’d be just like Mindy when I grow up. – Emily Hashimoto, Outreach Manager

  

• George Saunders

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  These days, I’m a terrible reader. I normally make it through ten minutes of a months-old issue of The Atlantic before passing out at night… and that’s about it. But George Saunders was the exception to the rule: I was lent a copy of his In Persuasion Nation late last year, and it was so good, I finished it in a week (top speed for me!) and commenced to passing it on and recommending it endlessly. Few writers have achieved such a feat with my literarily sluggish self. Hats off! – April Greene, Editor

  

• Michelle Obama

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  Behind the guise of her hip wardrobe, chic ‘do and blinding smile, first lady Michelle Obama has been redefining “change” alongside her husband since first stepping foot in the White House (and, I’d like to imagine, since shaking my hand outside an ice cream shop in 2008) . From her ground-breaking fight against childhood obesity to her backing of LGBT rights, Michelle’s used her public spotlight to both stand up for the voiceless and empower hard-working women across the globe. Oh, and her dance moves are what dreams are made of. – Alex Zielinski, Writing Intern

  

Datatel Volunteers Shelving Picture Books at Centreville Regional Library (Photo credit: Fairfax Library Foundation, Creative Commons/Flickr)

During this time of year, many people want to give back. But whether you are looking for a one-time opportunity or are eager to jump start a long-term volunteer experience, you should take some time to figure out what kind of volunteering you would like to do.

• Hands-on: activities where almost anyone can show up and, with minimal training, get started (taking tickets, cleaning up parks, planting trees)

• Skilled: tasks that depend on a volunteer’s particular skill set or experience (using graphic design skills to help an organization redesign brochures, building or maintaining a nonprofit’s website, providing legal advice for an immigration support agency)

• Direct service: volunteering on the front lines of the organization and likely having direct contact with the population served (delivering meals, packing food bank boxes)

• Advisory: serving in a more behind-the-scenes role to help build an organization’s capacity to reach their mission (providing feedback on strategic or fundraising plans, helping organizations learn more about using social networking sites and tools, serving on a committee or board whose role is largely oversight and governance)

• Online: completing projects that you can do from anywhere in the world as long as you have email or internet access (translating materials, blogging, developing websites, advising on strategic plans)

Action steps

• Think about what kinds of activities you really enjoy or have always wanted to try.

• Do a skills assessment to see how you might be able to lend your personal and professional expertise to an organization, issue, or cause.

• Think about where you want to get involved—behind the scenes, on the front lines, online.

• Don’t forget to consider what you would like to gain from this experience—and what kinds of activities are likely to help you reach your own personal or professional goals.

What kind of volunteering do you enjoy?

This post is republished from our volunteer center.

Photo credit: scottkellum, Creative Commons/Flickr

With only one month left of 2012 (!), now is the perfect time to reflect on your career growth this year. To capture your accomplishments, why not spend some time creating a career portfolio?

What is a portfolio?

A portfolio is a professional scrapbook of sorts where you can neatly store any and all artifacts of your past work and volunteer experience. While traditionally people use binders, you could also create an online portfolio with documents to download, or links to work you’ve done online.

Your full portfolio could include artifacts you’ve saved, like copies of work and writing samples, thank-you notes that speak to your impact, survey results, white papers you’ve written, meeting agendas and training outlines you’ve created, action plans you’ve implemented, photos and screenshots of your work in action, volunteer position descriptions you’ve drafted, policies you’ve written and more.

You can divide your portfolio into sections that work for you, for example:

• An introduction that includes your most recent position description and positive performance review, your resume, and general letters of recommendation.
• A section for each transferable skill set with a cover page featuring photos of you in action followed by related work samples and what you’ve been able to accomplish as a result of your skills.
  • Think broadly about what skill sets you possess — you can include skills you’ve built through travel and personal experiences (such as developing a travel itinerary, managing your family’s budget and purchasing, redesigning your child’s bedroom, etc.).
• An education section (if relevant to you) with academic artifacts such as transcript(s), certification(s), relevant course or workshop descriptions, published academic papers, reflections, etc. (Note that any professional experience that you gained during college or grad school you can present in your skill set section.)
• Other sections such as awards, hobbies, news clippings about you and your work.

How can I use a portfolio?

To a job interview, bring a mini-portfolio with items only relevant to the position. You can use a small presentation folder — sliding your work samples into plastic sleeves. Or you can use a file folder.

Referring to your portfolio contents can be challenging during an interview. If you can, practice ahead of time — but otherwise focus on the conversation more than your portfolio.

At the end of the interview, you should plan to leave behind copies of your most relevant work samples. For example if you apply for a fund development position, you may leave behind a narrative you wrote for a grant proposal (with any proprietary information blacked out). For a communications position you could leave behind screenshots of a professional blog you edit, a postcard you designed, and an example of an e-newsletter you created.

Have you created a career portfolio?

This is article is republished from our career center.

With a new school year just around the corner (so long, summer!), now is the perfect time to start thinking about if graduate school is the right next step for you.  Idealist is here to help by hosting a series of Grad Fairs throughout the fall.

Talk to admissions representatives from graduate schools from around the country. (Photo Credit: Staff Photo/Julia Smith)

Starting in September, we’ll visit 17 cities across the United States so you can meet with representatives from hundreds of colleges and universities.  At a Grad Fair, you’ll learn about the admissions process, financial aid, and degree programs in nonprofit management, public health, public policy, social work, education, international affairs, and many other fields.  This is the perfect opportunity to explore how graduate school might help you strengthen your skill set, grow your network, and advance your career in social change.

Grad Fairs are free and open to the public.

To RSVP for a Grad Fair near you, click a city below:

Thursday, September 13 – New York
Wednesday, September 19 – Boston
Thursday, September 20 – Providence
Thursday, September 27 – Baltimore
Friday, September 28 – Washington, DC
Monday, October 1 – Philadelphia
Monday, October 3 – Toronto
Monday, October 8 – Denver
Tuesday, October 9 – Minneapolis
Thursday, October 11 – Chicago
Thursday, October 18 – Los Angeles
Friday, October 19 – San Francisco
Tuesday, October 23 – Seattle
Wednesday, October 24 – Portland
Monday, October 29 – Houston
Tuesday, October 30 – New Orleans
Thursday, November 1 – Miami

Have questions about the Grad Fairs? Visit our FAQ page for Graduate School Seekers or leave a comment below! And be sure to check out our tips for Graduate School Seekers to ensure you get the most out of our fairs.

[We are no longer accepting applications for this position. Thank you for your interest!]

We're a happy bunch. Join us! (2012 staff retreat)

If you’re a person who loves engaging with people while ALSO obsessing about data, we would love to hear from you!

We’re looking for someone who is friendly, energetic, curious, data-driven, and highly imaginative to help us grow our community of nonprofit job posters. Your past experience includes producing strong results by building relationships, and understanding what it takes to maintain them.

Our growth so far has been mainly by word of mouth, which is wonderful, but we are now seeking to expand our base of job posters in new and creative ways. This new role will help ensure that every organization who can benefit from Idealist’s job posting service, knows about it.

Does this sound like the position for you? Apply today! Applications are due July 12, 2012.

Hi, everyone. I’m Julia Smith and I’ve been lucky to edit this blog over the past few years, working with our team to shed light on everything from idea-sharing potlucks to New Year’s resolutions for job seekers to tips for making the most of any conference you attend. Now it’s time for me to hand over the reins, and I’m thrilled to welcome Allison Jones,  a longtime member of our community and one of the newest members of our staff. Read on to meet the communications champ who will be bringing you all kinds of blog goodness from now on!

Welcome Allison, our new blog editor!

Q. When did you first know you wanted to have a career with social impact? Is there a moment in your life you can pinpoint?

A. In high school I lived in a poor part of Brooklyn but attended school in a wealthy part of Brooklyn. The differences were shocking and upsetting; who knew the impact a zip code could have on someone’s opportunities? I loved my time in school yet always thought, “Why can’t my brothers and sisters at home have this too?” And so began my commitment to education equality.

Q. Almost all of your jobs have been at nonprofits, right? What have you found most challenging and most rewarding about working in the nonprofit sector?

A. Yep (aside from an after-school gig I had in high school where I worked in the home office of a retired investment banker!). I have been a nonprofiteer for much of my career. I arrived at the sector by cause: I have always been passionate about education equality and this passion somewhat naturally led me to the nonprofit sector. I stayed in the sector because of community: nothing beats having a network of nonprofit geeks and folks audacious enough to think they can change the world.

I am also excited by the changes in the sector. There is so much movement and conversation around what change looks like, what role nonprofits play in facilitating that change, and the potential of cross-sector work to bring that change to life.

Q. Do you remember when you first set up your old blog, Entry Level Living? What prompted that and how did it feel to click “publish” on your first post?

A. I started Entry Level Living because I wanted to write about my experiences as a nonprofit newbie.  It was exciting but I honestly didn’t think anyone would read it. I had been blogging on LiveJournal and Yahoo!360 (service was shut down a few years ago – am I dating myself?) and the communities I built there were mainly of classmates and other casual/personal bloggers. I assumed my current blog would be the same thing; to be honest I was (and still am!) surprised by its growth since I started in 2007.

Q. Your blog has morphed over the years and is no longer quite so “entry level.” Can you share a little about how and when you decided to rebrand?

A. When Rosetta Thurman and Trista Harris were writing their book How to be a Nonprofit Rockstar they wanted to include my blog and a post I had written. When they checked in to confirm how my blog and name should be credited, it dawned on me that while I was sharing advice on starting a career, I wanted my blog to reflect my professional growth; I wasn’t entry level anymore and had a growing network of peers which lead to a variety of experiences in what it means to make a difference. I didn’t want a huge departure from my original approach but I did want to tighten up my writing and vision, hence my tagline “Helping Millennials put their passions into practice.” Although simple, it acts as a launching pad when producing content. Some of the most popular posts since then have covered the role of college in your career, social entrepreneurship, and nitty gritty job searching tips.

Q. In this new role at Idealist you’re going to be eating and breathing a lot of online networking. Can you share one of your social media “lightbulb moments”?

A. I have had many lightbulb moments, most of them offline, in particular working with parents and students in schools. My work in education has taught me the importance of the phrase “meet people where they are.” Though the phrase is often used to encourage people to adopt social media to connect with new staff, donors, allies, and organizations, it is really reminding us to put people first and to communicate with them on their terms, online and offline.

Q. What made you decide to apply for this job? What are you most excited about now that orientation is underway?

A. [Idealist's Executive Director] Ami once called me an “accidental techie”: I kind of fell into social media and technology through my love of blogging and the excitement I feel from connecting with people and learning about the world around me. But there is something amazing about being able to focus intently on how social media and tech are being used to make the world a better place and being able to throw myself into that conversation. And I just love Idealist.org. Seriously – the service it provides, the message it sends, and its plan for world domination really appeal to me. Plus, I truly believe that writing and editing are art forms. You can make magic happen with words.

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See why we feel lucky to have Allison on board? Leave a comment below to welcome her! She’ll also be the human behind our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest accounts, so feel free to introduce yourself.

A friendly recruiter chats up a prospective student at an Idealist Grad Fair. (Photo: Jung Fitzpatrick)

School may be out (or almost out) for the summer, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on your radar. We’re kicking off the summer with two Idealist Grad Fairs and you’re invited! As always, the fairs are free, open to the public, and geared toward people who want to make a difference through their careers.

Learn more and RSVP:

• New York, NY: Tuesday, June 19
• Washington, D.C.: Wednesday, June 20

Why attend our summer fairs?

Come beat the heat in air conditioned spaces – ones that are slightly more intimate than the fairs we host in New York and DC in September, which tend to draw huge crowds. You’ll have a chance to talk one-on-one with admissions folks from about 60 different programs, and mingle with people who are looking to further their education, achieve their career goals, and make a lasting impact on the world.

Bonus: You’ll be a step ahead of your peers by attending a summer fair. That’s three months before the fall Idealist Grad Fair season begins, and gives you lots of time to prepare applications for 2013! The early bird gets the worm, right?

Can’t make it to New York or DC?

Don’t fret if you can’t make it to either of the summer fairs. We have 17 more planned for the fall 2012 Idealist Grad Fair season, from Boston to Denver to Miami. Check out the full lineup and please spread the word to your friends in those cities who may be considering grad school.

Hope to see many of you at the fairs!

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Thanks to Kevin Kennedy, our Events and Communications Intern, for this post – and for all of your hard work supporting the Idealist Grad Fairs.

Our thanks to Heather Jarvis for this post. Heather is a former capital defense attorney and long-time public service advocate who provides free tools and information for student loan borrowers and the people who love them.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2012! It’s time to get a grip on those student loans you’ve been pushing to the back of your mind. Update your contact information with your lender, read every piece of mail you get about your loans so that you can figure out a plan that works for you, and check out my five top suggestions.

It's a lot to think about, but you can do it! (Photo: Scot Campbell, Flickr/Creative Commons)

1. Pull together a list of your loans and see what you’ve got.

Your options will depend on what kind of loans you have so the first step is getting a clear idea of what you owe. Use the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) to learn your balance, your loan “servicer”, and your “repayment status”. Private student loans won’t be listed on NSLDS, but you should be able to find them on your credit report.

2. Figure out when your first payment will be due.

Federal Stafford loans have a six month grace period before your first payment is due. The grace period for federal Perkins loans is nine months. The grace periods for federal PLUS loans and private student loans vary and will be listed on your paperwork or you can contact your lender for that information. Know when your first payment is due.

3. Decide whether to consolidate your student loans.

A consolidation loan combines multiple loans into one. You can consolidate your federal student loans through the Direct Loan program, but NEVER consolidate federal loans into a private student loan. You’ll lose the flexible repayment options and borrower benefits like loan forgiveness programs.

Consolidation typically makes sense when:

• You want to earn Public Service Loan Forgiveness but some of your federal loans are FFEL loans (only Federal Direct Loans are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness). Find out if you have FFEL loans using the National Student Loan Data System.
• You have variable rate Stafford loans (from 2006 or earlier). Interest rates adjust on July 1, 2012.

4. Determine which repayment plan is best for you.

Federal loan payments will automatically be based on a standard 10-year repayment plan unless you choose a different option. If payments under a standard 10-year repayment term are not affordable for you, find out about your other options.

Income-Based Repayment caps your monthly payments at a reasonable percentage of your income each year, and forgives any debt remaining after 25 years of affordable payments, or after just 10 years of these payments for borrowers who work in public service. Beware of relying on forbearance to postpone your student loan payments. Interest continues to accrue on student loans during forbearance, and many borrowers should consider Income-Based Repayment instead.

Private loans are a different story. Read all the paperwork carefully and ask your lender about your repayment options. They vary between private loans.

5. Learn more about how to handle your student loans.

• IBRinfo.org gives borrowers detailed information about Income-Based Repayment.
• The Department of Education sets out federal student loan repayment options.
• GL Advisor provides borrowers with a free personalized assessment of their student debt that helps borrowers determine a strategy for repayment.
• The National Consumer Law Center gives us studentloanborrowerassistance.org, a terrific all around resource.
• And I offer free webinars on Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Learn more at askheatherjarvis.com.

Have you subscribed to our monthly HR Connections newsletter? Visit idealisthr.org to sign up.

In our most recent HR Connections newsletter, our HR and Operations Manager Kara Montermoso writes:

Many of us are drawn to work in the nonprofit sector by the missions of our organizations, but our satisfaction with our work and the ways it impacts the rest of our lives are key factors in keeping us motivated and engaged. And one aspect that can contribute to our sense of satisfaction is our total compensation.

Anyone working in nonprofit human resources—or preparing to negotiate a salary and benefits package—might want to check out the article, where Kara breaks down six general components, from salary and benefits to organizational culture.

January is typically the month when we see the highest number of jobs posted to Idealist.org, and this year is no exception. If you’re lucky enough to snag one of those gigs, here are some things to keep in mind as you begin. Thanks to Michelle Moran of YNPN-NYC for this guest post.

Good luck in your new role! (Photo: cogdogblog, Flickr/Creative Commons)

Once you have landed a new job it may seem like the hard part is over, but sometimes your first few weeks at work can be very challenging. Follow these tips to get off on the right foot and avoid making common mistakes.

1. Remember: you were hired for a reason. You beat out other qualified candidates for this job. That means the hiring manager believes you are the best person for the position. Have confidence that you will do a great job and can make important decisions on your own.

2. Learn from others. Pay attention to the ways that your successful colleagues and senior management approach their work, and leverage that understanding to be better at your job. Take the time to observe activities around the organization that may or may not be a part of your direct responsibilities. For example, if you are in fundraising, learn as much as you can about the program side of your organization.

3. Strike a balance between respecting what’s been done and making changes. Unless you are one of the first employees at an organization, there are certain norms that have been established for better or for worse. Don’t begin a new job thinking you are going to change things immediately. Instead, take time to understand why things are the way they are and how you can participate in your organization’s culture.

4. Meet one on one with everyone you will work with. From the intern to the top executive, never assume that you won’t interact with someone or that their advice will not be helpful. Everybody’s work (and opinion of you) matters, especially in a small office. If you can meet with them individually, ask what brought them to the organization, how they approach their role, and how you can best work together. Make sure to write a quick thank you note to everyone you meet.

5. Ask questions. Sometimes people can be so comfortable with a job or work environment that they forget to tell you important things that you need to know as a new employee. Take advantage of your newbie status to ask lots of questions.

6. Stay away from office politics. The last thing you want is to get involved in any drama. If people try to persuade you one way or another, simply state that you are here to do your job and don’t know anyone well enough to make judgments about them. Avoid the office drama queen (or king) as much as possible.

7. If you struggle in your new position, give it some time. You never know how things can change, and how responsibilities that seem difficult now may eventually be what you like most about your job.

8. Be yourself. Authenticity is key to not only winning over your coworkers, but also to doing a really great job in your position, and increasing your chances of a promotion. Ask: are you doing what you love? If your job isn’t what you expected, it might be worth a conversation with your manager.

What other tips would you add?

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