by Kimberley Carlton
Sherry Ettleson is the founder and president of Ettleson & Associates, a professional independent headhunting organization for progressive nonprofits and foundations in Washington, DC, New York and San Francisco. To learn more about current opportunities Sherry is recruiting for or to submit your resume for her consideration, visit the Ettleson & Associates website.
[Editor’s Tip: Sherry is currently recruiting for a Communications Associate at Venture Philanthropy Partners!]
Center for Social Impact Communication: Describe your career path and your current position.
Sherry Ettleson: My career started when I was a young lawyer/ lobbyist in Washington working for nonprofit organizations and then as a Senate Hill staffer for many years. While taking time off to raise my family, a good friend and former colleague asked if I could help with a few searches for his firm. As a result, he began referring other nonprofit clients who needed help finding talented new staff. After receiving publicity from the Washington Post in 2009, I acquired some new clients and built up my own firm over the last ten years. I work alone with a little administrative help as needed. My work affords me the opportunity to stay connected to the great organizations that I worked with earlier in my career.
CSIC: What do you enjoy the most about your work?
SE: What I enjoy most about my work is collaborating so many terrific organizations. I enjoy learning about the really important work they are doing and helping them find the right talent to carry out their mission. The other part I enjoy is the talent search. I love hearing about people’s career paths. It is fascinating to see how a person’s career evolves. I like knowing the thought, the focus, and the passion that people put into their careers.
CSIC: What are the top the 5 traits that attracts you to a candidate?
SE: The five traits or characteristics that attract me to a candidate are:
- Passion
- Drive
- Creativity
- Problem Solving Ability
- Looking at things from a different perspective
The other qualifications I look for are good writing skills. I always look for good writers.
CSIC: What is your best piece of career advice for seeking opportunities in social impact space?
SE: I give all job seekers the same career advice: work for and with great people. Work for people that will give you opportunities to grow and develop. Work for someone that will give you opportunities to take on responsibilities and someone that you can learn from. People in Washington are always looking for jobs down two different paths. One path is looking for a job where they can work on a particular issue they are passionate about. The other path is skill related – what are you good at? Advocacy, communications, raising money, etc. However, often people forget the people side of of a job search. You may find the perfect job, but if your boss does not allow you to grow and learn, it will ruin the experience and the opportunity for you. My best career advice is to work for great people.
CSIC: What is your go to source to stay relevant and up-to-date with industry trends for the organizations you recruit for?
SE: My clients are my go to source for staying relevant and up-to-date with industry trends. I learn a lot through interviews and conversations with my clients and potential clients. I always learn a lot from those conversations.
CSIC: If life had dealt you a different hand and you never spent a semester in Washington while in law school, what do you think you would be doing now?
SE: This is one of my favorite questions. First, if I had grown up in a different era where being a chef held a different connotation; I might have been a chef. I love to cook for my family and friends. More seriously, if I had not come to Washington for my law school internship I probably would be working in state government. I would be in Chicago working in State government. I love government work. It is important to me that government works for everyone.