Career Pathways
Career Pathways
Career Pathways is a comprehensive suite of resources that maps standard competencies and career progression for professionals in volunteer engagement. It addresses a critical challenge in the field: the lack of clear, consistent career journeys and advancement pathways, which has contributed to talented professionals leaving for other opportunities.
Background
To expand structured professional development opportunities, AL!VE announced a job-leveling initiative at the 2022 Annual Meeting. In 2023, AL!VE conducted a field-wide survey that gathered insights from nearly 500 volunteer engagement professionals. Preliminary findings were shared at the 2023 Annual Meeting, with additional resources presented at Points of Light 2024 and during an AL!VE Academy. The resources and materials are available below.
Purpose
Career Pathways supports both individuals and organizations by providing a roadmap for growth in the volunteer engagement profession. It outlines job levels and the competencies and skills associated with each level, strengthening individual development, organizational planning, and field-wide advocacy. This work also promotes the continued professionalization of volunteer engagement.
How to Use Career Pathways
Individual Development
As a volunteer engagement professional, you can use Career Pathways to:
- Learn standard competencies, job levels, and career trajectories in the field
- Identify the skills needed for each career level and job title
- Build a plan to strengthen competencies and progress into roles with greater responsibility
Organizational Planning
As a leader in an organization that engages volunteers, you can use Career Pathways to:
- Determine appropriate job titles, levels, and pay scales for existing or new roles
- Evaluate, support, and recognize employee growth and advancement
- Identify training and development opportunities to build staff capacity
Field Advocacy
As an industry stakeholder in volunteer engagement, you can use Career Pathways to:
- Advocate for the creation of an official job code for Volunteer Engagement Professionals in the Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Contribute to thought leadership and discussions that advance the professionalization of volunteerism
Key Findings
Most participants reported a strong need for greater order and structure in professional and administrative job levels and roles. Many noted the importance of clear opportunities to advance or transition from hourly or non-exempt classifications into administrative, professional, managerial, and executive roles. Key findings from the report have been organized into a Competency and Duties Framework. Explore the materials below for details and implementation support.
Resources
Complete this short form to request your copies of the following resources.
- Career Pathways in Volunteer Engagement Full Report (PDF)
- Pay Structure and Pay Differentials by State (XLS)
- Job Leveling Document (PDF)
- Career Mapping Worksheet (DOCX)
Presentations
- Slides: AL!VE shared results of the initiative at the 2024 Points of Light conference. Review the slides to learn more. Download the slides here (PDF).
- Recording: AL!VE presented the Career Pathways findings, resources, and ideas for implementation during an AL!VE Academy in June 2024. Watch the recording here (web).
