It’s All About the Mission, Right?

A friend who lost her job about a month ago remarked that it was just like going through one's own passing (not that she has experience!). First there was denial, and eventually she moved through a number of stages until now she's feeling like she can make something more of her life — something better than where she came from.

I wonder if the attachment to one's job, and the mission that one's job supports, is more intense for those in the nonprofit sector as compared to those in the for profit or government sectors? One of the attributes preferred by NPO employers, especially in development, is affinity for the organization's mission. The idea is that if you love horses, you're better qualified to run the Equine Society's annual fundraiser than someone who is a cat person. I'm not 100% behind this idea, but I can see the point, and more importantly, it influences the hire.

But what happens at the other end of the run? That devotion to mission is tough to walk away from. I don't know for sure, but I don't think the feeling of loss is the same (compounded by the loss of income and social contacts) for someone who loses a job as a mortgage broker. While I'm sure that some get a great charge out of helping others get into a home, if they're fired, are they crushed by not being able to do all the paperwork one more time?

The career lesson here? Be devoted to the mission, but remember, it’s the organization’s mission. Your first concern needs to be your mission. Because that’s what you keep when your time with the organization comes to an end.