What do you do if you want to transition into social impact with your current skill set?

Working in social impact is not a job, it's a vocation. It requires empathy, kindness, charity and genuine care for others - beyond transferable skills. Many folks who have done work in the social impact space either have professional experience in the nonprofit or government sectors or volunteer leadership experience in charities. If you haven't done this type of community service oriented work yet, ask yourself why you deserve to do this work? True, you maybe able to apply transferable skills from any job, but you must have the heart and passion for this work. Not only that, show what kind of difference you've made in the lives of others to demonstrate why you really care.

Transitioning into social impact with your current skill set begins with a thorough assessment of your abilities. While your professional background may be strong, understanding the nuances of the social impact field is crucial. Social impact projects can be complex, involving various factors like governmental funding mechanisms and the latest research insights. Recognizing this, even seasoned professionals, such as those from hi-tech backgrounds, must approach the transition with modesty. Embracing humility opens the door to truly understanding the field and leveraging your skills effectively to make a meaningful difference.

Skilling is an ongoing process and I am sure every individual has the potential to acquire new skills at any point of time. The driving factor will be passion. If there is a calling and passion towards social impact, acquiring right skills will become involuntary. It is all about finding your IKIGAI.

Social Impact sector is wide and open. It starts with Education, Environment, Community development, Healthcare and beyond. So where does an individual's passion lies, where the heart calling revolves around will have to be identified. It starts with getting enough exposure towards the sectors and understanding the needs and the individuals passion.

For any transition or transformation, experiencing it first hand is the most important step. To know the ground realities and alignment with the individuals passion, volunteer for few times and look at the fitment. The moment an individual volunteers, empathy evolves and it invariable strengthens the engagement with the social sector.

Social Impact sector is evolving on a daily basis - with 3.1 Million NGOs in India and INR 25,000 Crores of CSR money, plus FCRA funds, plus Philanthropy funds and HNI funds invested in the social sector development. Knowledge around all of the above and how the project should be implemented, check the impact and further more becomes very critical.

When transitioning into the social impact sector, you want to be sure that your resume includes your community involvement, any transferable skills, and personal successes in each of your previous roles. By highlighting your community involvement, you can help stand out by showing hiring managers that it isn't just a job for you, but something that you care deeply about. It will be imperative for you to help the hiring manager understand that while your other roles may not have been in social impact, the skills you gained, and your experience is transferable to the new role.

Social impact is less about skills and more about understanding. The social impact sector needs every kind of skill to function, everything from lawyers and accountants to coders and bloggers. So worry less about the skills you have, and focus more on getting a better understanding of the issues. That's going to be a far better use of your time as far as I'm concerned.

Come modest First things first, know this: there's always a place for good people in social impact. Whether you're a marketer, accountant, or designer, your skills can make a real difference. *But*, and here's the secret sauce, come with humility. Recognize that you're joining a community of passionate changemakers, and approach the transition with a willingness to learn and grow. By being modest and open-minded, you'll not only find your place in the social impact world but also contribute to meaningful change humbly and authentically.