The Launchpad by Second Day

Overall estimated read time: 14 minutes

Last updated: July 2021

Working for a social enterprise is one of the most underrated career opportunities for graduating seniors. More than most roles, getting a job at a social enterprise requires extensive research, networking, and ‘hustle,’ but these positions can also offer far greater responsibilities and exposure than more traditional entry-level jobs. The term ‘social enterprise’ has no standardized meaning--these organizations can range from a small nonprofit with a very clear social mission to a large business where you have to squint pretty hard to interpret their work as ‘impactful.’ For the purposes of this guide, we will focus on social enterprises with less than 50 people, where there are typically less formal hiring structures and more growth opportunities.

The type of person who would likely thrive in these roles is someone who embraces both opportunity and lack of structure. If you thrive with the freedom to figure out a problem independently, then social enterprise could be great for you. If you want assurance you will receive clear training, stable growth trajectories, and general consistency in your day to day, these jobs may be less appealing for you.

If this career path sounds exciting, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about working at social enterprises. To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards finding your first job at a social enterprise. Let’s get started!