My husband got laid off from a software company earlier this year. He had made it through so many other rounds of layoffs that this completely took us by surprise. He was out of work for a few months and I was the only one bringing in a salary. We took a financial hit when we lost his salary, and were forced to downsize our lifestyle while he was unemployed.

At first, it was difficult to give up the daily lattes, premium cable channels, dinners out three times a week, good bottles of wine, and all those other things we were taking for granted. My husband started talking to headhunters and going on interviews in the technology field, but wasn't really jazzed by anything he was being offered, and didn't want to risk getting laid off again if he worked for a tech company.

He finally got an email from a former colleague who was working for an education-related nonprofit and they needed a developer to create software programs to share data among all their local network affiliates across the country. He scoffed at the thought of what a nonprofit might pay and almost didn't pursue the job. He decided to go in for an interview and found that this nonprofit was right up his alley with its schedule, flexibility and even its pay. He was shocked to find that they would be able to pay him a competitive salary.

He loves what he does, and he comes home happy every night, and it has improved our marriage significantly. We even maintained our lower-cost lifestyle and have been able to put some money in a college account for our new daughter. So, for people who think they can't "afford" to work for a nonprofit, we are living proof that you can! And you should! -- Jennifer; West Hartford, CT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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