Why working for an NGO can be extremely rewarding
1. You make strategies for the country/world
While in schools and colleges you plan to change a few things here and there, in an NGO your plans can go much beyond. You plan and strategize to change the country ,the world . Your targets are not 1 week or 2 weeks but spread across years and decades.
2. Better networking:
This is the best networking you can possibly get. In the corporate world your networks are based on mutual benefit ,but in NGO it’s for a common goal. In most other types of networking ,your Network is a list of your acquaintances but, in the NGO world it is a list of people who become your best buddies,your mentors ,people you respect and people who respect you.
3.Lesser Egos:
It has been observed that behavior of people change when they are in a situation where they are reminded of moral values and idealism, such as near Schools,In churches and in temples.This is exactly why when you meet truly dedicated people in an NGO you will see their Guards down, people become much more open,much more ready to change and much more inclined to listen to all points of view.Suddenly there can be order in the chaos of an NGO decision-making process.
4.It opens your mind:
Try working with any NGO and you will see what I mean,you gain a sense of perspective and start seeing the impact of small things. You realize what is more important
5.Leadership:
The chances of being a leader or learning leadership are much more in NGO sector than any other. It takes about 4-5 years to become a team lead in an IT field but in an NGO you could be doing that the moment you join.It all depends on what you are willing to do .It is not necessary to even join them full-time.
More importantly, you can learn the meaning of true leadership very early on such as
- Post does not matter as much as the work/role
- Difference between enforced leadership and earned leadership
- Importance of NOT being a leader sometimes
- How to be a good follower
- How to motivate people
While I did point out various Pros of working with NGOs ,I am not discounting the exposure and experience you get in the corporate sector.This article is simply to point out some of the very unique takeaways from NGO sector.
My personal belief is that your learnings and personal growth can be accelerated by working for an ngo . Remember when you join an NGO ,you are not just doing it for giving back to society, but are also gaining much more .
