Over 3 million NGOs (registered & non-registered) are functional in India. Still, a lot of people in rural and urban India are not sure how to work for an NGO in India.
Having a degree, volunteering, and joining an internship program are some popular methods to begin working for an NGO but kickstarting the process is different for all the options.
In this blog, we will discuss how to work for an NGO part-time or as a volunteer and also how to join an NGO’s team full-time. Let’s first talk about what it takes to begin your career as a hobbyist NGO volunteer first!
Working with an NGO in India: 7-Step Hobbyist Checklist
Decide on cause
Before you step out searching for an NGO, make up your mind about who you want to work for; children, seniors, women, human rights, environment, underprivileged, animals, or something else. NGOs in India work on a lot of causes and choosing one can be helpful in the search.
Search by location
Search for the concerned NGO in your or the nearest town/city. It’s possible that you will discover an NGO of your interest functioning in your locality. If there are no NGOs in your town or village, Many NGOs in India and abroad offer remote jobs where you may work from home and contribute your service to the NGO virtually.
Shortlist NGOs
Prepare a comparison list between the shortlisted NGOs. Go through their websites, social media & reviews section. It’ll help you learn how active an NGO is in its functioning. You’ll come across several in-reach NGOs during research. Shortlist the NGO where you want to work part-time. It’s an important step in the process of working for an NGO in India.
Schedule a visit
Visit the shortlisted NGOs once you are prepared to step into action. Working for an NGO in India is a great feeling whether full-time or part-time but before joining, you must visit the NGO to make sure that your observations were right. If you get a positive vibe during the meeting, go ahead and start the work.
Once familiar with the work methodology and the environment of the non-governmental organization, start working for your chosen NGO with dedication & team spirit.
Already running your own NGO in India? Register with Help Local
Working for an NGO in India or anywhere else is an experience worth sharing and if you made up your mind to work full-time in an NGO, here are some pro tips to follow!
Working for an NGO in India full-time: 9 Points to Follow
Linguistics is the key
NGOs active across India love to work with multi-linguistic team members. At times, you may have to work with or for people who won’t understand your native tongue. Learning a couple of regional/foreign languages is a good point to start if you want to work professionally in the non-profit sector.
Be empathetic toward the cause
You must be 100% clear about why you want to work for an NGO. Before joining an NGO in India, you have to be sure about the cause you want to work in. Your passion and concern for the cause will help you in interviews and job positions.
Get a degree
A professional master’s degree in the field of Business, Education, Medicine, Environment, Planning, and Nonprofits will help you get into a reputed NGO easier. Zero down on the degree after matching the cause you wish to work for.
Get trained relevantly
Several international organizations offer training in fields like Human Rights, Health, and Social Justice. Enroll in the workshops, seminars, and online classes they offer to get an idea of the inner workings of nonprofit organizations. This will greatly help you work with an NGO of your choice.
Volunteer before committing
Voluntary work pays when your goal is to associate with an NGO of repute in India or worldwide. See if your favorite NGOs are currently accepting volunteers. If they are, apply for the position and get hands-on experience.
Are you into education? Explore the 7 best educational NGOs in Chennai!
Collect the experience
Credentials are the key to enrolling in any reputed NGO. Your experience, volunteer work, and future plans matter a lot. Gain some experience before applying to bigshot NGOs. Once you have a CV that carries weight, the job opportunity will be easy to grab.
A well-tailored CV
Wondering how to work for an NGO in India without experience to show? Maintain a CV that shows relevant accomplishments in the field of your choice. In case you have worked in corporate, prove how the skills acquired in corporate life will help the NGO grow.
Stay confident & win the interviewer
Interviews are not very different from usual when it comes to finding a job in an NGO in India. Be confident and express your passion and empathy for your field of interest. Share with the panel why you want to work for their NGO.
Expect a low initial pay
Most of the NGOs in India don’t have deep pockets! When working for an NGO in India, expect to start small. You may get a smaller pay packet than your parallel career professionals but if you are driven, you will make up the difference with time and commitment.
Work with NGOs in India
We hope that our blog helped you answer ‘how to work for an NGO in India’. With the above tips and ideas, you will be able to find the right non-profit to work full-time or part-time. Helplocal India connects people who care with NGOs near them.
Stay tuned for more community-driven content, helpful blogs, and social updates. If you run an NGO (micro, small or big), we recommend you list your NGO with Helplocal for free. Send an email to hello@helplocal.in to share your queries or drop them on our Instagram.
Check out these cause pages to discover unique NGOs in India:
NGOs helping senior citizens in India
Discover NGOs in Vadodara
Discover the best NGOs in Chandigarh
Discover local NGOs in Bhopal
